Households shopping for several school days
If you regularly fill lunchboxes, you’ll want to compare pack sizes and choose one that suits how you use it at home.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents who want to include sweet toppings thoughtfully
Chocolate flakes can be an option for a sandwich, but they don’t need to form the basis of a school lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises choosing mainly foods from the Wheel of Five for breakfast and lunch.
Shoppers who need to check the label
If you have an allergy or follow a specific diet, the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the current pack are what matter. Plain flakes, milk chocolate flakes and mixes don’t necessarily have the same ingredients.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether pack size, the place of sweet toppings in your lunch or the ingredients are the main priority for your household. Then compare the options that fit your choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Compare the weight of the same type of bread topping and choose a pack size that suits how often you use it. | If I’m shopping for several school days at once, I want to know how many flakes are in the pack, rather than judging by the size of the box alone. For around 40% of consumers, pack size is said to be the main consideration. |
| Place in the lunch | Decide how much sweet topping you use and what else goes in the lunchbox. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises choosing mainly foods from the Wheel of Five. | I want to include chocolate flakes now and then without letting sweet toppings define the whole lunch. For around 30% of consumers, fitting them into a school lunch is said to be the main priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings on the pack you’re considering. | If an ingredient or allergen matters, I need to be able to check that this particular option is suitable before using it. For around 30% of consumers, checking the label is said to be the most important consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘plain’ or ‘vegan’ means suitable for every allergy
A description of flavour or dietary suitability doesn’t replace allergen information. PLUS labels its plain chocolate flakes as vegan, but also states that they may contain milk and lactose.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens on the pack you choose.
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Assuming a flavour mix is the same as plain chocolate flakes
A mix may contain different ingredients and allergens. Jumbo’s Choca Flakes Mix, for example, lists wheat starch, soya lecithin and a flavouring that contains milk.
If you’re choosing a mix, check the ingredients for that specific product rather than relying on the label for plain chocolate flakes.
Brands to consider
These examples show how pack size, flavour and labelling can differ. A brand name alone won’t tell you which option is right for your lunchbox.
Albert Heijn
The own brand sells plain chocolate flakes in a 300 g pack.
- The product information states that this option contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
- The product page lists milk and lactose as allergens; check the current pack.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells plain, milk chocolate and duo varieties of chocolate flakes in 300 g packs.
- The range lets you choose between one chocolate flavour and a mix.
- Ingredients can vary between products, so check the label on the pack you choose when checking for allergens.
PLUS
The own brand offers plain chocolate flakes in a 300 g pack with a Fairtrade label.
- The product page also describes them as vegan and vegetarian.
- The product may contain milk and lactose, so these labels don’t replace an allergen check.
Kiekeboe
Kiekeboe is the brand shown by ALDI for chocolate flakes with a milk or plain chocolate flavour, in 300 g packs.
- The product information states that the cocoa is Rainforest Alliance certified.
- If you’re choosing between milk and plain chocolate, check the ingredients for each individual product.
De Ruijter
De Ruijter sells milk chocolate flakes, among other products, in a 200 g pack.
- The smaller pack may suit you if you want to buy less at a time.
- For the milk chocolate option reviewed, PLUS lists milk powder, lactose, milk fat and soya, among other ingredients.
Products for the lunchbox
This selection includes chocolate flakes, a flakes mix and chocolate sprinkles for bread. Chocolate sprinkles are a different type of product from flakes, so check the name and ingredients when comparing options.
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g'woon milk chocolate flakes 300 g
A milk chocolate option if you’d like to add flakes to school sandwiches.
The pack contains 300 g. If you have an allergy, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack; the product information lists milk and wheat.
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De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks 390 g
A chocolate topping for bread, but don’t assume from the product name alone that it’s a replacement for a pack of chocolate flakes: the description refers to plain chocolate sprinkles.
The pack contains 390 g. The product information lists milk and soya; if you have an allergy, check the current pack, particularly as the information about lactose is unclear.
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De Ruijter Flake Feast 200 g
This mix of chocolate and vanilla flakes is a good choice if you want to add variety to your bread rather than stick to one chocolate flavour.
The pack contains 200 g. The product information lists wheat and soya and warns that it may contain milk; if you have allergies or follow a specific diet, check the current pack.
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De Ruijter Hail Chocolate Pure 390 g
An option if you’re looking for plain chocolate sprinkles for bread; sprinkles aren’t the same product as chocolate flakes.
The pack contains 390 g. The product information lists milk and soya and warns that it may contain lactose; if you have allergies, check the current label.
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De Ruijter Flakes Milk 200 g
Milk chocolate flakes for anyone looking for this flavour in a 200 g pack for bread.
The product information lists milk, lactose and soya. If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack.
Frequently asked questions
How can chocolate flakes fit into a school lunch?
Use chocolate flakes as a sweet topping, not as the basis of the lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre places chocolate bread toppings outside the Wheel of Five and advises choosing mainly foods that are included for breakfast and lunch.
Should I read the label on plain flakes if I have an allergy?
Yes. Check the ingredients and allergens on the specific pack, even if it says ‘plain’. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on the labels of pre-packed foods. Ingredients and warnings can also vary between products.
How should I store chocolate flakes once opened?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack. PLUS and De Ruijter product information advises storing the flakes in a cool, dry, dark place. De Ruijter also recommends pressing the pack closed again after use.