Use aniseed sprinkles as decoration, but choose your Fairtrade chocolate separately. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, De Ruijter Feestmuisjes are sugar-coated aniseed without cocoa. Favorina could be an option for Christmas chocolate, as Lidl says its seasonal Christmas chocolate is Fairtrade-certified. Check the certification mark, ingredients and availability of the specific pack before you buy.
You want to be able to check a recognised product certification for your chocolate. Albert Heijn’s statement about its own-brand cocoa mentions both Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade, so check which mark appears on the chocolate you choose.
You might want to serve cupcakes decorated with aniseed sprinkles, while choosing the chocolate separately. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, De Ruijter Feestmuisjes are sugar-coated aniseed, not chocolate.
You’re buying for visitors or for resale, so you’ll want to check the topping too. De Ruijter Feestmuisjes’ ingredients list at Albert Heijn includes wheat starch; check the pack you’ll actually be using.
First, decide which chocolate needs to meet your Fairtrade requirement. Then, if you like, choose aniseed sprinkles for decoration and check the ingredients of everything you plan to offer visitors.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade certification for chocolate | Check the certification mark on the chocolate you’ve chosen; a general statement about cocoa may refer to a different certification too. | When I buy chocolate for my stall, I want to be able to see that the product I’ve chosen meets my Fairtrade requirement. Around 50% of consumers prioritise verifiable certification. |
| Decorating with aniseed sprinkles | Check the ingredients to confirm that your chosen sprinkles are a topping, and select the chocolate separately. | I want to decorate my cupcakes with aniseed sprinkles without presenting them as Fairtrade chocolate. For around 25% of consumers, a festive presentation is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for both the chocolate and the topping. | When I offer something to visitors, I want to know what’s in the decoration too. For around 25% of consumers, product information comes first. |
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, De Ruijter Feestmuisjes are sugar-coated aniseed without cocoa. So, choosing this topping alone doesn’t mean you’ve chosen Fairtrade chocolate.
Choose the chocolate separately and check its Fairtrade certification mark.
Albert Heijn says its own-brand cocoa is Rainforest Alliance- or Fairtrade-certified. This doesn’t tell you which mark appears on a particular chocolate product.
Check the certification on the exact pack you want to buy.
Lidl’s Fairtrade statement about Favorina seasonal chocolate covers occasions including Christmas. It doesn’t tell you which shape, flavour or pack will be available when you shop.
Before buying for your Christmas market, check the product you’ve chosen, its ingredients and current availability.
Even a small decoration is part of what you serve. De Ruijter Feestmuisjes’ ingredients list at Albert Heijn includes wheat starch.
Read the current packaging for every component, including toppings, before sharing information about the finished product.
An option to explore for seasonal Christmas chocolate if Fairtrade certification is important to you.
A retailer option where the certification mark on the chocolate you choose remains key.
A retailer option where you can browse individual products in a Fair trade category.
A brand to consider for aniseed sprinkles as decoration, separately from your choice of Fairtrade chocolate.
No, the product reviewed here isn’t chocolate. Albert Heijn describes De Ruijter Feestmuisjes as sugar-coated aniseed and lists no cocoa in the ingredients. If you need Fairtrade chocolate, choose the chocolate separately.
Favorina seasonal chocolate could be a good place to start: Lidl says this range is Fairtrade-certified for Christmas. Then check whether the specific pack suits what you want to offer, including its ingredients and allergens.
Albert Heijn’s general statement doesn’t confirm this. The supermarket says its own-brand cocoa is Rainforest Alliance- or Fairtrade-certified. If only Fairtrade meets your requirements, check the certification mark on the individual chocolate product.
