Who is this relevant for?

Parents looking for Fairtrade cocoa

You’re looking for a chocolate spread whose packaging tells you which ingredients were sourced under Fairtrade terms. Aniseed sprinkles don’t meet your need for cocoa.

Parents weighing up a snack for their toddler

You want to distinguish between sweet toppings for an occasional treat and the snacks you usually give your child. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread as snack options.

Fans of traditional aniseed sprinkles

You’re after the aniseed flavour and fine texture of crushed aniseed sprinkles, perhaps for bread, crispbread or yoghurt. That’s a different choice from chocolate sprinkles.

What should you consider when choosing?

First decide whether you’re looking for an everyday snack for your toddler or a sweet topping for an occasional treat. Then choose between aniseed flavour and cocoa with verifiable Fairtrade certification.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Everyday snack Decide whether you’re looking for something for every day or a sweet topping for the occasional treat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread as snack options. If I’m choosing an everyday snack, I don’t want sweet sprinkles to be a regular option. For around 45% of these consumers, the everyday snack choice would be the main consideration.
Fairtrade cocoa Check whether the product contains cocoa, and read the Fairtrade certification and ingredient information on the packaging. If Fairtrade cocoa is my priority, I want to be able to confirm it on the specific pack; around 33% of these consumers would place the greatest importance on verifiable Fairtrade cocoa.
Traditional aniseed flavour Check that you’re buying crushed aniseed sprinkles rather than chocolate sprinkles, and read the latest ingredients and allergen information. For a celebratory slice of bread or crispbread, it’s specifically the aniseed flavour of crushed aniseed sprinkles that I’m after. For around 22% of these consumers, that flavour would come first.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking crushed aniseed sprinkles for chocolate sprinkles

    Both are sprinkle-on toppings, but the De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes ingredients list we consulted includes aniseed and no cocoa. So you won’t be buying the chocolate product you may have had in mind.

    Choose according to the flavour and ingredient you want: aniseed for crushed aniseed sprinkles, cocoa for chocolate sprinkles.

  • Confusing Fairtrade certification with dietary advice

    Fairtrade certification doesn’t tell you where sprinkles fit into your diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises eating sprinkles sparingly and not too often because of their calorie, saturated fat and sugar content.

    Consider the Fairtrade information separately from your choice of an everyday snack for your toddler.

  • Relying on a retailer’s general claim

    A statement about a retailer’s range doesn’t tell you which ingredients in the pack you’re holding were sourced under Fairtrade terms. Fairtrade International advises checking the packaging for information about composite products.

    Read the certification and information on the specific pack, as well as the ingredients and allergens.

  • Relying on an ingredients list you checked earlier

    Ingredients and allergen information can change, as Albert Heijn notes in its product information. This is particularly important if you’re buying for a child with a food allergy.

    Read the label on the pack you’ve actually bought before using it.

Brands and retailers to explore

De Ruijter

De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes are a traditional aniseed topping; Jumbo suggests using them on bread, crispbread and yoghurt.

  • Worth considering if you’re specifically looking for crushed aniseed sprinkles.
  • The ingredients list we consulted doesn’t mention cocoa. Check the latest label for ingredients and allergen information.

Fairtrade Original

Fairtrade Original describes a dark chocolate sprinkle product, which Jumbo lists in its Fairtrade range.

  • A product to explore if you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles with a Fairtrade label.
  • Check the certification, ingredients and allergens on the specific pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises eating sprinkles sparingly and not too often.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur in its product information. It also outlines its own policy on certified cocoa in own-brand products.

  • The product information can help you compare chocolate sprinkles with other sweet toppings.
  • A general cocoa policy doesn’t prove that every individual product is Fairtrade certified. Albert Heijn advises customers to check the latest packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists both De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes and Fairtrade Original Chocoladehagelslag Puur in its online product information.

  • The individual product listings let you compare the aniseed and chocolate options side by side.
  • A Fairtrade category doesn’t tell you what’s on every individual pack, so check the product label.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are crushed aniseed sprinkles Fairtrade chocolate?

The De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes ingredients list we consulted doesn’t mention cocoa, so crushed aniseed sprinkles aren’t the same product as chocolate sprinkles. If you want to check a Fairtrade claim for a specific product, look at the latest packaging.

How can I check the Fairtrade information for chocolate sprinkles?

Look for the certification on the pack and read which ingredients the packaging says were sourced under Fairtrade terms. For composite products, Fairtrade International also advises checking the packaging for information about the sourcing method used.

Are Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler?

A Fairtrade label doesn’t change the dietary advice for sprinkles. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises eating sprinkles sparingly and not too often, and recommends options such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread for snacks.

What should I check if my child has a food allergy and I’m buying crushed aniseed sprinkles?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re going to use. One De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes listing we consulted mentions wheat starch; product listings can vary, so check the current packaging.