Who is this choice relevant to?

If you want to serve strictly sugar-free treats

You want a product for your garden party with a verifiable ‘sugar-free’ claim. To check this, compare the claim with the ‘of which sugars’ amount per 100 g on the current label.

If you want to decorate crispbread or cake the traditional way

You’re looking for crunchy aniseed mice to sprinkle on top, and are happy to accept that the classic De Ruijter version contains sugar and isn’t a sugar-free option.

If you want to put out individual sweets for guests

You’re looking for a mouse-shaped treat and want to check the ingredients, any sweeteners and a suitable way to portion it before serving.

What should you look for?

First decide whether sugar-free is essential and whether you want to serve sprinkles or individual sweets. These two product types serve different purposes at a garden party.

Classic mice sprinkles

Best for: crispbread, bread or pastries where crunchy aniseed topping is what you’re after.

The trade-off: According to Joybuy, De Ruijter Muisjes Blauw & Wit contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g, so they aren’t suitable if you need a strictly sugar-free option.

Soft mice sweets

Best for: a bowl of individual sweets when the mouse shape matters more than the sprinkling function; Joris Sweets lists Sugar-Free Mice in its range.

The trade-off: Their soft texture isn’t a straightforward substitute for crunchy aniseed mice on crispbread. Check the sugar-free claim and ingredients on the pack you buy.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar-free claim Compare the ‘sugar-free’ claim with the ‘of which sugars’ amount per 100 g on the label. The EU limit for this claim is no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I only want to serve sugar-free mice, the claim on the pack needs to match the nutritional information. For around 36% of consumers, this check would be their first priority.
Texture and use Check whether the product is crunchy sprinkles for crispbread or pastries, or soft sweets to serve individually. For crispbread, I want the familiar crunchy aniseed mice, even if that means they aren’t sugar-free. This traditional presentation would come first for around 29% of consumers.
Ingredients and sweeteners Read the ingredients list and any warnings on the current label, especially for sweets containing sweeteners. For a bowl of sweets, I want to know what guests can help themselves to and whether it contains sweeteners. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. For around 21% of consumers, checking the ingredients would be the main concern.
Quantity and how to serve Choose a pack suited to sprinkling over snacks or offering individual sweets. If guests are helping themselves from a bowl, I want to be able to serve the sweets neatly rather than put out sprinkles. Ease of serving would be the main consideration for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing ‘less sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’

    These are different claims. Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, ‘sugar-free’ claims for solid foods are subject to a limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

    If sugar-free is essential, check both the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ amount on the current label.

  • Expecting soft sweets to be like classic sprinkles

    De Ruijter Feestmuisjes are sold as a crunchy topping containing aniseed. The sugar-free mice offered by a Dutch sweet shop from Joris are soft sweets, so they have a different use.

    First decide how you want to serve them: on crispbread or pastries, or as an individual treat.

  • Overlooking sweeteners in a self-service bowl

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. Whether you need to take this into account depends on the ingredients in the product you choose.

    Read the ingredients and any warnings, and keep the packaging information available for guests.

  • Relying only on a product page you viewed earlier

    Ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, as Albert Heijn notes in its product information.

    Before serving, check the label on the pack you actually received.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

A good option if you’re looking for classic mice to sprinkle over treats at your garden party.

  • PLUS describes De Ruijter Feestmuisjes as a topping with aniseed and a crunchy sugar coating, suitable for crispbread and pastries, among other things.
  • According to Joybuy’s product information, De Ruijter Muisjes Blauw & Wit contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g. This version doesn’t meet a sugar-free requirement.

Joris

A good option if you want to offer soft mouse-shaped sweets instead of traditional sprinkles.

  • Joris Sweets lists Sugar-Free Mice in its own range, and a Dutch sweet shop sells sugar-free mice by Joris.
  • Before serving them to guests, check the claim, sugar content, ingredients and any warnings on the current packaging.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can mice be called ‘sugar-free’?

Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the claim ‘sugar-free’ can only be used for solid foods if they contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. As well as checking the claim, look at ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table on the pack.

Are De Ruijter Muisjes Blauw & Wit sugar-free?

No. Joybuy states that De Ruijter Muisjes Blauw & Wit contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g and lists sugar as the first ingredient. So don’t choose this version if sugar-free is essential.

Can I sprinkle soft sugar-free mice sweets on crispbread?

Don’t expect them to work in the same way as classic mice. According to PLUS, De Ruijter Feestmuisjes are crunchy sprinkles containing aniseed, while the Joris mice sold by a Dutch sweet shop are soft sweets. They’re better suited to serving as individual treats.

What should I look for in sweeteners in mice sweets?

Read the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging of the product you choose. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. If you’re putting out a self-service bowl, keep the packaging information available.

Can I rely on online product information for allergen details?

Check the label on the pack you receive too. According to Ondernemersplein, mandatory label information must be available online, but product information can change before you serve the mice.