Who is this choice relevant to?

People who shop strictly vegan

You want to be able to confirm that your chosen aniseed sprinkles are vegan. That means looking beyond simply checking that the ingredients list contains no milk or eggs.

People buying a plant-based treat

You’re looking for aniseed sprinkles for rusks or decoration, but want to avoid choosing a colour that contains carmine.

People looking for a little treat for themselves

You’re looking for a bar or single-serving pack rather than a box of sprinkles. The packs discussed here won’t meet that need.

What should you look for in vegan aniseed sprinkles?

First decide whether you’re looking for sprinkles or an individual snack. If you’re buying sprinkles, check that the specific variety is confirmed as vegan and look at which colouring is listed.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Vegan status Look for an appropriate vegan label on the current packaging, or ask the manufacturer to confirm the product’s status. Check the ingredients too. I only want to buy aniseed sprinkles once I can confirm that my chosen variety is vegan, even if the ingredients look familiar. This reassurance is a priority for around 50% of consumers.
Colouring Check the ingredients of your chosen colour for carmine, even if you’ve bought a different variety before. For a plant-based treat, I don’t want to use animal-derived colouring, even if that means ruling out my preferred colour; this is the main concern for around 40% of consumers.
Format Compare the product type and net weight: the aniseed sprinkles discussed here are sold in 270 g or 330 g packs, not as bars. If I’m just looking for something for myself, I don’t want to accidentally buy a box of sprinkles instead of an individual snack. A small format matters most to around 10% of consumers.

Pitfalls to avoid when choosing

  • Assuming pink aniseed sprinkles are vegan because of their name

    Albert Heijn’s ingredients list for De Ruijter Pink and White Aniseed Sprinkles includes carmine. According to ProVeg Netherlands, this colouring is made from cochineal insects.

    Check the full ingredients list and, if you shop strictly vegan, avoid any variety that lists carmine.

  • Confusing a plant-based impression with confirmation that a product is vegan

    The Dutch Association for Veganism points out that the term ‘plant-based’ does not guarantee that a product is entirely plant-based. V-Label also states that an ingredients list alone does not always provide complete certainty about a product’s vegan status.

    Look for an appropriate vegan certification or current, explicit confirmation for the product, and use the ingredients list as an additional check.

  • Mistaking a box of sprinkles for a single bar

    The aniseed sprinkles discussed here are sold in 270 g or 330 g packs, not as individual bars.

    Check the product type and net weight. If you’re looking for an individual snack, choose a product that is actually sold as a single portion.

Brands worth considering

De Ruijter

The blue and white, pink and white, and crushed De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles discussed here list different colourings in their ingredients.

  • Albert Heijn and Jumbo list indigotine as a colouring in the blue and white sprinkles, with no carmine in the ingredients.
  • Albert Heijn lists carmine in the pink and white and crushed varieties. An ingredients list without carmine does not, on its own, fully confirm that the blue and white variety is vegan.

Joybuy products for this choice

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are De Ruijter’s pink and white or crushed aniseed sprinkles vegan?

The varieties listed on the Albert Heijn product pages we consulted are not suitable for a strictly vegan choice: their ingredients lists include carmine. According to ProVeg Netherlands, carmine is a colouring made from cochineal insects; check the current ingredients on the pack you choose before buying.

Can I buy De Ruijter’s blue and white aniseed sprinkles as vegan without checking?

No. Confirm the status of the current packaging before buying them for that purpose. Albert Heijn and Jumbo do not list carmine in the ingredients for the blue and white variety, but V-Label says an ingredients list alone does not always provide complete certainty.

Are the aniseed sprinkles discussed here available as a single bar?

The aniseed sprinkles discussed here are sold in 270 g or 330 g packs, not as single bars or confirmed single portions. If you’re looking for an individual snack, check both the product type and portion size of another product.