Choose aniseed sprinkles as birthday decorations, and check the Fairtrade label on any chocolate you buy separately to go with them; a label on the chocolate does not automatically apply to the sprinkles. If you’re preparing a treat for others, check the allergens in each product and the venue’s rules too.
You want to choose chocolate for a birthday based on the label on the specific product, rather than on a general brand promise. Check what the logo applies to as well: according to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo with a white background may apply to just one ingredient.
You want to use aniseed sprinkles as a distinctive decoration on biscuits or cake, for example. Jumbo describes a recipe in which sprinkles are scattered over biscuits dipped in chocolate; the chocolate and sprinkles remain separate products that you can choose individually.
You’re handing out treats to children or other guests and want to know which allergens the chosen products contain before you buy. Voedingscentrum recommends asking about allergies and other dietary requirements in advance; check the rules at the school, after-school club or party venue too.
First decide whether the sprinkles are mainly for decoration. Then choose the chocolate based on its own Fairtrade label, and check that every part of the treat is suitable for your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it’s most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade label | Check the chocolate packaging or product page. See whether the Fairtrade logo applies to the whole product or just one ingredient; Milieu Centraal draws this distinction for logos with a white background. | If Fairtrade chocolate is my main requirement, I want to be able to find the label on that specific chocolate. For around 42% of consumers, this check would come first. |
| Decorating with aniseed sprinkles | Decide whether to use aniseed sprinkles as decoration or opt for chocolate sprinkles instead. To combine the two, you could scatter aniseed sprinkles over biscuits dipped in chocolate, as in a recipe from Jumbo. | I want the treat to look festive, with distinctive aniseed sprinkles, even if I have to choose the chocolate separately. For around 33% of consumers, decorating with aniseed sprinkles would be the main consideration. |
| Suitability for the group | Ask about allergies and dietary requirements, read the allergen information on every pack and check the venue’s rules. Voedingscentrum recommends serving small portions for children’s treats. | When I’m handing out treats to a class or mixed group, they need to suit the guests and the venue. For around 25% of consumers, suitability for the group would be the top priority. |
Using aniseed sprinkles as decoration doesn’t automatically make the chocolate in a treat Fairtrade, and a Fairtrade label on the chocolate says nothing about the sprinkles.
Choose each part separately. Only rely on a Fairtrade label for the part it applies to, according to the packaging or product page.
A statement about the cocoa in a supermarket’s own-brand range doesn’t tell you which label appears on a product from another brand or product category.
Use claims like these to find products, then check the certification label and ingredients on the exact item you’re considering.
Allergens vary from one product to another. For example, PLUS lists milk, soya, peanuts and nuts in its Fairtrade chocolate mix, while Jumbo lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Anijshagel.
Ask about allergies before you buy, and read the latest allergen information for every product you plan to serve.
These brands are relevant to different parts of a treat: aniseed sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles or other chocolate. Always check the labels and allergens for each product you choose.
A brand to consider when you want aniseed sprinkles to be the main decoration. Jumbo lists several De Ruijter varieties, including pink and white, blue and white, festive and crushed aniseed sprinkles.
An option if you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles rather than aniseed sprinkles. Fairtrade Original states that its dark chocolate sprinkles contain at least 32% cocoa solids.
A supermarket own-brand option to explore for chocolate products. PLUS says that all the cocoa in its own-brand products has been Fairtrade-certified since 2020, including the cocoa used in chocolate sprinkles.
These aniseed sprinkles are suitable for a treat where you choose the decoration separately from the Fairtrade chocolate. Check the chocolate you want to use with them for its own product label.
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For anyone who wants to use pink aniseed sprinkles as a birthday decoration.
Pack size: 330 g. Choose Fairtrade chocolate separately and check the allergens on the packaging before serving.
Don’t assume so: the sprinkles and the chocolate in a treat are separate products. If you want to rely on a Fairtrade label, check the packaging of the product you’ve chosen to see what it applies to.
Check the packaging or product page for the specific chocolate you want to buy. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo with a white background may mean that only one ingredient is Fairtrade-certified, rather than the whole product.
Yes, you can use them as separate parts of the same treat. For example, Jumbo describes biscuits dipped in melted chocolate and then covered with aniseed sprinkles; check the ingredients of both before handing them out.
Ask about allergies and dietary requirements, read the allergen information on every pack and check the venue’s rules. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that 14 specified allergens must be listed on labels for prepacked foods; Voedingscentrum recommends serving small portions for children’s treats.
