Who is this choice for?

Anyone looking to serve a strictly sugar-free option

If a guest specifically asks for a sugar-free option, festive packaging isn’t enough. Compare the nutritional information for your chosen product with the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Anyone looking to share Muisjes as a celebratory topping

Whole Muisjes make a colourful topping for Dutch rusks or cakes. When choosing, be clear that the pink and white variety and the festive variety we checked both contain sugar.

Anyone considering guests’ dietary requirements

When sharing food, the variety you choose matters: Jumbo lists wheat starch in its pink and white Muisjes, while WorldwideHolland’s product information for a crushed variety mentions milk and wheat, among other ingredients. Check the current packaging before serving.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether sugar-free is essential. If it isn’t, choose a form that suits the way you’ll serve it and check the ingredients for that specific variety.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar-free Compare the amount of sugars per 100 g with the 0.5 g per 100 g threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim, as stated by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also check the exact claim on the packaging. If a guest asks for a sugar-free option, I don’t want to accidentally serve regular Muisjes. Around 42% of consumers put this strict requirement first.
Presentation and shape Choose whole Muisjes for a topping that stands out, or consider a crushed variety if a finer texture would work better with what you’re serving. When sharing Dutch rusks, I mainly care about the shape and presentation of the topping. Around 33% of consumers put this first.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for the colour and shape you’ve chosen; don’t assume every variety has the same ingredients. When sharing food with neighbours, I want to know what’s in this particular variety. For around 25% of consumers, checking this is their main concern.

Common mistakes

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

    A general description doesn’t mean a product meets the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the maximum at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Compare the exact wording with the nutritional information on the packaging.

  • Assuming aniseed sprinkles are low in sugar

    The pink and white Muisjes and Feestmuisjes from De Ruijter described by Jumbo and PLUS each contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Serve these varieties as a sweet topping only if sugar-free isn’t a requirement.

  • Assuming all varieties have the same ingredients

    The listed ingredients vary from product to product. Jumbo lists wheat starch in its pink and white Muisjes; WorldwideHolland also lists milk in a crushed variety.

    Read the current packaging for the variety you’re serving, especially if guests need to avoid certain ingredients.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

Albert Heijn and Jumbo list a range of products under this brand, including whole and crushed Muisjes. The shape and colour matter for presentation, but don’t tell you how much sugar a product contains.

  • There are different shapes and colours of Muisjes to compare before serving.
  • Jumbo’s pink and white variety and PLUS’s festive variety each list 79 g of sugars per 100 g, so neither is suitable if you need a strictly sugar-free option.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will appear here soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are regular De Ruijter Muisjes sugar-free?

The pink and white Muisjes and Feestmuisjes we checked aren’t: Jumbo and PLUS list 79 g of sugars per 100 g for these varieties. That’s above the maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g set by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Does ‘sugar-conscious’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No. ‘Sugar-conscious’ doesn’t confirm that a product meets the threshold for ‘sugar-free’. If you have a strict requirement, check the amount of sugars per 100 g and the exact wording on the packaging.

Which allergens should I check when sharing Muisjes?

Check the allergen information on the packaging for the variety you’ve chosen. Jumbo lists wheat starch in its pink and white Muisjes; WorldwideHolland lists milk, wheat and cereals containing gluten in a crushed variety. Don’t assume other colours or shapes have the same ingredients.