Snackers who need sugar-free options
You’re looking for something sweet to put on the table, but want to choose only sweets whose ‘sugar-free’ claim and nutritional information you can check on the packaging.
Who is this distinction important for?
Fans of crunchy aniseed sprinkles
You’re looking for sprinkles for crispbread or as a topping. The De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes we checked aren’t suitable if sugar-free is a requirement: Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g.
Anyone putting together a snack spread
You want to know in advance whether guests will be served soft sweets to eat on their own, or crunchy aniseed sprinkles that are mainly used as a topping.
What should you look for when choosing?
For your snack night, first decide whether sugar-free is a must. Then choose between sweets to eat on their own and aniseed sprinkles to use as a topping.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free | Check the claim on the packaging and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutrition table. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. | If sugar-free is a must for me, I want to be able to check the claim before buying sweets for the evening. Around 46% of consumers put this requirement first. |
| Type of snack | Check whether the product is described as soft, mouse-shaped sweets or crunchy aniseed sprinkles. Also compare pack sizes if you’re planning to share. | For a bowl of sweets, I’m looking for something guests can help themselves to, not a topping for crispbread. Around 36% of consumers give this type of snack top priority. |
| Aniseed flavour and topping | Check the product type and ingredients of the exact variant. Albert Heijn lists sugar, glucose syrup and wheat starch in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes. | If I mainly want the familiar aniseed flavour on crispbread or as a decoration, that use matters more than a sugar-free recipe. Around 18% of consumers put this first. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing mouse-shaped sweets with aniseed sprinkles
The name doesn’t tell you how to use the product: De Ruijter sprinkles are crunchy aniseed seeds, while Lekker Droppie sells Suikerbakkerij Joris’s mouse-shaped sweets as soft sweets.
Decide whether you’re looking for sweets to put in a bowl or sprinkles for a topping before comparing products with similar names.
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Assuming traditional sprinkles are sugar-free
Albert Heijn lists sugar and glucose syrup as ingredients in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes, and states that they contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g.
If sugar-free is a requirement, check the claim and nutrition table for a different product rather than relying on the name ‘muisjes’.
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Relying on ‘sugar-free’ in the product title alone
The title doesn’t tell you which ingredients, sweeteners and allergens may matter to the people at your table.
Check the full label before choosing sweets for guests who need to avoid certain ingredients.
Relevant brands to consider
De Ruijter
The sprinkles we looked at are aniseed products intended for uses such as topping crispbread.
- PLUS describes the pink and white sprinkles as aniseed seeds coated in sugar.
- De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes aren’t a sugar-free option: Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g, and wheat starch in the ingredients.
Suikerbakkerij Joris
Lekker Droppie sells Muisjes Souris as soft, sugar-free mouse-shaped sweets for anyone looking for sweets shaped like mice rather than aniseed sprinkles.
- This type of product is a good fit if you’re looking for sweets to serve on their own at a snack spread.
- Before buying, check the nutritional information, ingredients, sweeteners and allergens on the packaging or with the retailer.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
What does ‘sugar-free’ mean on sweets?
According to the Voedingscentrum, the claim ‘sugar-free’ means a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. For mouse-shaped sweets, check both the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging.
Are De Ruijter sprinkles suitable if I want a sugar-free option?
The De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes we checked aren’t: Albert Heijn lists sugar and glucose syrup in the ingredients, and states that they contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g. PLUS also describes the pink and white sprinkles as aniseed seeds coated in sugar.
Can I use soft mouse-shaped sweets as an aniseed topping?
Don’t expect the same texture or use. Muisjes Souris, sold by Lekker Droppie, are soft, mouse-shaped sweets; traditional sprinkles are crunchy aniseed seeds, often used on crispbread.
What should I check if guests need to avoid certain ingredients?
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact packaging before serving the sweets. If you also want to know which sweeteners have been used, check the label; according to the Voedingscentrum, sweeteners are listed there.