If you want a verifiably lower-sugar option for everyday school lunches, don’t assume that regular aniseed sprinkles are a lower-sugar alternative: Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for both De Ruijter Feestmuisjes and Gestampte Muisjes. For everyday lunches, you can choose a spread that the Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes in its Wheel of Five. If you specifically want the aniseed flavour of these sprinkles, keep them as a small sweet topping and check the label of the variant you choose.
For a school lunch, you’ll want to know how much sugar the spread you choose contains. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving, and don’t assume a product has less sugar because of its festive name or packaging.
You may be looking for the aniseed flavour and appearance of these sprinkles for a special breakfast or a small topping. That’s a different choice from using them as an everyday staple in a packed lunch.
Albert Heijn lists wheat and cereals containing gluten in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes. Before buying, check the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variant.
First decide whether less sugar, a suitable everyday school lunch or a festive flavour is your main reason for choosing a spread. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the exact product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Less sugar | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per serving; check whether the claim appears on the exact product. | I want less sugar in my child’s lunchbox and am looking for a spread whose sugar content I can check on the label. For around 46% of consumers, a verifiably lower-sugar option is the priority. |
| Everyday school lunch | Decide whether the spread is intended for every school day. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of one slice of bread with a sweet spread for primary school lunches. | For regular school days, I want to put together a lunch where sweet spreads aren’t the mainstay. Around 36% of consumers prioritise suitability for everyday lunches. |
| Festive aniseed flavour | Choose the variant you want and check the allergens and sugars per serving. | For a special back-to-school occasion, flavour and a festive touch matter more to me than choosing something for every day. For around 18% of consumers, that special occasion is the main consideration. |
A name or colour variant tells you nothing about sugar reduction. Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for both De Ruijter Feestmuisjes and Gestampte Muisjes.
If less sugar is your deciding factor, check the nutritional information and any claim on the exact product before choosing it.
Aniseed sprinkles are a sweet topping. For primary school lunches, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of one slice of bread with a sweet spread.
For everyday lunches, focus on products that the Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes in its Wheel of Five, and treat aniseed sprinkles as a small sweet addition.
The product pages reviewed use different serving sizes for Feestmuisjes and Gestampte Muisjes. Albert Heijn also lists wheat and cereals containing gluten in Gestampte Muisjes.
Check the serving size and allergen information on the packaging of the variant you buy.
Manufacturer of products including Feestmuisjes, Gestampte Muisjes, and pink-and-white and blue-and-white aniseed sprinkles.
Retailer with product information for several De Ruijter aniseed sprinkle variants.
Retailer with product information for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes.
Retailer showing product information for several De Ruijter aniseed sprinkle variants.
You can’t tell from the type of product alone. Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for both De Ruijter Feestmuisjes and Gestampte Muisjes. For another variant, check the nutritional information on its own label.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends sending a maximum of one slice of bread with a sweet spread to primary school. For the rest of the lunch, focus on products that are included in the Wheel of Five.
Check that the claim appears on the exact product and compare its sugar content per 100 g and per serving with that of a similar product. A general description of a shop category doesn’t automatically apply to the aniseed sprinkles listed in it.
Check the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variant. Albert Heijn lists wheat and cereals containing gluten in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes; don’t assume other variants have the same ingredients.
