Parents keeping an eye on sugar
If you’re comparing sweet toppings for after school, the sugar content per 100 g and per serving you actually use is more helpful than the product name or packaging alone.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Families who want to keep the aniseed flavour
De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes suit anyone looking to use muisjes as a topping or spread. Bear in mind that Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety; Albert Heijn and Jumbo also list wheat and cereals containing gluten.
Parents looking for an everyday snack
For children aged 4 to 12, the Voedingscentrum suggests vegetables, fruit, a slice of wholemeal bread or a handful of unsalted nuts as snack options. Sweet sprinkles are different from the foundation of an everyday snack.
What should you look for when choosing?
Regular Gestampte Muisjes
Choose this if: the aniseed flavour and sprinkle-on topping are what matter most.
Bear in mind: according to Albert Heijn, the De Ruijter variety contains 79 g of sugars per 100 g and contains wheat.
Lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles
Choose this if: you still want a sprinkle-on topping, but don’t need the aniseed flavour.
Bear in mind: according to Albert Heijn, Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers is compared with standard dark chocolate sprinkles, but it isn’t a muisjes product and contains maltitols.
Fruit spread
Choose this if: a spreadable topping is more suited to what you’re looking for than muisjes.
Bear in mind: according to Albert Heijn, Hero Jam Zero aardbeien contains no added sugars, but does contain sweeteners and carries a warning about excessive consumption.
Everyday snack
Choose this if: you’re mainly looking for something to offer regularly after school.
Bear in mind: vegetables, fruit, wholemeal bread or unsalted nuts, as suggested by the Voedingscentrum, won’t replace the taste of a sweet topping.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Less sugar | Compare sugars per 100 g and per serving, and check what any comparison is based on. | If I’m serving a sweet topping but want to limit sugar, I want to know what’s in the amount being used. Around 42% of consumers are said to put reducing sugar first when choosing. |
| Everyday snack | Decide whether vegetables, fruit, wholemeal bread or unsalted nuts should form the basis, rather than relying on a sweet topping alone. | For a regular after-school snack, I’m looking for something that works as a snack even without a sweet topping. For around 33% of consumers, that everyday foundation is said to come first. |
| Aniseed flavour and how you’ll use it | Check whether you want sprinkle-on muisjes, and also read the listed allergens for De Ruijter. | If I specifically want that familiar flavour on bread or crispbread, it matters more than switching to a different topping. For around 25% of consumers, that preference is said to be the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing a small sprinkling with a low-sugar topping
Using a small amount doesn’t change the sugar content per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes; Jumbo lists 4.7 g of sugars per 6 g serving.
Before comparing toppings, check the label for the nutritional values both per 100 g and per serving.
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Assuming less sugar means you can use as much as you like
The product information for Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers and Hero Jam Zero aardbeien warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and usage warnings on the current packaging, and consider how much topping you use.
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Overlooking allergens in a topping
Even a small amount of topping can matter if someone needs to avoid an ingredient. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list wheat and cereals containing gluten in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes.
Check the allergens on the label of your chosen variety when you buy it.
Brands compared
De Ruijter
A relevant choice if you’re specifically looking for aniseed-flavoured Gestampte Muisjes.
- The 270 g variety is designed to be sprinkled over food or used as a topping.
- Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g; Jumbo lists 4.7 g per 6 g serving. The product information lists wheat and cereals containing gluten.
Céréal
A relevant option if you want to compare chocolate sprinkles with muisjes.
- According to Albert Heijn, Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers contains 88% less sugar than standard dark chocolate sprinkles and 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
- It isn’t an aniseed topping. The product information lists maltitols and soya, notes that it may contain milk and warns of a laxative effect if consumed in excess.
Hero
A relevant choice if a spreadable strawberry spread is an acceptable alternative to sprinkle-on muisjes.
- According to Albert Heijn, Hero Jam Zero aardbeien contains 50% fruit, no added sugars and 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g.
- It isn’t a muisjes product. The product information lists sweeteners and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Spreadable alternatives on Joybuy
These products are spreadable alternatives for anyone who doesn’t specifically want aniseed-flavoured Gestampte Muisjes. Check the sugar content and ingredients of your chosen variety on the packaging; the product name alone isn’t enough.
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Hero Strawberry Jam Zero 300 g
A spreadable strawberry alternative if you don’t need the aniseed flavour or the sprinkle-on texture of muisjes.
For Hero Jam Zero aardbeien, Albert Heijn lists 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g and no added sugars. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the current jar.
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Bonne Maman More Fruit Minimum Sugar Forest Jam 335 g
A 335 g jar of forest fruit jam to consider if a spreadable fruit topping suits you, but muisjes aren’t essential.
Don’t treat the words in the product name as nutritional information. For the jar you choose, compare the sugars per 100 g, the ingredients and any sugar claim explained on the label.
Frequently asked questions
Are Gestampte Muisjes a low-sugar topping for after school?
The standard De Ruijter variety reviewed isn’t a low-sugar choice: Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g, and Jumbo lists 4.7 g per 6 g serving. So choose these muisjes for the aniseed flavour or as a small topping, not because you assume they contain less sugar.
What can I give my child as an everyday after-school snack?
For children aged 4 to 12, the Voedingscentrum suggests vegetables and fruit, as well as a handful of unsalted nuts or a slice of wholemeal bread. If you add a bread topping, consider it separately from the basis of the snack.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean a product contains no sugars?
No. A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars. So compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; for example, Albert Heijn lists 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g for Hero Jam Zero aardbeien.
Which allergens and warnings should I check?
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list wheat and cereals containing gluten in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes. According to the product information at Albert Heijn, Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers contains soya, may contain milk and may have a laxative effect if consumed in excess; Hero Jam Zero aardbeien also carries a warning about excessive consumption. Always check the current label on the packaging you choose.