Who is this choice for?

Sugar-conscious wedding planners

You’re looking for a topping for cakes, rusks or desserts and want to compare the sugar content. It also matters whether chocolate sprinkles would work at the buffet instead of aniseed sprinkles.

Organisers who want to keep the aniseed tradition

You want to include the flavour and look of crushed aniseed sprinkles, but would rather use them as a measured decoration than leave them out for guests to help themselves to freely.

Organisers responsible for allergen information

At an open buffet, you want to be able to tell guests clearly which toppings contain wheat, milk or soya, and what warnings for use appear on the packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether the aniseed flavour is essential. Then compare the nutritional information for suitable sprinkles per 100 g, and consider how much you actually plan to serve.

Factor What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar content Compare the ‘of which sugars’ values per 100 g on the labels and decide on your planned serving size. If a product claims to contain ‘less sugar’, check what it is being compared with. If I want to limit the amount of sugar in the toppings on offer, comparing like-for-like label values is more useful than relying on the name of the sprinkle. For around 42% of consumers, reducing sugar is the main priority when making this choice.
Aniseed flavour and appearance Decide whether you need crushed aniseed sprinkles for the look you want, or whether chocolate sprinkles would also work. Choose how many aniseed sprinkles to serve as decoration. I want guests to see the familiar aniseed flavour and sprinkles; chocolate sprinkles won’t serve the same purpose. For around 33% of consumers, keeping this tradition matters most.
Allergens and usage information Check the latest label for allergens, and read the warning for use on products containing polyols. Make sure product information is accessible at an open buffet. When guests choose their own toppings, I want to be able to tell them what’s in each one before they serve themselves. Clear allergen and usage information is the top priority for around 25% of consumers.

Common buffet mistakes

  • Calling a small serving of aniseed sprinkles low in sugar

    A smaller serving limits how much you serve, but it doesn’t change the product’s nutritional values. Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes.

    Use them as a measured decoration if the aniseed flavour is your priority. Offer a clearly labelled alternative for guests who are mainly watching their sugar intake.

  • Presenting chocolate sprinkles as the same kind of topping

    A lower sugar content may be relevant when choosing, but chocolate sprinkles don’t have the aniseed flavour or the shape of crushed aniseed sprinkles.

    Label the sprinkles on your buffet cards so guests don’t have to rely on a nutritional claim alone.

  • Letting guests help themselves freely to a product containing polyols

    According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers contains 40 g of polyols per 100 g. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Make the packaging information available and choose a serving method that encourages guests to take a measured amount.

  • Keeping allergen information out of guests’ reach

    Guests at an open buffet can’t tell at a glance which ingredients a topping contains. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that providers of unpackaged food must give customers information about the 14 designated allergens.

    For a professionally catered buffet, decide in advance how guests will be able to access the latest allergen information. Check each pack you buy to see which allergens you need to declare.

Brands and product ranges to consider

De Ruijter

A relevant choice if you specifically want to use crushed aniseed sprinkles as buffet decoration.

  • Gestampte Muisjes are sugar-coated aniseed seeds that can be used as a topping.
  • According to the product information on Albert Heijn, they contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g and wheat, so this isn’t the product to choose if you’re looking to reduce sugar.

AH

AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker is a chocolate alternative for anyone who doesn’t need aniseed flavour or the traditional sprinkle shape.

  • Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g and says it contains 30% less sugar than regular AH Chocolade hagel puur.
  • It’s still chocolate sprinkles, and according to the product information, it contains milk and lactose.

Céréal

Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers is a chocolate alternative if the stated sugar content per 100 g is the deciding factor.

  • The product information on Albert Heijn lists 7,7 g of sugars per 100 g and claims 88% less sugar than standard dark chocolate sprinkles.
  • The product contains soya, may contain milk and lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g, with a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Joybuy products for buffet decoration

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are crushed aniseed sprinkles a low-sugar choice for a wedding buffet?

The De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes we looked at aren’t a good choice if you’re mainly looking for sprinkles with less sugar: Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g. Serve a small amount if you want to keep the aniseed flavour and traditional look.

Which of the toppings discussed has the lowest sugar content per 100 g?

Of the products discussed here, Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers has the lowest sugar content at 7,7 g per 100 g, according to the product information on Albert Heijn. It’s chocolate sprinkles, not aniseed sprinkles. The product information also lists soya, possible traces of milk, 40 g of polyols per 100 g and a warning against excessive consumption.

How should you provide allergen information at a professionally catered open buffet?

Make sure guests can access allergen information about the unpackaged food on offer before they choose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says providers must give information about the 14 designated allergens. Check each pack you use to see which allergens apply and how the information should be made available at the buffet.

Does ‘less sugar’ mean a topping is also low in energy?

No. Comparing sugar content alone doesn’t tell you how much energy a product provides. Check the nutritional information per 100 g as well as the claim, and take the serving size into account.