Choose chocolate sprinkles with an explicit Fairtrade cocoa statement if you want to serve Fairtrade chocolate on Boxing Day: the De Ruijter Feestmuisjes described by Albert Heijn are sugar-coated aniseed, not chocolate. PLUS states that its dark and milk chocolate sprinkles contain Fairtrade Cocoa. Choose the flavour that suits your guests, and check the latest allergen information on the packaging before serving.
You want to serve chocolate with a Fairtrade cocoa statement that you can verify for the product you have chosen. Chocolate sprinkles are a better fit than the De Ruijter Feestmuisjes, which Albert Heijn describes as sugar-coated aniseed.
You prefer the familiar aniseed flavour and appearance of aniseed sprinkles. If you also want to serve Fairtrade chocolate at the buffet, you’ll need a separate topping.
You compare the ingredients and warnings on every pack before guests choose their toppings. This is particularly important if anyone needs to avoid milk or wheat.
Aniseed sprinkles are the choice for an aniseed flavour. If you specifically want Fairtrade chocolate, check the statement on the chocolate product itself. Then decide which toppings will suit your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for an explicit Fairtrade statement on the chocolate product you choose. Don’t treat a Rainforest Alliance statement as the same claim. | I want to serve chocolate that meets my Fairtrade requirement, rather than simply choosing a different sustainability certification; around 45% of consumers prioritise this requirement. |
| Aniseed flavour or chocolate | Read the product description: Albert Heijn describes De Ruijter Feestmuisjes as sugar-coated aniseed, not chocolate sprinkles. | I choose aniseed sprinkles for their familiar flavour, even if that means offering chocolate as a separate topping; around 33% of consumers value this tradition most. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the latest packaging for each variety, paying particular attention to milk, lactose, wheat and warnings about possible traces. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what each topping contains before serving it; around 22% of consumers prioritise this suitability. |
Albert Heijn describes De Ruijter Feestmuisjes as sugar-coated aniseed. So this product alone won’t give you Fairtrade chocolate.
Choose aniseed sprinkles for the traditional flavour, and add chocolate sprinkles with a suitable Fairtrade statement separately if you want to offer both.
ALDI lists Rainforest Alliance for De Ruijter sprinkles and its Sprinkles. This certification isn’t the same as a Fairtrade statement on the product you choose.
Decide whether Fairtrade is a requirement or whether you’re happy with another certification, then check the packaging.
PLUS labels its dark Fairtrade sprinkles as vegan, but also states that they may contain milk and lactose. Fairtrade Original says its dark sprinkles may contain milk.
If anyone has a milk allergy, check the ingredients and warning text on the latest packaging. Don’t rely on the words ‘dark’ or ‘vegan’ alone.
A product page you looked at earlier won’t tell you whether your chosen product is currently available or can be delivered in time for the buffet.
Check the latest product information and delivery time before buying. Check the packaging again when you set everything out.
Worth considering if you’re choosing aniseed sprinkles for their flavour, or comparing chocolate sprinkles with a different certification.
Offers dark chocolate sprinkles for anyone looking for a chocolate topping explicitly positioned as Fairtrade.
Offers dark and milk chocolate sprinkles, with PLUS stating at product level that they contain Fairtrade Cocoa.
A brand to compare if you’re considering chocolate sprinkles with another sustainability certification as well as Fairtrade.
De Ruijter Feestmuisjes aren’t Fairtrade chocolate: Albert Heijn describes them as sugar-coated aniseed. If you want to serve chocolate with a Fairtrade cocoa statement, choose a chocolate product and check the claim on its packaging.
No, they’re different certifications. If Fairtrade is a requirement for your purchase, check that the chocolate product you choose carries an appropriate Fairtrade statement rather than relying on a Rainforest Alliance statement instead.
Don’t rely on ‘dark’ or ‘vegan’ alone: PLUS states that its dark Fairtrade sprinkles may contain milk and lactose, while Fairtrade Original says its dark variety may contain milk. According to PLUS, PLUS Melk contains milk powder. Check the latest ingredients and allergen warnings for each product.
Check the latest packaging of each pre-packed product before serving it. Ondernemersplein states that mandatory label information must also be available online; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on the label.
