If Fairtrade is a must for your TV-night snack, PLUS’s dark and milk chocolate flakes are options whose product pages mention Fairtrade. Choose the flavour you prefer, but also check the warning that the dark variety may contain milk and lactose. Albert Heijn listed Fairtrade Original’s dark flakes as discontinued; a Rainforest Alliance label on other flakes does not confirm Fairtrade status.
You want flakes for a TV night whose packaging or product page explicitly mentions Fairtrade. This may limit your choice at some supermarkets: according to those retailers, the Jumbo and ALDI flakes reviewed carry the Rainforest Alliance label, not Fairtrade.
You’re looking for a dark chocolate topping and comparing ingredients, nutritional information and portion sizes. Check the allergen information too: according to the product details, PLUS’s dark Fairtrade flakes may contain milk and lactose.
You want to pick up the flakes with your usual groceries and know in advance whether they’re available. This is particularly relevant for Fairtrade Original: Albert Heijn listed its dark flakes as discontinued.
First, check the Fairtrade label on the specific flakes. Then compare dark and milk varieties for flavour and allergen information, and check that your chosen product is available before you set off.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade label | Look for Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cacao on the current packaging or product page; Rainforest Alliance is a different certification. | I only want to choose flakes with an explicit Fairtrade label for my TV night. For around 50% of shoppers, this confirmation comes first. |
| Flavour and allergens | Compare the dark and milk varieties, and read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging you choose. | When I use flakes as a topping, I want a flavour I enjoy and to know whether there’s a milk warning. Around 30% of shoppers put flavour and allergen checks first. |
| Availability | Check your retailer’s current range; Albert Heijn listed Fairtrade Original’s dark flakes as discontinued. | I want to pick up my chosen flakes with my usual groceries, without making a wasted trip to the shop. Availability is the deciding factor for around 20% of shoppers. |
According to the product pages, the Jumbo and ALDI flakes reviewed carry the Rainforest Alliance label, while PLUS mentions Fairtrade Cacao. One label does not confirm the other.
If Fairtrade is a must for you, look for that label on the packaging of the flakes you’re actually buying.
Albert Heijn had a product page for Fairtrade Original dark chocolate flakes, but also stated that they had been discontinued.
Check availability at your own shop before relying on this variety.
Otherwise, you may need to make an extra trip to the shops or choose different flakes.
According to the product information, PLUS dark chocolate flakes may contain milk and lactose. So the word ‘dark’ is no substitute for checking the allergens.
If you have a food allergy, always read the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Fairtrade relates to the cocoa’s sourcing and trading conditions, not the nutritional value of the flakes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that chocolate also contains saturated fat and calories.
Assess the Fairtrade label and nutritional information separately, for example per 100 g and per serving.
PLUS mentions Fairtrade for both its dark and milk chocolate flakes in 300 g packs.
Albert Heijn described Fairtrade Original dark chocolate flakes in a 300 g pack, with cocoa sourced entirely from Fairtrade farmers in Africa, according to the product page.
Jumbo lists own-brand dark chocolate flakes as a separate option for those who don’t require Fairtrade.
ALDI lists Kiekeboe chocolate flakes in milk and dark varieties, in 300 g packs.
Choose packaging or a product page that explicitly mentions Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cacao, such as those for PLUS dark and milk chocolate flakes. The Rainforest Alliance label on the Jumbo and ALDI flakes reviewed does not confirm Fairtrade status.
A higher cocoa content alone doesn’t tell you whether the flakes suit the portion you have in mind. Compare the nutritional information for the specific products; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that chocolate also contains saturated fat and calories.
No. According to the product information, PLUS dark Fairtrade flakes may contain milk and lactose. If you have a food allergy, read the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging.
PLUS recommends storing its dark Fairtrade flakes in a cool, dry, dark place and sealing the pack carefully. If the flakes you’ve bought come with different storage advice, follow the label.
