Who is this choice relevant to?

Bakers looking for aniseed decorations

You want to finish cupcakes, cakes or pastries with the flavour and look of crushed aniseed sprinkles, not chocolate.

Bakers who prioritise Fairtrade cocoa

You want a chocolate product whose Fairtrade label you can check on the specific item, even if it gives you a different decoration.

Shoppers who need to check ingredients

You need to check whether a sprinkle product contains wheat or gluten, so read the current packaging before use.

What should you look for when choosing?

For cake decorations, aniseed flavour and Fairtrade chocolate are two different product choices. According to product listings from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, crushed aniseed sprinkles are sugar-coated aniseed seeds, while Jumbo lists Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles as a separate product.

Crushed aniseed sprinkles

Choose these: if aniseed flavour and the familiar appearance of the sprinkles are central to your decoration.

Trade-off: Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product listings do not describe De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes as chocolate or as Fairtrade-certified; Jumbo lists wheat and cereals containing gluten.

Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles

Choose these: if a chocolate sprinkle product with a verifiable Fairtrade label matters more than aniseed flavour.

Trade-off: chocolate sprinkles do not have the flavour or appearance of crushed aniseed sprinkles; check the label on the packaging of the product you choose.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important to?
Aniseed flavour and decoration Check whether the product is crushed, sugar-coated aniseed seeds and whether it suits the decoration you want to create. If I want to finish my cake with the familiar sprinkles and aniseed flavour, that matters more to me than chocolate. Around 42% of consumers would make this decoration their top priority.
Fairtrade cocoa Check for the Fairtrade certification mark or specific Fairtrade label on the chocolate product you choose. I’m looking for chocolate sprinkles with a Fairtrade label I can verify, even if the result looks different. This would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Wheat and gluten Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging; Jumbo lists wheat starch, wheat and cereals containing gluten for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes. If I need to avoid wheat or gluten, I want to know what’s in the product before decorating. For around 25% of consumers, this check would be their top priority when buying.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a Fairtrade range means crushed aniseed sprinkles carry the certification

    A shop selling Fairtrade products tells you nothing about the certification of another item in the same range.

    Check the Fairtrade label on the specific product and its current packaging.

  • Using chocolate sprinkles as an identical substitute

    Crushed aniseed sprinkles are sugar-coated aniseed seeds; chocolate sprinkles change the flavour and appearance of the decoration.

    Before buying, decide whether aniseed flavour and the familiar look of the sprinkles matter most, or whether Fairtrade chocolate is the priority. If you want both, you’ll need two separate products.

  • Relying solely on an online ingredients list

    Jumbo lists wheat starch, wheat and cereals containing gluten for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergens must be clearly stated on the label of prepacked foods.

    Before use, read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you actually have.

Brands and shops to consider

De Ruijter

Crushed aniseed sprinkles for bread and decorations for cupcakes, cakes and pastries.

  • Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product listings describe crushed aniseed sprinkles as sugar-coated aniseed seeds.
  • Jumbo lists wheat starch, wheat and cereals containing gluten; the product listings do not describe these sprinkles as Fairtrade chocolate.

Fairtrade Original

Jumbo lists Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles in its Fairtrade range.

  • A product to consider if you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles with a Fairtrade label.
  • Chocolate sprinkles are not crushed aniseed sprinkles; check the label on the current packaging.

Albert Heijn

Lists De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes; Fairtrade Netherlands also includes chocolate in its overview of Albert Heijn’s Fairtrade range.

  • You can look at the two types of product separately.
  • Having a Fairtrade range does not mean that De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes are Fairtrade-certified.

Jumbo

Lists both De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes and, separately, Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles.

  • The listings let you check the ingredients and type of product separately.
  • They are still different types of sprinkles; check the current packaging of the item you choose when buying.

Lidl

Lists chocolate in its own Way To Go range. Lidl says products in this range are Fairtrade-certified.

  • A place to start if you want to look at a specific Fairtrade chocolate product.
  • Chocolate from this range is not automatically a sprinkle decoration or a substitute for crushed aniseed sprinkles.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes Fairtrade chocolate?

Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product listings describe De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes as sugar-coated aniseed seeds, not chocolate, and do not mention Fairtrade certification. Always check for a Fairtrade label on the current packaging of the specific product.

Can I use Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles instead of crushed aniseed sprinkles?

Yes, if you want chocolate with a verifiable Fairtrade label for your cake decoration, but don’t expect aniseed flavour or the familiar appearance of the sprinkles. Jumbo includes Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles in its Fairtrade range; check the current packaging before choosing the product.

What should I look out for if I avoid wheat or gluten?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging before using a sprinkle product. Jumbo lists wheat starch, wheat and cereals containing gluten for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes.

How should I store crushed aniseed sprinkles until I’m ready to bake?

Store them in a dry place and follow the best-before date on the packaging, as stated in the product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo.