Who is this choice for?

Consumers who put Fairtrade cocoa first

You want to be able to check the Fairtrade claim on the chocolate product, even if that means choosing chocolate sprinkles instead of traditional aniseed sprinkles.

Aniseed sprinkle fans who want to combine flavours

You want to keep the aniseed flavour and add chocolate too. Check the sprinkles and chocolate separately: a claim on one product doesn’t automatically apply to the other.

Consumers who compare labels

For a late-night snack, you want to check which allergens both products contain and how much sugar they list per 100 g before deciding how much to use.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want traditional aniseed sprinkles, Fairtrade-certified cocoa or both. Then check the labels of the products you’re actually combining.

Aniseed sprinkles only

Choose this when: you specifically want sugar-coated aniseed seeds as a topping.

The trade-off: the De Ruijter blue and white sprinkles described by Albert Heijn contain no cocoa, so they’re not an option for Fairtrade chocolate.

Chocolate instead of aniseed sprinkles

Choose this when: Fairtrade-certified cocoa matters more to you than keeping the aniseed sprinkles.

The trade-off: according to Albert Heijn, Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles contain Fairtrade-certified cocoa, but chocolate sprinkles have a different flavour and composition from traditional aniseed sprinkles.

Aniseed sprinkles with separate chocolate

Choose this when: you want to keep the aniseed flavour and add chocolate with a Fairtrade claim you can check.

The trade-off: you’re choosing two products; the Fairtrade claim on the chocolate doesn’t automatically apply to the aniseed sprinkles.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade cocoa Check the certification mark and accompanying claim on the pack of the specific chocolate product. If I want chocolate with my late-night snack, I want to be able to see whether the cocoa is Fairtrade-certified. For around 50% of consumers, being able to verify this is the top priority.
Allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on both packs. The De Ruijter sprinkles described by Albert Heijn contain wheat; Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles list milk and lactose. When I combine aniseed sprinkles and chocolate, I need to know which allergens each product contains. That’s why around 30% of consumers put these labels first.
Quantity and nutritional value Compare sugar per 100 g, then decide how much you want to use; serving sizes can differ. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products using values per 100 g. For a late-night snack, I want to decide for myself how much topping to use, without confusing different serving sizes. Around 20% of consumers give quantity and nutritional value top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking aniseed sprinkles for chocolate

    Albert Heijn describes De Ruijter blue and white sprinkles as sugar-coated aniseed seeds; cocoa isn’t listed in the ingredients. So buying those sprinkles on their own doesn’t meet a requirement for Fairtrade chocolate.

    Choose a separate chocolate product if Fairtrade-certified cocoa needs to be part of your snack.

  • Assuming a general brand claim applies to every variety

    Information about a chocolate range or a shop’s cocoa policy doesn’t tell you which claim appears on the pack of the product you’ve chosen.

    Check the certification mark and accompanying wording on that pack. Fairtrade International describes, among other things, a certification mark with an arrow for products with multiple ingredients.

  • Relying on ‘dark’ or the product name for allergen information

    Albert Heijn lists milk and lactose as allergens for Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles, and wheat for De Ruijter blue and white sprinkles. The name alone isn’t a reliable way to assess allergens.

    If you’re combining products, read the ingredients and allergen information on both current packs.

  • Comparing different serving sizes

    Nutritional values per serving are difficult to compare when the stated serving sizes differ. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g first.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then decide how much you want to use for your snack.

Brands and shops to consider

De Ruijter

A brand to look at if you’re specifically after aniseed sprinkles; Albert Heijn and PLUS describe different sprinkle products.

  • The blue and white sprinkles described by Albert Heijn are sugar-coated aniseed seeds.
  • This variety contains no cocoa and lists wheat. If you want Fairtrade chocolate, you’ll need to choose a separate product.

Delicata

Worth considering if you’re thinking of choosing chocolate sprinkles instead of, or alongside, aniseed sprinkles.

  • Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade-certified cocoa in Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles. In May 2026, Fairtrade Netherlands reported that the Delicata chocolate range is Fairtrade-certified.
  • The dark chocolate sprinkles described aren’t an aniseed sprinkle product and list milk and lactose as allergens.

Albert Heijn

A shop where you can compare product information for both De Ruijter blue and white sprinkles and Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles.

  • The product descriptions clearly distinguish aniseed sprinkles from chocolate sprinkles.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and Fairtrade claim for each variety you choose; a general statement about cocoa is no substitute for the product label.

Jumbo

A shop to consider for De Ruijter sprinkles; one of Jumbo’s recipes also shows how sprinkles can be combined with chocolate.

  • The recipe offers a practical example of using sprinkles and chocolate as two parts of a snack.
  • The recipe doesn’t confirm that the chocolate used is Fairtrade. Check the chocolate product you choose yourself.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are aniseed sprinkles automatically Fairtrade chocolate?

No. According to Albert Heijn, De Ruijter blue and white sprinkles are sugar-coated aniseed seeds, with no cocoa in the listed ingredients. If you’re looking for Fairtrade chocolate, check the certification mark and claim on a separate chocolate product.

What does the arrow on a Fairtrade mark mean?

According to Fairtrade International, the certification mark with an arrow is used on products with multiple ingredients, including chocolate products. Read the accompanying wording on the pack to see what the claim applies to for that specific variety.

Are dark chocolate sprinkles dairy-free?

Not necessarily: Albert Heijn lists milk and lactose as allergens in Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack when you buy it, even if it says ‘dark’.

How do I compare the sugar in aniseed sprinkles and chocolate sprinkles?

First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, so differences in stated serving sizes don’t skew the comparison. Albert Heijn lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for the De Ruijter sprinkles described and 54 g per 100 g for Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles; they’re still different types of topping.

How should I store aniseed sprinkles and chocolate sprinkles?

Follow the storage instructions on each pack separately. The sprinkles described by Albert Heijn should be stored in a dry place; the Delicata chocolate sprinkles described should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. Also check the use-by date on the pack you buy.