De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes are not a vegan choice: the ingredients list at Albert Heijn includes carmine, a colouring derived from animals. If you’re looking for a dark cocoa flavour instead, choose cocoa sprinkles rather than anise sprinkles. Check the current ingredients separately to see whether they’re suitable for vegans, as ‘dark’ alone isn’t enough.
You also check whether colourings are derived from animals. Carmine is the key ingredient in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes: Albert Heijn lists it as an ingredient, and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes E120 as a colouring made from scale insects.
You’re looking for cocoa sprinkles for things like bread or yoghurt. A name such as ‘extra dark’ doesn’t tell you whether the product contains milk ingredients; Albert Heijn lists milk fat in De Ruijter Royaal chocoladehagel extra puur.
You choose Gestampte Muisjes for their traditional anise flavour on things like crispbread or cakes, not as an alternative to chocolate. If they also need to be suitable for vegans, the version described here isn’t right for you.
First decide whether you’re looking for anise or cocoa. Then check the ingredients of the specific sprinkles if they also need to be suitable for vegans.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan ingredients | Check the full ingredients list, including for carmine or E120. | I want to avoid ingredients of animal origin, so I look beyond milk and eggs. This strict vegan requirement is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Dark cocoa flavour | Compare the stated cocoa content and check separately for milk fat or milk powder. | Cocoa flavour is my priority, but ‘dark’ shouldn’t be a substitute for checking the ingredients. This flavour preference is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Traditional anise flavour | Check whether you’re looking for anise sprinkles rather than cocoa sprinkles. | If I want sprinkles on crispbread or cakes and don’t need them to be vegan, I’m mainly looking for that familiar anise flavour. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
The product name doesn’t mean it’s free from milk ingredients. Albert Heijn lists fractionated milk fat in De Ruijter Royaal chocoladehagel extra puur.
Read the ingredients for the version you’ve chosen, even if the packaging highlights a dark chocolate flavour.
Albert Heijn’s ingredients list for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes includes carmine. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this colouring is obtained from scale insects.
Check coloured sprinkles for colourings too. Don’t choose these Gestampte Muisjes if you avoid animal-derived ingredients.
Gestampte Muisjes are anise seed sprinkles, not cocoa sprinkles, so they meet a different flavour preference.
Choose anise sprinkles if that’s what you’re after; compare cocoa products if you want a dark chocolate flavour.
‘May contain milk’ warns that milk could be present. This is different from milk fat or milk powder being listed as an ingredient. The warning is still important if you have a milk allergy.
Read both the ingredients and the allergen warning, and assess them against your own requirements when buying.
De Ruijter features in this comparison with Gestampte Muisjes and chocolate sprinkles. The ingredients vary from one product to another.
Albert Heijn provides product information for both De Ruijter sprinkles and its own-brand chocolate flakes.
These cocoa flakes are worth considering if you’re looking for sprinkles for bread or yoghurt. For a vegan choice, compare the ingredients and the warning about possible milk traces. If you want a pronounced dark cocoa flavour, the cocoa profile matters too.
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Worth a look if you’re after cocoa flakes for bread or yoghurt.
The packaging warns that the product may contain milk. Consider this warning alongside the ingredients list; if you want a pronounced dark cocoa flavour, don’t rely on the product name alone.
No. The ingredients list that Albert Heijn provides for these Gestampte Muisjes includes carmine. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes E120 as a colouring made from scale insects, so it isn’t suitable if you avoid animal-derived ingredients.
No. Albert Heijn lists milk fat in De Ruijter Royaal chocoladehagel extra puur and whole milk powder in AH Pure chocolade vlokken. Always check the ingredients of the version you want to buy.
No. It’s a warning about possible traces, not a statement that milk is an ingredient. If you’re choosing a vegan product, check both parts of the label; the traces warning is also important if you have a milk allergy.
Gestampte Muisjes are anise sprinkles for things like bread, crispbread or cakes. If you’re looking for a cocoa flavour instead, you’ll need a different kind of sprinkle and should check separately whether it’s suitable for vegans.
