Don’t choose the regular De Ruijter sprinkles if you’re looking for sugar-free bread toppings: Albert Heijn and Jumbo list 79 g of sugars per 100 g for the pink-and-white and party varieties respectively, while the EU requirement for a ‘sugar-free’ claim is no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. What’s more, a product called ‘sugar-free sprinkles’ could be sweets rather than aniseed sprinkles for rusks. So check both the ‘of which sugars’ figure and the product’s intended use on the packaging before adding it to your weekly shop.
You’re looking for sprinkles to put on your breakfast, but will only buy a product that meets the requirements for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. In that case, the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g matters more than the product name.
You want sprinkles for bread or rusks, while also keeping an eye on the sugar content. It helps to distinguish traditional sugared aniseed seeds from soft sweets with a similar name.
You want to pick up a suitable product as part of your regular shop. Check the current packaging and nutritional information before considering availability or pack size.
If you’re looking for sugar-free bread toppings for your weekly shop, first check the sugar content and whether the product is intended for bread or rusks. Only then consider how convenient it is to pick up.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under the Annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim for this type of food is subject to a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I want a sugar-free topping for breakfast, a sweet-sounding name shouldn’t mislead me. For around 50% of shoppers, this strict sugar-free requirement comes first. |
| Product type | Check the ingredients and whether the description refers to a bread topping or soft sweets; the same name doesn’t mean the product is used in the same way. | For a special occasion, I want aniseed sprinkles on my rusk, not sweets with a similar name by mistake. For around 30% of shoppers, keeping to this traditional use matters most. |
| Weekly shop | Check the current nutritional information and pack size when adding a product to your shopping list. | When doing my weekly shop, I want to be able to pick up a suitable product without planning an extra trip to the shops. For around 20% of shoppers, this practical convenience is the top priority. |
Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter pink-and-white sprinkles; Jumbo lists the same amount for De Ruijter party sprinkles. Neither variety therefore meets a strict sugar-free requirement.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for the variety you’re actually buying, even if you already know the product name.
Lekker Droppie describes Suikerbakkerij Joris’s ‘Suikervrije Muisjes Souris’ as soft sweets. This description doesn’t confirm that the product can replace aniseed sprinkles on bread or rusks.
Check the product type and its intended use before choosing a product with ‘sprinkles’ in its name for breakfast.
The fact that traditional sprinkles are sold by a supermarket says nothing about whether they’re a suitable sugar-free option.
Check the ingredients and nutritional information on the current packaging before adding the product to your weekly shop.
De Ruijter offers traditional aniseed sprinkles for bread and rusks, among other uses.
Lekker Droppie sells a product from Suikerbakkerij Joris under the name ‘Suikervrije Muisjes Souris’.
Under the Annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can be used if a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. For sprinkles, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; phrases such as ‘less sugar’ don’t mean the same thing.
No, not the varieties for which Albert Heijn and Jumbo list nutritional values: according to those retailers, both contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the current packaging if you buy a different variety.
Don’t assume they’re the same product. Lekker Droppie describes ‘Suikervrije Muisjes Souris’ as soft sweets, while traditional De Ruijter sprinkles are sugared aniseed seeds for bread and rusks, among other uses. Check the product description if you’re specifically looking for a breakfast topping.
Read the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging of the sweets you choose. For example, Jumbo lists polyols in Klene Honingbijtjes Suikervrij and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. This product information doesn’t automatically apply to other sugar-free sweets.
