Who is this for?

Rusk lovers looking to cut down on sugar

You want to serve rusks with a familiar topping for King’s Day, but don’t want to mistake traditional aniseed mice for a sugar-free product.

Anyone looking for a sugar-free sweet treat

You’re looking for mouse-shaped sweets with a festive look, and don’t mind that soft sweets are different from aniseed mice for sprinkling on rusks.

Shoppers who want to check the ingredients

You want to know whether ingredients such as gelatine and maltitol syrup suit your dietary choices. That means reading more than just the claim on the front of the packaging.

What should you consider when choosing?

Traditional aniseed mice

Choose this type if: you want to use the mice as a bread topping or decoration on rusks.

The trade-off: according to Albert Heijn and Jumbo, the De Ruijter Feestmuisjes and Gestampte Muisjes reviewed each contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g.

Soft mouse-shaped sweets

Choose this type if: you’re looking for a treat to hand out individually that’s marketed as sugar-free.

The trade-off: the Joris mice described are soft and contain maltitol syrup and gelatine; don’t expect the texture of aniseed sprinkles.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important for?
Sugar-free choice Read the claim on the packaging and compare the sugars per 100 g in the nutritional information; ‘less sugar’ doesn’t mean the same as ‘sugar-free’. If I want to choose a sugar-free product, I don’t want to rely on a product name that simply suggests it’s a healthier choice. Around 42% of consumers make this their top priority.
Rusks and presentation Check whether the product is sprinkles or soft sweets, and check the colour mix if you specifically need orange. For my King’s Day breakfast, I mainly want mice that I can sprinkle on rusks. That’s the main thing for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients Read the ingredients list and any warning about polyols; for Joris sweets, check for gelatine too. Before handing out the sweets, I want to know whether they contain any ingredients I avoid. This matters most to around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

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

    A product with less sugar isn’t automatically sugar-free. For example, Albert Heijn includes reduced-sugar sprinkles in its selection of products for sugar-conscious shoppers; that doesn’t make them a confirmed sugar-free version of mice.

    If you need a strictly sugar-free option, compare the exact claim and the product’s nutritional information per 100 g before buying.

  • Expecting mouse-shaped sweets to work as sprinkles

    Traditional aniseed mice and the soft Joris sweets described here differ in both shape and use. So the word ‘mice’ doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable as a topping for rusks.

    First decide whether you want a bread topping or an individual treat, then check the product description.

  • Overlooking the ingredients or colour mix

    The Joris variety described contains maltitol syrup and gelatine. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive issues. And a mix that includes orange isn’t the same as a pack containing only orange sweets.

    Check the latest ingredients list, any warnings and the description of the colours before buying.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

The Feestmuisjes and Gestampte Muisjes reviewed are traditional aniseed products for use as a bread topping or decoration.

  • These products are suitable for topping rusks with mice; the crushed variety has a finer texture.
  • Albert Heijn and Jumbo each list 79 g of sugars per 100 g for these two varieties. They aren’t suitable if you’re looking for a sugar-free option.

Joris

Joris Sweets lists Suikervrije Muizen in its range; the Joris Suikervrije Muisjes described here are soft sweets.

  • The mouse-shaped sweets are marketed as sugar-free and can be handed out as individual treats.
  • The ingredients described include maltitol syrup and gelatine. Check the latest packaging and don’t expect a traditional aniseed topping.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn stocks traditional De Ruijter mice and also has a separate selection of products for sugar-conscious shoppers.

  • The product information for De Ruijter Feestmuisjes lists the amount of sugars per 100 g.
  • Reduced-sugar sprinkles from the sugar-conscious selection aren’t a confirmed sugar-free version of mice.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are De Ruijter Feestmuisjes and Gestampte Muisjes sugar-free?

No, these two varieties aren’t sugar-free. Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for Feestmuisjes, and Jumbo lists the same amount for Gestampte Muisjes.

Can you sprinkle Joris Suikervrije Muisjes on rusks?

The Joris mice described aren’t a direct substitute for traditional sprinkles on rusks: they’re soft sweets. Choose them as individual treats if that type of product suits your King’s Day plans.

Why should I check for polyols in these mouse-shaped sweets?

The Joris ingredients described include maltitol syrup, so check the latest packaging and any warnings. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive issues.

Are the Joris mice described suitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet?

Not if you avoid gelatine: the ingredients information described lists gelatine. Check the ingredients list on the packaging you receive before buying.