Who is this choice relevant to?

Hosts looking for Fairtrade chocolate

You want to serve chocolate with a Fairtrade label and don’t mind that chocolate sprinkles or a bar are different from classic aniseed sprinkles.

Fans of classic aniseed sprinkles

You’re looking for the aniseed flavour, colour and sprinkling quality of traditional aniseed sprinkles, perhaps for rusks or small cakes.

Shoppers who need to check allergens

You’re sharing snacks with a group and want to check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging before buying.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want something to sprinkle or a snack to serve on its own. Then choose between the aniseed flavour of traditional sprinkles and a chocolate product with a Fairtrade label.

Classic aniseed sprinkles

Choose these: if you want to top rusks or small cakes with crunchy, colourful sprinkles.

The trade-off: Jumbo lists aniseed and wheat starch in De Ruijter Feest Muisjes, but no cocoa. So this option isn’t suitable if you’re looking for Fairtrade chocolate.

Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles

Choose these: if you want chocolate sprinkles and are looking for a Fairtrade label specific to the product.

The trade-off: Albert Heijn states that these sprinkles are Fairtrade and contain at least 32% cocoa solids. They aren’t an aniseed topping, and the product information also says they may contain milk.

Fairtrade chocolate bar

Choose this: if you want to serve chocolate as a snack alongside the games, rather than as a topping.

The trade-off: a bar isn’t a substitute for sprinkles as a topping. Lidl describes its Way To Go bars as Fairtrade-certified; check the label on the variety you buy.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade label Check the certification mark or Fairtrade claim on the chocolate product you choose. If the mark has an arrow, read the text on the packaging. I want to choose chocolate for the group with a Fairtrade label that applies to this product, not just the brand or shop. This check comes first for around 45% of consumers.
Flavour and suitability for sprinkling Check whether you’re buying aniseed sprinkles or chocolate sprinkles, and choose packaging that suits what you want to serve. For rusks or small cakes, I specifically want the colour and aniseed flavour of classic sprinkles. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging before sharing snacks. If someone in the group needs to avoid an ingredient, I want to know what’s in the product before serving it. Around 22% of consumers put this check first.

Common mistakes

  • Treating aniseed sprinkles and chocolate sprinkles as the same product

    The ingredients list shown by Jumbo for De Ruijter Feest Muisjes includes sugar, aniseed and wheat starch, but no cocoa. So these sprinkles aren’t suitable if you want to serve Fairtrade chocolate.

    Before buying, decide whether you want an aniseed topping or a chocolate product with its own Fairtrade label.

  • Confusing a shop or brand’s message with a product’s certification mark

    A shop selling Fairtrade products doesn’t mean that another pack on the same shelf is Fairtrade. For a certification mark with an arrow, Fairtrade International refers shoppers to the information on the back of the packaging.

    Check the label and any accompanying text on the product you’re buying.

  • Checking allergens only after the snacks are on the table

    Jumbo lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Feest Muisjes; according to Albert Heijn’s product information, Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles may contain milk. This could affect your choice of a topping to share.

    Ask in advance which ingredients matter to the group, then check the current packaging.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

Feest Muisjes are an option if you’re looking for traditional aniseed sprinkles for rusks or small cakes.

  • Jumbo lists sugar, aniseed and wheat starch in De Ruijter Feest Muisjes.
  • This variety’s ingredients list doesn’t mention cocoa; check the wheat information too if it’s relevant to your group.

Fairtrade Original

Dark Chocolate Sprinkles are a chocolate topping for anyone looking for a Fairtrade label specific to the product.

  • Albert Heijn states that this variety is Fairtrade and contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • They’re chocolate sprinkles, not aniseed sprinkles; according to the product information, they may contain milk.

Way To Go

Lidl presents Way To Go chocolate bars as snacks you can serve on their own.

  • Lidl describes its Way To Go bars as Fairtrade-certified.
  • A bar isn’t a topping like aniseed or chocolate sprinkles; check the variety you choose and the current packaging.

Chocolate bars to enjoy alongside the game

This Joybuy selection consists of chocolate bars you can serve as snacks on their own at a board game night. They aren’t aniseed sprinkles or other toppings; check the Fairtrade label and allergen information on the packaging for each variety.

Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with pecan and caramel, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with pecan and caramel, 180 g

A bar for anyone who wants to serve chocolate as a snack alongside the game, rather than as a topping.

The product name states 180 g. Before sharing, check the Fairtrade label and allergen information for this variety on the current packaging.

View at Joybuy
Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with caramel and sea salt, 90 g

Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with caramel and sea salt, 90 g

A chocolate bar to enjoy alongside the games if you’re not looking for a topping for rusks or small cakes.

The product name states 90 g. Before buying, check whether the Fairtrade label applies to this variety and read the current allergen information.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is classic aniseed sprinkle also Fairtrade chocolate?

Don’t assume so: the ingredients list shown by Jumbo for De Ruijter Feest Muisjes includes aniseed and wheat starch, but no cocoa. If you want to buy Fairtrade chocolate, check the label on the specific chocolate product.

What does a Fairtrade certification mark with an arrow mean on chocolate?

According to Fairtrade International, the arrow points to additional information on the back of the packaging. Read this text to find out what the label applies to on the product you’ve chosen.

Which allergens should I check before a board game night with shared snacks?

Check the current packaging for every product you plan to serve. Jumbo lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Feest Muisjes, and according to Albert Heijn, Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles may contain milk. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information in the ingredients list.