If you want to portion out crushed aniseed sprinkles over servings at a school fair, choose a shaker or jar with an opening suitable for dry granules, rather than simply buying a squeeze bottle for sauces. Use a squeeze bottle only for a suitable liquid topping, and sprinkle the aniseed separately. Before the fair, check the ingredients, the school’s guidelines and whether the dispenser is suitable for contact with food.
You want to finish cupcakes, pastries or crispbread for the school fair with crushed aniseed sprinkles, and need a way to portion out the dry topping. Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes as crushed, sugared aniseed.
You also want to add a liquid flavouring. A squeeze bottle may be suitable if it’s designed for the contents you’ve chosen; sprinkle the aniseed separately. IKEA describes its GRILLTIDER squeeze bottle as suitable for sauces and dressings, among other things.
You want to know which ingredients and guidelines to take into account before serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends considering allergies and foods that children don’t eat for religious reasons when preparing treats for school.
First decide whether you want to dispense dry crushed aniseed sprinkles or a liquid topping. Then consider the opening, the capacity of any bottle you choose and the practical arrangements for the school fair.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Dispenser for dry aniseed sprinkles | Check that the opening can dispense dry granules and that the shaker or jar is suitable for contact with food. A sauce bottle isn’t automatically suitable for aniseed sprinkles. | If I want to sprinkle the aniseed directly over cupcakes, I don’t want to buy a bottle designed for sauces. For around 50% of consumers, choosing a suitable dispenser for the dry topping comes first. |
| Portions and serving speed | For a liquid topping, decide how much you’re preparing and whether the bottle’s capacity is suitable. Work out how much dry aniseed you need separately, based on your recipe and the number of portions. | When serving repeatedly, I want to be able to refill without choosing an unnecessarily large bottle for the liquid topping. Around 30% of consumers prioritise portions and serving speed. |
| Ingredients and school guidelines | Read the current label, ask about the school’s guidelines and check that any equipment touching the food is suitable for contact with food. | When serving a school group, I want to know in advance whether the ingredients and food on offer are suitable for visitors and comply with the school’s guidelines. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
IKEA describes the GRILLTIDER squeeze bottle as suitable for sauces, dressings and other flavourings. A tight-fitting nozzle doesn’t mean that dry crushed aniseed will pass through it easily.
Choose a dispenser with an opening designed for dry granules. Keep the squeeze bottle for a liquid it’s designed to hold.
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list wheat and gluten-containing cereals in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes. The school’s guidelines on treats and visitors’ dietary needs may also be relevant at a school fair.
Read the label on the pack you’ll be using and check with the school in advance to find out which guidelines apply. If needed, consider offering a clearly labelled alternative.
A bottle that looks like a dispenser isn’t necessarily designed to come into contact with food. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out specific requirements for materials that come into contact with food.
Check what the dispenser is designed for and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and care.
Relevant for the dry topping you want to serve at the school fair, but not an example of a dispenser.
The GRILLTIDER squeeze bottle is a practical example for anyone who also wants to add a liquid topping.
Albert Heijn’s product information is useful when checking the topping itself.
Jumbo’s product information can help you assess De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes for the school fair.
Don’t simply buy a standard sauce bottle for dry crushed aniseed. IKEA describes its GRILLTIDER squeeze bottle as suitable for sauces and other flavourings, while Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe the aniseed as dry, crushed aniseed. Choose a shaker or jar with a suitable opening that’s designed for contact with food.
Choose a bottle designed for the liquid you’ll be using, with a capacity that suits the amount you want to prepare. IKEA describes a 330 ml GRILLTIDER squeeze bottle as suitable for sauces and dressings, among other things. A capacity measured in millilitres won’t help you measure out dry crushed aniseed.
Yes. Check in advance which allergies and dietary needs are relevant to visitors. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends taking these into account when preparing treats for school. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list wheat and gluten-containing cereals in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes. Check the current label on the pack you’ll be serving too.
Yes. Before buying ingredients and serving equipment, ask the school which guidelines apply to the food on offer. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that schools may have their own policies on treats or celebrations. Check with the school to find out what applies to your fair.
