Which option is right for you?

If you want to choose strictly sugar-free

‘Lower in sugar’ isn’t enough for your Christmas table. When considering a topping, look for an explicit ‘sugar-free’ claim and check the amount of sugars per 100 g.

If you mainly want less sugar

You’re open to chocolate sprinkles instead of crushed aniseed sprinkles, perhaps on rusks or as a festive topping. Compare the sugars per 100 g, and check the ingredients and warnings too.

If you want to keep the aniseed flavour

The familiar flavour and fine sprinkling texture matter more to you than reducing sugar. Regular crushed aniseed sprinkles suit that preference, but not a strict sugar-free requirement.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether sugar-free is an absolute requirement for your Christmas table. Only then is it worth choosing between the aniseed flavour of crushed aniseed sprinkles and another type of topping.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Strictly sugar-free Look for the ‘sugar-free’ claim and check that the product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, as required by the EU for this claim. If I only want to serve a sugar-free Christmas topping, I won’t put the aniseed flavour ahead of that requirement. For around 50% of consumers, being strictly sugar-free comes first.
Less sugar Compare sugars per 100 g and check the ingredients and any warnings about sweeteners. If I mainly want less sugar on rusks or cake, chocolate instead of aniseed could work for me. Around 30% of consumers give reducing sugar their highest priority.
Traditional aniseed flavour Check that the product is crushed aniseed sprinkles, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. For my Christmas brunch, I want to keep the familiar aniseed flavour and sprinkling texture, even if the topping contains sugar. For around 20% of consumers, that tradition matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing ‘lower in sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’

    A reduced sugar content doesn’t mean a product contains no sugar. For example, Albert Heijn lists AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker as containing 43 g of sugars per 100 g.

    If sugar-free is an absolute requirement, check the claim on the product and the amount of sugars per 100 g. Don’t just compare it with regular chocolate sprinkles.

  • Choosing regular crushed aniseed sprinkles to reduce sugar

    SPAR Nederland lists sugar as the first ingredient in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes and states that they contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Choose this product for its aniseed flavour only if being sugar-free or having less sugar isn’t a requirement.

  • Skipping the ingredients and warnings

    Another topping may contain different ingredients and come with different warnings. Céréal’s product information lists maltitols and soya, and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. SPAR Nederland lists wheat in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes.

    Check the current packaging before serving your Christmas guests, especially if ingredients or allergens are important to them.

Relevant brands and products to compare

De Ruijter

Gestampte Muisjes are the traditional aniseed topping among these options.

  • The crushed, sugar-coated aniseed suits anyone looking for the familiar flavour of aniseed sprinkles.
  • SPAR Nederland lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g and wheat as an ingredient. This isn’t a sugar-free option.

Albert Heijn

AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker is a chocolate alternative, not a type of crushed aniseed sprinkles.

  • Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g, so you can compare the nutritional information for this option with that of other toppings.
  • ‘Lower in sugar’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’ here, and the chocolate flavour is different from aniseed too.

Céréal

Hagelslag puur minder suikers offers a different flavour option if crushed aniseed sprinkles aren’t essential.

  • Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for these chocolate sprinkles.
  • The product isn’t sugar-free and isn’t an aniseed topping. The product information lists maltitols and soya, says it may contain milk, and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes sugar-free?

No. SPAR Nederland describes them as sugar-coated aniseed, lists sugar as the first ingredient and states that they contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g.

What does ‘sugar-free’ mean on a food product?

Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, products carrying the ‘sugar-free’ claim must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. Check the claim and nutritional information on the current packaging when choosing a topping.

Can lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles replace crushed aniseed sprinkles?

Only if chocolate instead of aniseed suits your Christmas table. They’re still a different type of topping, and ‘lower in sugar’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g.

What should I look for in a topping containing polyols?

Read the ingredients and usage warnings on the packaging. According to the Voedingscentrum, large amounts of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort. Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.