Who is this relevant to?

Cyclists who prioritise Fairtrade

You only want to choose chocolate flakes if the Fairtrade claim applies to the current product. Another type of chocolate sprinkles isn’t automatically a suitable substitute.

Cyclists planning food for a long ride

You want to know how many carbohydrates you’ll actually be taking with you, and whether your chosen food is practical to eat during a longer or more intensive ride, alongside your drinks.

Cyclists who use flakes as a sandwich topping

You eat chocolate flakes with a meal before or after cycling, and want to weigh up the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens against your preference for a particular certification.

What should you look for?

First decide whether Fairtrade is a must-have and whether you’ll eat the flakes with a meal or on the go. Then check the packaging. If you plan to eat them during a ride, work out how much you’ll actually take with you.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important to?
Fairtrade certification Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the current product, and check that you’re looking at chocolate flakes rather than chocolate sprinkles. I don’t want to mistake another sustainability certification for Fairtrade, so I check the product itself. For around 40% of consumers, certainty about certification comes first.
Food during the ride Compare the carbohydrates per planned serving, and decide separately what you can eat and drink while cycling. For a longer or more intensive ride, I want to be able to plan what I eat and drink on the go. Practical ride fuel is the main concern for around 40% of consumers.
Meals and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging; compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per serving. If I eat chocolate flakes on bread around a ride, I want to know what’s in my serving. For around 20% of consumers, using them as part of a meal matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking Rainforest Alliance for Fairtrade

    ALDI Nederland lists Rainforest Alliance for Kiekeboe chocolate flakes. That doesn’t confirm that these flakes meet your Fairtrade requirement.

    Check whether the current packaging for the variant you’ve chosen explicitly states Fairtrade.

  • Treating an old product listing as a buying option

    Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Flakes 300 g as ‘no longer available’. So a Fairtrade claim on that page doesn’t tell you whether the product is currently available.

    Check the current product status and make sure it’s flakes before you start looking for that pack.

  • Relying on chocolate flakes as your only ride fuel

    The nutritional value per 100 g doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates are in your serving. And chocolate flakes won’t provide anything to drink during your ride.

    Work out the amount you’ll take with you and plan your drinks separately. Try out in advance whether your chosen food is practical to eat on the go.

  • Relying only on older allergen information

    If you have a food allergy, the information on the packaging you buy is what matters. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that allergens must be clearly stated on the label.

    Every time you buy the product, read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on the packaging.

Relevant brands to compare

Fairtrade Original

Relevant if you’re looking for Fairtrade, but the dark chocolate sprinkles on the brand’s page are a different product from chocolate flakes.

  • Fairtrade Original says its dark chocolate sprinkles contain 67,8 g of carbohydrates per 100 g; don’t use this value as the nutritional information for chocolate flakes.
  • Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Flakes 300 g as ‘no longer available’.

Kiekeboe

A brand to compare within the chocolate flakes category if you’re also considering other certifications.

  • ALDI Nederland lists Kiekeboe chocolate flakes in milk and dark varieties, in 300 g packs.
  • ALDI names Rainforest Alliance for these flakes; don’t treat that as a Fairtrade claim.

De Ruijter

A brand whose chocolate flakes you can compare, regardless of whether a particular pack carries a Fairtrade claim.

  • Jumbo lists De Ruijter chocolate flakes in dark and milk varieties at 200 g, and Royaal at 240 g.
  • If Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase, check the current packaging for the variant you’ve chosen.

Joybuy products for this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are chocolate flakes suitable to eat during a long bike ride?

Not necessarily. Check how many carbohydrates are in your planned serving and whether the flakes are practical to eat on the go. For longer or more intensive rides, your carbohydrate needs depend on the duration and intensity, so plan your drinks separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says sports drinks, bars and gels can sometimes be useful during intensive endurance exercise, but they’re not automatically necessary for every cyclist.

How can I identify Fairtrade chocolate flakes?

Check whether the current packaging for the chocolate flakes explicitly states Fairtrade. Another certification isn’t a substitute: ALDI Nederland lists Rainforest Alliance for Kiekeboe flakes. If you’re looking for a particular pack, check its current product status too; Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Flakes 300 g as ‘no longer available’.

Where can I check the allergens in chocolate flakes?

Read the allergen information on the packaging you’re buying, especially if you need to avoid an allergen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly stated on the label. Don’t rely on the ingredients for another variety or for chocolate sprinkles from the same brand.