Who is this relevant to?

Buffet planner who checks for the certification

You want the flakes you serve to carry a Fairtrade label. So check the product page for your chosen flavour, then check the packaging too.

Host who wants to offer a choice

You want to serve dark and milk chocolate flakes side by side without compromising on your Fairtrade requirement. PLUS lists both variants as Fairtrade; check each pack individually.

Buyer who needs to consider allergens

You’re buying for several guests and want to check which flakes are suitable for them. Before serving, read the ingredients and allergen information on every pack. Under European rules for pre-packed foods, this information must appear on the label.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check for a Fairtrade label on the exact variant you’re buying. Then choose the flavours and quantity you need for the buffet, and check the nutrition information and allergens on each pack.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should consider this?
Fairtrade label Look for Fairtrade on the product page for the exact variant, then check the packaging. I don’t want to rely on a brand’s or shop’s reputation when certification is my main reason for choosing these flakes. Around 33% of consumers put this product-specific label first.
Dark or milk Decide whether you want to offer one flavour or both; check the label and packaging for each variant separately. If guests have different preferences, I’d rather offer both dark and milk. Around 20% of consumers put this choice at the top of their buffet priorities.
Quantity Work out how many packs you’ll need; PLUS lists both its dark and milk variants in 300 g packs. I want to put out enough flakes for several guests without opening extra packs unnecessarily. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Check the ingredients, allergens and nutrition information on each pack; compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g. If I need to take a guest’s food allergy or dietary requirements into account, I want to check the exact variant. Around 27% of consumers give this their highest priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a sustainable image means a Fairtrade label

    A shop or brand may focus on sustainability without explicitly labelling your chosen variant of chocolate flakes as Fairtrade.

    Check the name and product page for the exact flavour, and check the packaging again when it arrives.

  • Planning your buffet around a discontinued product

    Albert Heijn states that Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Flakes, 300 g, is no longer in its range. So that product page isn’t a basis for buying it from Albert Heijn.

    Check what’s available before finalising your shopping list, and choose another variant with an explicit Fairtrade label if necessary.

  • Assuming Fairtrade means the flakes are suitable for every guest

    A Fairtrade label on chocolate flakes doesn’t tell you anything about their ingredients, allergens or nutritional value.

    Read the label on every variant you open, and keep the packaging to hand in case guests ask about what’s in it.

Brands compared

PLUS

PLUS lists Fairtrade on its product pages for dark and milk chocolate flakes, both in 300 g packs.

  • Both types of chocolate have an explicit Fairtrade label on their own product page.
  • Check the label, ingredients and allergens again on the pack you buy.

Fairtrade Original

Albert Heijn has a product page for Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Flakes, 300 g, but states that this variant is no longer in its range.

  • The page describes the variant as chocolate flakes made with cocoa from Fairtrade farmers.
  • Don’t use this listing as a current way to buy the product from Albert Heijn.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter is worth considering if you want to compare standard chocolate flakes with variants labelled Fairtrade.

  • Joybuy lists a 200 g De Ruijter milk chocolate flakes variant.
  • Only treat this variant as a Fairtrade option if the exact pack is explicitly labelled Fairtrade.

Chocolate flakes on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether chocolate flakes are Fairtrade?

Look for a Fairtrade label on the product page for the exact variant, then check the packaging too. PLUS lists its dark and milk chocolate flakes as Fairtrade; a general sustainability claim about a shop tells you nothing about the box you’ve chosen.

Should I choose dark or milk for the buffet?

Choose according to your guests’ tastes. You can offer both if you want to give them a choice. If you do, check the Fairtrade label, ingredients and allergens separately for the dark and milk variants.

What should I check if a guest has a food allergy?

Before serving, read the ingredients and listed allergens on the packaging for each variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of accurate labels in preventing allergic reactions.

Is the product page enough to decide whether to serve the flakes?

No, check the packaging of the product you’re actually using too. Make sure its Fairtrade label, ingredients, allergens and nutrition information meet your guests’ needs.