Who is this choice for?

Students looking to cut down on sugar

You’re setting up a new breakfast routine and looking for something to put on bread, crispbread or yoghurt. Compare the sugars per 100 g and look beyond the claim on the front of the pack.

Students specifically looking for sugar-free muisjes

You want a product sold as sugar-free, but you also need to know whether it works as a breakfast topping. The Joris-muisjes we found are soft sweets, not a like-for-like alternative to crunchy aniseed sprinkles.

Shoppers who check ingredients

If you want to avoid gelatine, wheat or polyols, the ingredients list on the pack you choose matters more than the product name alone.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether sugar-free is a must, then check that the product is suitable for bread, crispbread or yoghurt.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugars Read the exact claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. If I want to cut down on sugar at breakfast, I need to know what’s actually in the product. For around 36% of consumers, sugar is the top priority.
Using it as a topping Check whether it’s crunchy aniseed sprinkles or soft sweets. For bread or crispbread, I’m looking for something I can scatter on top, not just a sweet with the same name. This is the most important factor for around 29% of consumers.
Ingredients Check the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety, including for wheat, gelatine and maltitol syrup. If I avoid certain ingredients, the product I choose needs to meet those requirements. Around 21% of consumers put this check first.
Availability Check with a specialist retailer whether delivery is available to your address. When moving house, I want to be able to order the product without finding that delivery isn’t available. Availability is the main concern for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking sweets for a bread topping

    Snoepman describes the Joris-muisjes as soft sweets made with maltitol syrup and gelatine. Traditional De Ruijter-muisjes are sugared aniseed, so the same name doesn’t mean they have the same texture or use.

    Read the product description if you’re looking for a crunchy topping for bread or crispbread.

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product with no added sugars may still contain sugars.

    Check the exact claim and the nutritional information per 100 g on the same pack.

  • Overlooking gelatine, wheat or maltitol syrup

    The Joris sweets reviewed here contain food-grade gelatine and maltitol syrup. Jumbo lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Feest Muisjes.

    Check the latest ingredients list and allergen information for the variety you’re buying.

  • Comparing serving sizes only

    Serving sizes can vary, which means nutritional values per serving aren’t directly comparable.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g. If you’re ordering from a specialist retailer, also check whether it delivers to your address.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

Traditional muisjes and crushed muisjes for use as a bread topping or garnish.

  • The Feest Muisjes reviewed here are sugared aniseed, intended for traditional use.
  • According to Jumbo, Feest Muisjes contain sugar, glucose syrup and wheat starch, with 79 g of sugars per 100 g. This variety is not sugar-free.

Joris

Mouse-shaped soft sweets sold as sugar-free by the retailer Snoepman.

  • The product description mentions a sugar-free option for anyone primarily looking for that claim who is happy with a soft sweet.
  • Snoepman lists maltitol syrup and food-grade gelatine. Check the latest label and delivery options before ordering.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, products with no added sugars may still contain sugars. So compare the exact claim with ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table per 100 g.

Are De Ruijter Feest Muisjes a sugar-free breakfast topping?

No. Jumbo lists sugar and glucose syrup as ingredients in De Ruijter Feest Muisjes, and gives their sugar content as 79 g per 100 g. They’re suitable for traditional use as a bread topping, but not if sugar-free is a must.

Can I use Joris Suikervrije Muisjes as a crunchy aniseed topping?

Don’t count on it: the Joris-muisjes described by Snoepman are soft sweets, whereas traditional muisjes are sugared aniseed. Check the product format if you’re looking for something to put on bread or crispbread.

What should I look for if I want to avoid gelatine, wheat or polyols?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. Snoepman lists gelatine and maltitol syrup in the Joris-muisjes; Jumbo lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Feest Muisjes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre classifies polyols as part of the FODMAP group.