If you want to serve traditional rusks with aniseed sprinkles, choose sugar-coated aniseed: the ingredients list for the pink and white De Ruijter variety shown by Albert Heijn does not mention cocoa. Fairtrade cocoa is therefore not a relevant criterion for that pack. If you would prefer a chocolate topping, check the Fairtrade claim on the specific product and bear in mind that it is not traditional aniseed sprinkles. If any guests need to avoid wheat, always check the latest ingredients and allergen information.
You’re looking for the familiar aniseed sprinkles to put on rusks. The pink and white De Ruijter sprinkles described by Albert Heijn are sugar-coated aniseed; a chocolate topping is a different type of product.
You want to know which product and ingredient a Fairtrade claim applies to. According to Fairtrade Netherlands, mass balance is permitted for products including cocoa and sugar. Check the claim and traceability information on the pack if physical separation matters to you.
You’re serving rusks to guests who need to avoid wheat. The ingredients list for the pink and white De Ruijter variety at Albert Heijn states that it contains wheat starch, so check the label on the pack you buy.
First decide whether you want traditional aniseed sprinkles or would deliberately prefer a different topping. Then check the Fairtrade claim, ingredients and allergens on the specific pack for anything that matters to your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check what the certification applies to on the specific pack. For cocoa or sugar, also look at the traceability information. | If Fairtrade matters to me, I want to know exactly which product and ingredient the claim applies to. An estimated 39% of consumers put this check first. |
| Traditional aniseed sprinkles | Check that they are sugar-coated aniseed and choose the colour you want for your rusks. | For a birth celebration, I want to serve the familiar aniseed sprinkles, not a chocolate topping. For around 31% of consumers, this traditional product type comes first. |
| Allergens and sugars | Read the latest ingredients and allergen list. If sugar content matters to your choice, compare the nutritional information per 100 g or per serving. | If guests need to avoid wheat or I want to keep an eye on sugar, I check the label first. This is the main priority for an estimated 15% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check that the item you have chosen is available and that it is actually aniseed sprinkles or the alternative topping you want. | If I need the treat soon, I want to find an available product without confusing aniseed sprinkles with chocolate flakes. Around 15% of consumers give this priority. |
The pink and white De Ruijter sprinkles in Albert Heijn’s product information are made from sugar-coated aniseed. Chocolate flakes are a different topping and are not the same type of product.
First decide whether you want to serve traditional aniseed sprinkles or are deliberately looking for a chocolate alternative.
For products including cocoa and sugar, Fairtrade Netherlands permits mass balance: ingredients can be mixed during processing while Fairtrade volumes are monitored.
Check the claim and traceability information on the pack if physical separation is a requirement for you.
The ingredients list for the pink and white De Ruijter sprinkles at Albert Heijn states that they contain wheat starch. This matters if any guests need to avoid wheat.
Read the latest label before buying and, if necessary, choose a suitable product separately for those guests.
A brand of traditional aniseed sprinkles for rusks and other uses; Albert Heijn lists sugar-coated aniseed in the pink and white variety.
A retailer with product information on De Ruijter sprinkles and a separate cocoa policy for its own-brand products.
A supermarket with its own cocoa policy for own-brand products.
ALDI presents a Fairtrade range under FAIR that includes sugar.
No. The ingredients list for the pink and white De Ruijter sprinkles at Albert Heijn mentions aniseed, not cocoa. Fairtrade chocolate topping may be a deliberate alternative, but it is not a feature of these traditional sprinkles.
Read the certification and exact claim on the current packaging of the product you want to buy. Fairtrade Netherlands permits mass balance for cocoa and sugar, which means ingredients can be mixed during processing. So, if physical separation matters to you, also check the traceability information.
The ingredients list for this variety at Albert Heijn states that it contains wheat starch, so don’t assume it is suitable for that guest. Check the latest label and agree on an alternative that the guest can eat.
No, not unless there is a claim that applies to that specific product. A policy on own-brand cocoa or a range of Fairtrade sugar does not automatically certify another brand’s aniseed sprinkles; check the pack itself.
