Don’t choose De Ruijter Feestmuisjes if your catering brief requires sugar-free aniseed sprinkles: PLUS lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for this product, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. If the traditional aniseed topping matters more than a strict sugar-free requirement, you can offer regular sprinkles separately. For an open buffet, make sure guests can find the allergen information for the product you’ve chosen.
If ‘sugar-free’ is a firm requirement, assess each topping individually using the latest nutritional information per 100 g. The De Ruijter Feestmuisjes listed by PLUS don’t meet this requirement; another product category may be an option if aniseed sprinkles aren’t essential.
Regular aniseed sprinkles can add a familiar finishing touch to crispbread, bread or yoghurt if reducing sugar isn’t a firm product requirement. Check the allergens for your chosen product too: PLUS lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for De Ruijter Feestmuisjes.
If the traditional look matters less, you can compare breakfast products from outside the aniseed sprinkle category. Check the exact claim and nutritional information: ‘less sugar’, ‘no added sugars’ and ‘sugar-free’ don’t mean the same thing.
First, decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a firm requirement. Then consider how you’ll serve your chosen topping at the buffet and how important the familiar aniseed sprinkle presentation is.
| Consideration | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Strict sugar-free requirement | Check the exact claim and sugars per 100 g on the latest packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. | If the catering brief requires sugar-free aniseed sprinkles, I wouldn’t present a regular product as an equivalent alternative. For around 46% of consumers, meeting this strict requirement comes first. |
| Allergens when serving at a buffet | Check the allergens for your chosen product and decide how guests will be able to find this information when food is served unwrapped. | At an open breakfast buffet, I want to give guests clear information and avoid mix-ups with other toppings; around 36% of consumers prioritise buffet service in this way. |
| Festive presentation | Decide whether you need aniseed sprinkles for the presentation. If not, compare alternative breakfast products based on their own claims and nutritional information. | If the familiar aniseed topping is the main priority, I want to be able to offer it without calling it sugar-free. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this presentation. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between these claims: a product with no added sugars may still contain sugars that occur naturally. So the claim doesn’t mean that the sugars per 100 g meet the threshold for ‘sugar-free’.
State the exact claim required in your catering brief and check the latest nutritional information for the product you plan to serve.
According to PLUS’s product information, De Ruijter Feestmuisjes contain sugar and glucose syrup and have 79 g of sugars per 100 g. They’re therefore not a substitute for a topping that must meet a strict sugar-free requirement.
Only offer this product separately as a festive topping if the brief allows it, and make it clear which product is being served.
PLUS lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for De Ruijter Feestmuisjes. At an open buffet, guests can’t check the allergens for a loose topping on its packaging.
Keep the latest allergen information for the product being served easy to find at the buffet and prevent mix-ups with other toppings. Check which rules apply to your chosen way of serving the food.
The brand behind products including Feestmuisjes, pink and white aniseed sprinkles, blue and white aniseed sprinkles and crushed aniseed sprinkles in the ranges at Jumbo and Albert Heijn.
The aniseed sprinkle category features De Ruijter products; the retailer also has a separate range of sugar-conscious products.
The aniseed sprinkle category features several regular De Ruijter products, including Feestmuisjes and crushed aniseed sprinkles.
The retailer stocks De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles and also has a separate category of sugar-conscious products.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugar per 100 g or 100 ml. ‘No added sugars’ is a different claim: a product may still contain sugars that occur naturally. So check the exact claim and nutritional information for your chosen topping.
No, not if ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement: PLUS lists 330 g of sugar and glucose syrup as ingredients for De Ruijter Feestmuisjes, and 79 g of sugars per 100 g. These figures relate to this product; check the latest information for any other product individually.
Make sure guests can clearly find the allergen information for the product being served and that toppings don’t get mixed up. PLUS lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for De Ruijter Feestmuisjes; also check which current rules apply to your serving arrangements.
Only if the client accepts a different product category and the item you choose meets the required sugar claim. A description such as ‘sugar-conscious’ or ‘less sugar’ doesn’t automatically make a product sugar-free; check the claim and sugars per 100 g for the specific item.
