Which option is right for you?

Anyone who needs a strictly sugar-free option

You only want to choose a topping if the nutritional information supports a sugar-free claim. So check the sugars per 100 g; a ‘reduced sugar’ label isn’t enough.

Families looking to sprinkle on less sugar

You’re looking for something for bread, crispbread or yoghurt, and a lower sugar content matters more to you than the aniseed flavour or shape of traditional sprinkles. Reduced-sugar chocolate strands are another product category to consider, with their own ingredients and nutritional values.

Celebrating with the traditional look of aniseed sprinkles

You want to serve the colours and aniseed flavour of traditional sprinkles, and don’t need them to be sugar-free. Bear in mind that product descriptions mainly associate these sprinkles with a birth; for a recognisable St Nicholas’ Eve theme, you could also look at seasonal products.

What should you look for when choosing?

Before choosing a topping for St Nicholas’ Eve, decide whether it must be sugar-free, or whether you’re mainly looking for less sugar or the familiar aniseed sprinkles.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Strictly sugar-free Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under the annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a ‘sugar-free’ claim is permitted only when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. If I only want to serve a sugar-free treat, the nutritional information needs to support that choice. This strict requirement is the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Less sugar Compare the sugars per 100 g and check the ingredients and warnings for any alternative; reduced-sugar chocolate strands aren’t an aniseed sprinkle product. I want something to sprinkle on crispbread, but don’t need to stick to the shape or flavour of traditional sprinkles. Less sugar is the first priority for around 30% of consumers.
Appearance and aniseed flavour Check the type of sprinkles and, if you have dietary restrictions, read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. The colours and aniseed flavour on the celebration table matter more to me than limiting sugar. For around 20% of consumers, this traditional presentation is the deciding factor.

Common mistakes

  • Taking ‘reduced sugar’ to mean ‘sugar-free’

    A sugar-reduction claim doesn’t mean a product meets the threshold for being sugar-free. Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker and 7.7 g per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers.

    If you have a strict requirement, check the nutritional table per 100 g rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.

  • Assuming chocolate strands are the same kind of treat

    Chocolate strands can be used as a topping, but they don’t have the aniseed flavour or the shape of sugar-coated aniseed seeds.

    Decide whether you want the traditional sprinkles themselves, or mainly a lower-sugar topping.

  • Overlooking warnings about polyols

    Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers product information lists polyols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients and usage warnings for the product you choose, even if you’re using it as an alternative to traditional sprinkles.

  • Guessing allergens from the colour or brand

    Albert Heijn lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Roze en witte muisjes. The colour of a variety doesn’t tell you which ingredients it contains.

    If you have a dietary restriction, check the allergen information on the current packaging of the specific variety.

Brands and product ranges to consider

De Ruijter

Aniseed sprinkles, including coloured and crushed varieties; Albert Heijn and Jumbo list products from this range.

  • An option if you’re specifically looking for aniseed-flavoured sprinkles.
  • Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g and wheat starch as an ingredient in the pink and white variety.

Céréal

Dark chocolate strands with less sugar as an alternative topping, rather than an aniseed sprinkle variety.

  • Albert Heijn lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Hagelslag puur minder suikers.
  • This product isn’t sugar-free. The product information lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g and includes a warning about excessive consumption.

AH

AH’s own dark chocolate strands, labelled as containing less sugar than AH Chocolade hagel puur.

  • The product information includes a nutritional table so you can assess the sugar content.
  • According to Albert Heijn, AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker contains 43 g of sugars per 100 g, so it doesn’t meet a strict sugar-free requirement.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will appear here soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are regular De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles sugar-free?

The pink and white variety described by Albert Heijn isn’t sugar-free: it contains sugar as an ingredient and has 79 g of sugars per 100 g. For any other variety, check its own nutritional information rather than assuming the figures for this one apply.

Does ‘reduced sugar’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No. Under the annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a ‘sugar-free’ claim is permitted only when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml; a reduced-sugar claim expresses a comparison. So be sure to check the absolute amount of sugars in the nutritional table too.

Can reduced-sugar chocolate strands replace traditional sprinkles?

If you’re mainly looking for something to sprinkle on bread, crispbread or yoghurt, chocolate strands could be an alternative. But they’re a different product category, without the distinctive aniseed flavour and traditional shape. If you’re switching to limit sugar, check the sugars per 100 g as well.

What should I look for in chocolate strands containing polyols?

Read the ingredients and the warning on the packaging. The Voedingscentrum says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems; the product information for Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Are aniseed sprinkles a traditional St Nicholas’ Eve treat?

Product descriptions from retailers including PLUS mainly associate these sprinkles with a birth, but you can choose to serve them as a topping on St Nicholas’ Eve. If you want your treat to feel recognisably festive, decide whether the presentation or the aniseed flavour matters more to you.