Commuters who need a guaranteed sugar-free option
You’re looking for a quick addition to your coffee or breakfast on the go, but want to check the current packaging first to make sure the product is sugar-free.
Who is this relevant to?
Aniseed lovers who prepare things at home
You want aniseed flavour for your morning routine and don’t mind mixing the ingredients yourself in advance. Meukvrij met Monique’s recipe uses erythritol and aniseed powder.
Fans of traditional aniseed sprinkles
You’re mainly after the familiar experience of aniseed sprinkles for the occasional breakfast. If sugar-free is still important, check the packaging separately to confirm.
What should you look for?
Packaged and verified sugar-free
A good fit if: you need a ready-to-use addition as well as a substantiated sugar-free claim.
Consider: a brand name or search result isn’t enough; check the exact packaging before you choose.
Make your own mix with aniseed powder
A good fit if: aniseed flavour is your priority and you have time to make a mix at home.
Consider: making your own mix takes preparation, and the finished mix won’t automatically have a substantiated nutrition claim.
Regular crushed aniseed sprinkles
A good fit if: the traditional experience matters more to you than a strict sugar-free requirement.
Consider: don’t treat a regular product as sugar-free without checking the current packaging.
For an addition to coffee on the go or breakfast on the move, your main requirement will determine which option to consider first.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Verified sugar-free | Check the claim on the exact packaging and the sugar content per 100 g. The EU regulation published on EUR-Lex sets a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g for the claim on solid foods. | If I need a guaranteed sugar-free option, I only want to add something to my coffee or breakfast on the go if I can verify this on the packaging; around 50% of consumers make this their main requirement. |
| Minimal preparation | Choose packaging you can take with you, or decide whether making your own mix in advance fits into your morning routine. | If I leave early, I don’t want to have to mix ingredients before taking my coffee or breakfast with me; around 30% of consumers prioritise minimal preparation. |
| Aniseed flavour and the traditional experience | Distinguish between regular crushed aniseed sprinkles and a homemade aniseed mix; if you need a guaranteed sugar-free option, check the labels here too. | For the occasional breakfast, I’m mainly looking for the familiar flavour and the traditional use of aniseed sprinkles; around 20% of consumers say this is what matters most to them. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a brand name means a product is sugar-free
A search result or familiar brand won’t tell you how much sugar is in the exact product packaging. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published on EUR-Lex, the ‘sugar-free’ claim for solid foods is limited to a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Before buying, check the claim and nutrition information on the packaging of the product you want to take with you.
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Comparing values per serving only
Serving sizes can vary between products. As a result, comparing serving values alone can give you a misleading picture.
Compare the nutritional values of similar products per 100 g, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, and check the ingredients list if certain ingredients matter to you.
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Treating a homemade recipe like a packaged product
Meukvrij met Monique’s recipe uses erythritol and aniseed powder. It isn’t nutrition information or a sugar-free claim for the mix you make yourself.
Check the labels on the individual ingredients and choose this option only if preparing it at home fits into your routine.
Making your own mix takes time, and you may be left with unused ingredients if you don’t like the flavour.
A brand to consider
De Ruijter
Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter crushed aniseed sprinkles as a product. De Ruijter aniseed vermicelli is a separate product and shouldn’t be used as a source of nutrition information for crushed aniseed sprinkles.
- Worth considering if you’re specifically looking for traditional crushed aniseed sprinkles.
- The brand name doesn’t tell you whether it’s sugar-free: check the current packaging for the variant you choose.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can a product be labelled ‘sugar-free’?
Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published on EUR-Lex, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for solid foods, or per 100 ml for drinks. For crushed aniseed sprinkles, check the claim and nutrition information on the exact packaging.
Can I choose De Ruijter crushed aniseed sprinkles as a sugar-free option?
Not based on the brand name or the fact that Albert Heijn lists the product. First check the current packaging for the claim and sugar content per 100 g; Albert Heijn warns that product information can change.
How do I compare products with different serving sizes?
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then look at the serving you plan to use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g, so differences in stated serving sizes don’t skew the comparison.
Is a mix of erythritol and aniseed powder the same as crushed aniseed sprinkles?
No. It’s a separate homemade option for anyone who wants aniseed flavour and can mix the ingredients at home. Meukvrij met Monique’s recipe doesn’t replace a label for the finished mix: check the ingredients and nutrition information for the components you choose.