When choosing chocolate flakes for your coffee, don’t rely on the brand or flavour alone if Fairtrade cocoa is a must-have: check for the certification mark or a specific Fairtrade cocoa claim on the current packaging. Then compare the flavour, ingredients, allergens and storage instructions, especially if the pack will also be used at work.
You want chocolate flakes for your coffee, but will only choose a pack where the Fairtrade status of the relevant ingredients can be verified. Fairtrade International advises checking the back of the pack for information about the ingredients and sourcing method when you see a FAIRTRADE mark with an arrow.
You’re looking for a pack for home or a shared supply at work, and want to compare dark, milk or mixed flakes by flavour, ingredients and storage instructions.
You need to be able to check which allergens are listed on a pack before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on the label. Check it even if you’ve bought the same variety before.
When choosing chocolate flakes to enjoy with your coffee, Fairtrade is a separate requirement: another cocoa certification does not confirm that it is met. After that, consider which flavour and pack suit the way you’ll use them.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Verifiable Fairtrade status | Look for a FAIRTRADE mark or a specific Fairtrade cocoa claim on the current pack. If there’s a mark with an arrow, also check the back, as Fairtrade International advises. | If Fairtrade cocoa is essential to me, I want to see which ingredients the information applies to. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Flavour and storage | Compare dark, milk, white and mixed varieties by their ingredients. Follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. | For coffee at home and at work, I want a flavour I enjoy and a pack I can store as directed on the label. Around 30% of consumers give this their top priority. |
| Label and pack size | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and check the net weight. | For a shared pack, I want to check the allergens and know how much it contains before buying. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn’s page for Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Flakes mentions a Fairtrade cocoa claim, but also says that the product has been discontinued.
Before buying, check the current product status and look again at the certification mark or claim on the pack you’re actually choosing.
Jumbo states that the cocoa in De Ruijter Vlokfeest Dark & White is Rainforest Alliance certified. This is not the same as confirmed Fairtrade certification for those flakes.
If Fairtrade is a firm requirement, look specifically for the FAIRTRADE mark or a specific Fairtrade claim for the relevant ingredients.
According to Jumbo’s product information, De Ruijter Vlokfeest Dark & White contains wheat and soya, and may contain milk. So the variety name doesn’t tell you everything you need to know.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging every time you buy, even if you already know the product.
Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate flakes with a specific Fairtrade cocoa claim.
A brand to compare for different flavours and the information on a specific pack.
A useful reference for comparing standard dark and milk chocolate flakes.
A supermarket where you can compare different flakes and check the status of a specific product page.
Not necessarily in a composite product. Fairtrade International advises checking the back of the pack if there’s a mark with an arrow, to see which ingredients and sourcing method it applies to.
No, they are different certifications. Jumbo’s product information for De Ruijter Vlokfeest Dark & White mentions Rainforest Alliance cocoa. If Fairtrade is a requirement for your purchase, check separately for a FAIRTRADE mark or a specific Fairtrade claim.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods. Don’t rely on the flavour name alone.
Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For De Ruijter Vlokfeest Dark & White, Jumbo advises storing the product in a cool, dry place and carefully pressing the packaging closed after use. Don’t assume the same instructions apply to other varieties without checking the label.
