Who is this choice for?

People who need a strictly sugar-free option

You’re looking for a topping that meets the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. A product labelled ‘less sugar’ won’t necessarily be suitable.

Fans of sweet sprinkles who want to cut down

You want to keep your sprinkle-on topping, so you compare the sugar content per 100 g without mistaking a relative reduction for a sugar-free product.

People who aren’t set on having aniseed sprinkles

You’d like something sweet with breakfast, but the aniseed flavour and sugar coating of aniseed sprinkles aren’t essential for you. That means you can consider other toppings too.

What should you look for in a sweet breakfast topping?

First decide whether sugar-free is a strict requirement or whether you mainly want to reduce sugar without giving up sweet sprinkles. Under EU rules on nutrition claims, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for solid foods; ‘less sugar’ means something different.

What to consider What to check when buying Who this matters to
Truly sugar-free Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g and compare it with the limit of 0.5 g per 100 g. If I’m looking for a truly sugar-free topping, a claim about less sugar isn’t enough. For around 38% of consumers, this strict requirement comes first.
Less sugar, but still a sprinkle-on topping Compare sugars per 100 g and check which standard product a reduction claim is based on. Read the ingredients and warnings too. I want to keep using a sweet topping I can sprinkle, but be able to compare the sugar content. Keeping this type of topping is the top priority for around 37% of consumers.
Breakfast as a whole As well as sprinkles, consider fruit or 100% nut butter or peanut butter with no added salt or sugar, as recommended by the Voedingscentrum. When I don’t need aniseed sprinkles, I’d rather decide what to put on my bread first and add something sweet afterwards. For around 25% of consumers, this wider choice of toppings comes first.

Common mistakes with toppings you sprinkle

  • Reading ‘less sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    A reduction is a comparison with another product. According to Albert Heijn, the AH reduced-sugar chocolate sprinkles still contain 43 g of sugars per 100 g.

    If you need a sugar-free option, check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g rather than relying only on the reduction percentage on the packaging.

  • Looking only at the sugar content of an alternative

    According to the product information on Albert Heijn’s website, Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers contains maltitol and soya, may contain milk and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Before buying, check the current ingredients list, allergen information and warnings, even if the sugar content suits your preferences.

  • Judging your breakfast by the topping alone

    Changing your sprinkles won’t automatically change the rest of your breakfast. The Voedingscentrum also recommends fruit and 100% nut butter or peanut butter with no added salt or sugar as toppings.

    Decide whether it’s mainly the flavour and texture of aniseed sprinkles you’re looking for, or whether you’d rather change your choice of toppings altogether.

  • Overlooking allergens in aniseed sprinkles

    The ingredients list for De Ruijter Blauwe & Witte Muisjes on Jumbo’s website includes wheat starch.

    If you have a relevant allergy or intolerance, always check the allergen information on the current packaging.

Brands and product ranges compared

De Ruijter

De Ruijter is a good option for traditional aniseed sprinkles on rusk or bread, when the aniseed flavour and classic format are what matter most to you.

  • Blauwe & Witte Muisjes contain aniseed coated in sugar.
  • This variety contains 79 g of sugars per 100 g and contains wheat, so it is not a sugar-free alternative.

AH

AH’s reduced-sugar chocolate sprinkles are another option if you’re looking for a relative reduction in sugar.

  • According to Albert Heijn, the milk and dark chocolate varieties contain 30% less sugar than the corresponding standard AH sprinkles.
  • Both varieties contain 43 g of sugars per 100 g, so neither is sugar-free.

Céréal

Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers is worth considering if you want to compare chocolate sprinkles by sugar content and ingredients.

  • The product information on Albert Heijn’s website lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.
  • The same information lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g, soya, possible traces of milk and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. This variety is not sugar-free either.

Joybuy products for this topic

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Frequently asked questions

Are regular aniseed sprinkles sugar-free?

De Ruijter Blauwe & Witte Muisjes are not sugar-free: the product information lists sugar as the first ingredient and 79 g of sugars per 100 g. Check any other variety separately using its current nutritional information.

Does ‘less sugar’ mean that chocolate sprinkles are sugar-free?

No. ‘Less sugar’ compares a product with a reference product. According to Albert Heijn, both the milk and dark AH reduced-sugar chocolate sprinkles contain 43 g of sugars per 100 g. For solid foods, the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

What should I look for in chocolate sprinkles containing polyols?

Read the ingredients, allergen information and warnings on the packaging. According to the product information on Albert Heijn’s website, Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers contains maltitol and soya, may contain milk and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

What can I choose if I don’t need aniseed sprinkles?

Fruit and 100% nut butter or peanut butter with no added salt or sugar are other toppings recommended by the Voedingscentrum. They won’t give you the aniseed flavour and crunchy texture of aniseed sprinkles, so first decide whether those qualities are important to you.