Choose aniseed sprinkles if you need them for rusks or decoration: according to Albert Heijn and Jumbo, De Ruijter’s blue-and-white and pink-and-white varieties contain aniseed, but no cocoa. If Fairtrade cocoa is your priority, look for chocolate sprinkles or a sprinkle mix with an explicit claim on the packaging; these are different products. If you want one product to meet both requirements, check the ingredients and the exact certification claim before stocking up.
You’re looking for aniseed sprinkles for rusks, cakes or a celebration. The ingredient lists for De Ruijter varieties at Albert Heijn and Jumbo show that these are a different product from chocolate sprinkles.
You want a product with a clear Fairtrade cocoa claim and are happy to choose chocolate sprinkles or a sprinkle mix instead of aniseed sprinkles. Check the packaging to see which ingredient the claim applies to.
You want to know whether you’ll use the contents within the stated shelf life and whether the label meets your allergen requirements. The aniseed sprinkles and chocolate sprinkles we looked at differ in their ingredients and allergen information.
First decide whether you need aniseed sprinkles or are willing to switch to a chocolate product with Fairtrade cocoa. Then compare the pack size, best-before date and allergen information.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Read the ingredients and check whether the Fairtrade claim applies to the cocoa. Chocolate sprinkles are not aniseed sprinkles. | I want aniseed sprinkles for rusks, not chocolate sprinkles as a substitute, or I specifically want to buy Fairtrade cocoa. Product type would therefore be the main consideration for around 50% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight and check whether you can use the pack within the stated shelf life. If you’re buying a mix, check what it contains too. | If I stock up on several packs, I want to use them before their quality declines. Making sure the stock can be used in time would be the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the current label for wheat and for milk, including any possible traces. A vegan label does not replace the allergen information. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients strictly, the label determines which variety I can choose. Allergens would be the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
According to Albert Heijn and Jumbo, De Ruijter’s blue-and-white and pink-and-white sprinkles are sugar-coated aniseed with no cocoa. A Fairtrade cocoa claim on chocolate sprinkles doesn’t make them aniseed sprinkles.
Decide which type of product you need, then check the ingredients and, if cocoa matters to you, the exact Fairtrade claim.
PLUS’s dark Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles carry a vegan label, but PLUS also states that the product may contain milk and lactose.
If you need to avoid milk, read the current allergen information on the packaging.
According to PLUS, its Fairtrade sprinkle mix contains 50% dark chocolate sprinkles and 50% white sprinkles. So a larger box isn’t the same as a larger pack of dark chocolate sprinkles.
Check the ingredients, net weight and best-before date before buying several packs.
When it comes to allergens and certification claims, the label on the pack you receive is what matters. This is particularly important when you’re stocking up on several packs at once.
When your order arrives, check the ingredients, allergens and exact claim on each relevant product type.
The blue-and-white and pink-and-white varieties we looked at are for anyone seeking traditional aniseed sprinkles.
The 380 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles is a chocolate alternative if aniseed sprinkles aren’t essential.
The own-brand products we looked at include Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles and a Fairtrade sprinkle mix, but not aniseed sprinkles.
This variety is a good fit if you’re stocking up on traditional aniseed sprinkles for rusks or decoration. If you’re specifically looking for Fairtrade cocoa, choose a chocolate product with an explicit claim rather than treating these sprinkles as a substitute.
Image unavailable
For anyone stocking up on traditional sprinkles for rusks or decoration; the pack contains 330 g.
Albert Heijn lists aniseed and wheat starch in this blue-and-white variety, but no cocoa. Check the current label if wheat or a Fairtrade claim is important to your choice.
No. According to Albert Heijn and Jumbo, the De Ruijter sprinkles we looked at contain aniseed but no cocoa; chocolate sprinkles are a different product. Choose them only if chocolate suits your needs instead of aniseed sprinkles.
Check both the certification mark and the exact claim on the packaging, so you know which ingredients it applies to. Fairtrade International sets requirements for sourcing ingredients available on Fairtrade terms in composite products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark.
Follow the storage advice and best-before date on the packaging of the product you choose. According to Voedingscentrum, the date applies while the pack is unopened; once opened, follow the instructions on the pack.
It varies by product: Albert Heijn and Jumbo list wheat starch in the De Ruijter sprinkles we looked at, while PLUS states that its dark Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles may contain milk and lactose. Read the current label for the variety you’re buying, even if it carries a vegan label.
