If you need a strictly sugar-free option, De Ruijter Feest Muisjes are out: Jumbo lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g, while the European Union only allows the claim ‘sugar-free’ when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. If you want to take something sugar-free to your night shift, check the nutritional information and any warnings on the packaging of an alternative. If sugar-free isn’t a strict requirement, you can use aniseed sprinkles as a topping and decide how much to add.
For you, the ‘sugar-free’ label is essential — a small portion or less sweet taste isn’t enough. Based on the nutritional information listed by Jumbo, De Ruijter Feest Muisjes don’t meet this requirement.
You want to take something with you for your shift that isn’t mainly a sweet topping. VGZ explains that you may feel hungrier for foods high in sugar during night shifts, so it’s worth considering both the type of snack and its nutritional information.
You choose aniseed sprinkles mainly for their flavour or as a topping for bread or crispbread. In that case, the exact variety, ingredients and portion size will determine whether the product suits your plans for the shift.
First, decide whether sugar-free is a strict requirement. Then think about whether you want something to eat during your shift or aniseed sprinkles to use as a topping.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Truly sugar-free | Check the claim and the amount of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. Under European Union rules, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g per 100 g or 100 ml. | If I want a strictly sugar-free option for my night shift, regular aniseed sprinkles don’t qualify just because I have less of them. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| A snack for your shift | Check the amount of sugars per 100 g, the portion size and whether the product is intended to be eaten as a snack rather than used as a topping. | For a break, I’m looking for something I can eat as it is, rather than a sweet topping as the main ingredient. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Aniseed flavour and use as a topping | Compare the exact variety and check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging. | I mainly want aniseed sprinkles for bread, crispbread or yoghurt, and don’t have a strict sugar-free requirement. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A small portion doesn’t change the nutritional information per 100 g. Jumbo lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Feest Muisjes, which is above the European limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutritional information, even if you only want to use a small amount of aniseed sprinkles.
Aniseed sprinkles are used as a topping. So, if you want something to eat as it is during a break, you’ll need to make a different choice from someone looking to add flavour to bread, crispbread or yoghurt.
First decide how you want to use the product, then compare the nutritional information of the options that suit your needs.
Ingredients, allergens and warnings vary from product to product. For example, Jumbo lists a warning about excessive consumption and phenylalanine for a sugar-free chewing gum product. Holland Snack Express lists ingredients including sugar and wheat starch for crushed aniseed sprinkles.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the packaging of the exact product you choose.
Jumbo lists several varieties of De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles, including Feest Muisjes and blue-and-white sprinkles. The brand is worth considering if you’re comparing traditional aniseed sprinkles, but that doesn’t mean every variety is sugar-free.
No. Jumbo lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Feest Muisjes, while the European Union allows a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Check the packaging of other varieties individually.
No. The label ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether a product falls below the limit for ‘sugar-free’. Under European Union rules, that limit is no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml, so check the nutritional information too.
Aniseed sprinkles are mainly for use as a topping, rather than as a snack on their own. If you’re looking for something to eat as it is during your shift, compare products designed for that purpose and check the portion size and amount of sugars per 100 g.
Check the sugar-free claim, nutritional information, ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the exact packaging. Warnings vary from product to product: for example, Jumbo lists information about phenylalanine and excessive consumption for Mentos Gum Breeze Mint Suikervrij, but that information doesn’t automatically apply to other alternatives.
