Who is this choice relevant to?

Organisers who want to hand out sugar-free sweets

You’re looking for a treat that you can hand out individually. Check that it’s mouse-shaped sweets, and read the sugar-free label, ingredients and packaging information before buying.

Shoppers expecting traditional aniseed mice

You mean aniseed mice to use as a topping on rusks or for a celebratory display. PLUS describes De Ruijter Pink & White Mice as aniseed seeds coated in sugar; these are different from soft, mouse-shaped sweets.

Visitors who check the ingredients

You want to know which sweeteners and other ingredients the sweets contain. A bol listing for Joris Sugar-free Mice names maltitol syrup and food-grade gelatine. According to the Voedingscentrum, consuming high amounts of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you need individual sweet mice or aniseed mice to put on rusks. For sweets, compare the sugar-free label, ingredients and the portions you plan to hand out.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugar-free option Check whether the product is a sweet or a bread topping. Read the sugar-free label and check the sugars per 100 g on the packaging you choose. I want to hand out sweet mice, but only if the sugar-free label is appropriate for the product. For around 50% of consumers, this is the top priority.
Portions and polyols Check whether maltitol or other polyols are listed in the ingredients, and follow the warnings on the packaging. When handing out sweets, I want to consider how many someone might eat at once. For around 30% of consumers, portion size is the top priority.
Traditional presentation Check whether you need aniseed bread topping for rusks. If you need a strictly sugar-free option, don’t rely on the name or colour alone. I’m mainly looking for the familiar mice to put on rusks, even if that conflicts with my wish to buy sugar-free. This traditional use matters most to around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming all mice are the same type of product

    PLUS describes De Ruijter Pink & White Mice as sugar-coated aniseed bread topping. The bol listing describes Joris Sugar-free Mice as soft, mouse-shaped sweets. They’re therefore suited to different occasions.

    First choose between a topping for rusks and sweets to hand out individually. Then check the ingredients and nutritional information for the right category.

  • Assuming sugar-free means you can eat as much as you like

    The bol listing for Joris Sugar-free Mice names maltitol syrup. According to the Voedingscentrum, consuming high amounts of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea.

    Consider portion size when handing them out, and keep the packaging available so visitors can read the ingredients and warnings.

  • Relying on a dietary filter alone

    A bol listing for Joris Sugar-free Mice names food-grade gelatine in the ingredients, even though the same listing also displays a vegan diet filter. That filter alone isn’t enough to make a dietary choice.

    Check the ingredients on the packaging or ask the manufacturer to confirm before offering the product as vegan or vegetarian.

Brands to consider

Suikerbakkerij Joris

A relevant option if you’re looking for soft, mouse-shaped sweets to hand out individually, rather than aniseed mice as a bread topping.

  • A bol listing for Joris Sugar-free Mice gives the maltitol syrup content as 0.1 g of sugars and 78.4 g of polyols per 100 g. Check these values on the packaging you buy.
  • The same listing names food-grade gelatine but also displays a vegan diet filter. For dietary requirements, rely on the current ingredients information, not that filter.

De Ruijter

A relevant option if you mean traditional aniseed mice to put on rusks. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list De Ruijter varieties in their mice categories.

  • PLUS describes De Ruijter Pink & White Mice as aniseed seeds coated in sugar, intended as a traditional bread topping.
  • That variety isn’t suitable if you need a strictly sugar-free option. Check the packaging of any other variety separately.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are traditional aniseed mice sugar-free?

The De Ruijter Pink & White Mice described by PLUS aren’t: they’re aniseed seeds coated in sugar. For any other variety, always check the ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging rather than relying on the name alone.

What should I look for in sugar-free sweet mice?

Check the sugar-free label, ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging you choose. A bol listing for Joris Sugar-free Mice gives the maltitol syrup content as 0.1 g of sugars and 78.4 g of polyols per 100 g; these values don’t automatically apply to other sweet mice.

Why do polyols matter when handing out sweets?

According to the Voedingscentrum, consuming high amounts of polyols can cause flatulence and diarrhoea. Check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging, and consider how much you hand out at a time.

Are Joris Sugar-free Mice suitable for vegans?

Don’t assume they’re vegan without confirmation for the packaging you’ve chosen. The bol listing names food-grade gelatine in the ingredients but also displays a vegan diet filter, so check the packaging or ask the manufacturer for clarification.