Who is this choice for?

Anyone keen to follow tradition

You want to serve a familiar treat to celebrate a new arrival. De Ruijter’s product information at Albert Heijn specifically pairs aniseed sprinkles with rusks for a birth celebration.

Anyone choosing Fairtrade chocolate

You want to know which chocolate product the Fairtrade label applies to. So check the chocolate sprinkles or bar you’ve chosen, rather than relying on a general statement about a brand.

Hosts keeping an eye on allergens

You’re sharing a treat with several guests and want to check the ingredients and allergens in the products you’ve chosen beforehand. When you combine rusks, aniseed sprinkles and chocolate, the information for each ingredient matters.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to serve traditional rusks with aniseed sprinkles or make a chocolate version. Then check the Fairtrade label and allergen information on the products you’ll actually use.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade label Check whether the label appears on the chocolate sprinkles or bar you’ve chosen, and what the claim applies to. I want to check that the chocolate for my treat is labelled as Fairtrade. For around 31% of consumers, being able to verify this choice is a priority.
Traditional presentation Choose rusks and aniseed sprinkles for the familiar birth celebration treat; a kano is a separate pastry. If I want to serve the traditional birth celebration treat, I’ll choose rusks with aniseed sprinkles rather than a kano. This is the most important consideration for around 31% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current labels for every component, including information about possible traces of allergens. When serving a treat to several guests, I want to know what each component contains. Around 23% of consumers make this their top priority.
Preparation and serving You can sprinkle chocolate sprinkles straight on; chocolate discs need to be made and left to set. I want to serve the treat without having to melt chocolate first. For around 15% of consumers, convenience is the most important consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a kano for the rusk base

    Jumbo describes its kano as a butter pastry with almond paste. It’s a different kind of treat from rusks with aniseed sprinkles.

    Choose a kano if you deliberately want to serve a separate pastry. For the traditional presentation, buy rusks and aniseed sprinkles.

  • Assuming a general brand claim applies to every product

    A statement about own-brand cocoa or a particular product range doesn’t automatically confirm the Fairtrade status of a different bar, biscuit or chocolate sprinkles.

    Check the Fairtrade label on the packaging of the exact product you’re choosing.

  • Checking only the chocolate product for allergens

    Rusks, aniseed sprinkles and any other ingredients also determine what you’re serving. Fairtrade Original also states that its Hagelslag Puur chocolate sprinkles may contain milk.

    Read the current labels for every component. If you’ve put the treat together yourself, make it clear which products you’ve used.

Brands to consider

Fairtrade Original

A good option if you want to make rusks with a sprinkle-on chocolate topping.

  • Fairtrade Original states that its Hagelslag Puur chocolate sprinkles contain at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • The product may contain milk. Chocolate sprinkles also don’t have the same aniseed flavour as traditional aniseed sprinkles.

Verkade

A good option if you’re looking for a chocolate bar to use in a homemade treat.

  • Verkade says that the cocoa in its chocolate bars and letters is Fairtrade.
  • That statement doesn’t automatically apply to every Verkade product. Check the preparation instructions and allergen information for the chocolate you choose.

De Ruijter

A good choice for aniseed sprinkles on rusks to celebrate a new arrival.

  • Product information at Albert Heijn links De Ruijter crushed aniseed sprinkles with this traditional treat.
  • Aniseed sprinkles aren’t a Fairtrade chocolate product; you’ll need to choose a separate product for a chocolate version.

PLUS

A good option if you’re looking for a chocolate bar explicitly labelled as Fairtrade at a supermarket.

  • PLUS describes a 200 g dark Fairtrade chocolate bar; Fairtrade Nederland also mentions Fairtrade-certified cocoa in PLUS own-brand products.
  • When buying, check the packaging of the bar you’ve chosen and whether it’s available at your store.

Albert Heijn

A useful place to shop for rusk toppings, as well as a retailer with a cocoa sourcing policy for its own-brand products.

  • Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur chocolate sprinkles in its range.
  • Albert Heijn says the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance- or Fairtrade-certified. That doesn’t automatically make every individual product Fairtrade.

A chocolate bar to go with the treat

This bar works as a separate chocolate option alongside rusks with aniseed sprinkles. Check the packaging if you’re specifically looking for Fairtrade chocolate or want to use the bar to make a homemade treat.

Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with pecan and caramel, 180 g

Tony’s Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with pecan and caramel, 180 g

A chocolate bar to serve separately alongside the traditional treat.

Milk chocolate with pecan and caramel; 180 g bar. Check the current packaging for the Fairtrade label and allergen information. If you want to melt the chocolate, check the instructions for this bar first.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I serve kano pastries instead of rusks with aniseed sprinkles?

Yes, if you deliberately want to offer a different pastry, but not as a substitute in the traditional rusk-and-aniseed-sprinkle presentation. Jumbo describes its butter Kanos as butter pastries containing 38% almond paste.

Which chocolate option can I sprinkle straight onto a rusk?

Chocolate sprinkles are the straightforward choice. Fairtrade Original describes its Hagelslag Puur as a sprinkle-on product; check the current packaging for the Fairtrade label and allergen information. Chocolate sprinkles aren’t a like-for-like replacement for traditional aniseed sprinkles, as they change the treat.

Can I combine Fairtrade chocolate with aniseed sprinkles?

Yes, for example by making your own chocolate discs with aniseed sprinkles. Choose a bar whose Fairtrade label you can check, and look at the melting instructions. Verkade says the cocoa in its chocolate bars and letters is Fairtrade, but that brand statement doesn’t automatically confirm the status of its separately listed cooking chocolate.

Should I check the allergens in every component?

Yes. Check the labels for the base, the topping and any extra chocolate. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of clear allergen labelling; for example, Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur states that the product may contain milk.

Does Fairtrade mean that chocolate has a particular nutritional value?

No, a Fairtrade label doesn’t describe nutritional value. Fairtrade Nederland links its certification to requirements covering areas such as the environment, working conditions and pricing. Check the packaging of your chosen chocolate for nutritional information.