If you want to keep the colour and aniseed flavour of muisjes (aniseed sprinkles) on your cake, pair them with a separate chocolate product that explicitly states it contains Fairtrade cocoa. If you mainly want a chocolate decoration, Fairtrade chocolate flakes or sprinkles are an alternative, but they won’t replace the look and flavour of muisjes. Check the latest allergen information on the packaging of every product you choose.
You want to see an explicit Fairtrade cocoa statement on the chocolate product itself. PLUS states that its plain chocolate flakes contain Fairtrade Cacao, and says the cocoa in its own-brand products has been Fairtrade certified since 2020. Check the statement on the pack you buy.
You want the familiar coloured muisjes and aniseed flavour on a cake, cupcakes or a larger cake. According to Jumbo, De Ruijter Feest Muisjes contain ingredients including aniseed and wheat starch. If Fairtrade cocoa matters to you too, choose the chocolate separately.
You’re comparing more than just the decoration: you’re checking the label too. The muisjes examined contain wheat, while the chocolate flakes examined state that they contain milk or lactose, sometimes as a possible trace. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods.
First decide whether you want muisjes or chocolate to define the look of your cake. Then choose the specific chocolate product, and finally check the allergens and how much you need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for an explicit Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cacao statement on the chocolate product you choose; don’t rely on the brand name alone. | When I buy chocolate for my cake, I want to be able to check the Fairtrade cocoa statement on that specific product. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Appearance and aniseed flavour | Choose muisjes if you want to keep their colour and aniseed flavour; add chocolate separately if you also want Fairtrade cocoa. | I want my cake to have the familiar look of muisjes; chocolate flakes alone won’t give the same result. Around 29% of consumers give this appearance and flavour the highest priority. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Read both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current label, especially for wheat, milk and lactose. | Before choosing a decoration, I need to know whether its ingredients and allergen statements are suitable for me to eat. This check comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size and using leftovers | Compare the pack weight with the amount you’ll use on the cake and what you plan to do with any leftovers. | For one cake, I want to choose a pack that lets me use the leftover decoration another time. This is the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
According to Jumbo’s product information, De Ruijter Feest Muisjes are an aniseed decoration; chocolate flakes and sprinkles have a different flavour and appearance.
If you want both on your cake, choose muisjes as well as a separate chocolate product. A recipe from Jumbo shows how to sprinkle muisjes over melted chocolate.
Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Intens Puur sprinkles contain Rainforest Alliance cocoa, while PLUS states that its plain chocolate flakes contain Fairtrade Cacao. These are not the same product claims.
If Fairtrade cocoa is a requirement, check that the statement appears on the packaging of the specific variety you choose.
PLUS says its plain Fairtrade chocolate flakes may contain milk and lactose. The word ‘plain’ doesn’t remove that warning.
Check the allergen statement on the packaging itself before use, even if you’ve bought the product before.
Relevant for muisjes as a cake decoration and chocolate sprinkles as a separate product.
Relevant for plain and milk chocolate flakes labelled Fairtrade Cacao by PLUS.
Relevant if you want to use plain chocolate sprinkles as a finishing touch.
Relevant as a retailer of the Feest Muisjes and Fairtrade Original sprinkles mentioned here, and as the source of a recipe using muisjes.
Relevant for understanding the difference between a general Fairtrade statement and the information for a specific chocolate product.
According to Jumbo’s ingredients information, De Ruijter Feest Muisjes are not a chocolate product: the list includes ingredients such as sugar, aniseed and wheat starch, but no cocoa. If you want Fairtrade cocoa on your cake while keeping the look of muisjes, choose the chocolate separately and check the statement on that product.
Sprinkle the muisjes over the chocolate while it’s still soft. Jumbo’s recipe uses this order: dip in melted chocolate first, then sprinkle the muisjes over the top.
Both PLUS varieties examined state that they contain Fairtrade Cacao, but the plain and milk chocolate flakes have different flavour profiles and allergen statements. According to PLUS, the plain variety may contain milk and lactose; the milk variety contains milk and lactose.
For the products you choose, always check the latest statements for wheat, milk and lactose. The De Ruijter Feest Muisjes examined contain wheat starch; the PLUS flakes examined list milk and lactose as ingredients or as possible traces. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods.
