Who is this choice relevant to?

Back-to-school shopper looking for Fairtrade

You want to see a Fairtrade mark for the cocoa on the specific pack or product page, rather than just a general sustainability message from the retailer.

Family with a preference for dark or milk chocolate

You’re looking for flakes to add to bread, yoghurt or porridge as the new school year begins, and want to take taste and milk ingredients into account. A vegan label doesn’t replace checking the allergen information.

Meal planner

You’re checking which pack size suits your food shop for the school week. Products with a different cocoa certification are only an option if Fairtrade isn’t a must-have.

What should you look for in Fairtrade flakes?

Start by checking the mark on the specific pack. Then compare the pack size and check which ingredients and allergens matter for your household.

What to look for What to check before buying Who is this important to?
Fairtrade mark Look for a Fairtrade mark for this product on the pack or current product page; the retailer’s general cocoa policy isn’t enough. I want to buy flakes for the school week that show the Fairtrade status of the cocoa on the product itself. Around 45% of consumers prioritise having this clear confirmation.
Pack size Check the weight in grams and decide which pack suits your shopping list. For family breakfasts, I want to know how many flakes are in a pack before adding it to the list; pack size is the deciding factor for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and taste Read the ingredients and allergen information, and check for any warning about possible traces of milk, even on dark chocolate flakes. If we avoid milk at home, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘dark’ alone. For around 22% of consumers, ingredients, allergens or the choice between dark and milk chocolate matter most.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Rainforest Alliance with Fairtrade

    Jumbo, De Ruijter and ALDI display Rainforest Alliance certification for the flakes mentioned here. That isn’t the same as the Fairtrade Cacao mark shown on PLUS product pages.

    Is Fairtrade essential? Check the mark on the specific pack or current product page.

  • Assuming dark chocolate flakes can’t contain milk

    PLUS labels its dark Fairtrade flakes as vegan, but says they may contain milk and lactose. De Ruijter’s dark flakes may also contain milk.

    If you have a milk allergy, check the current allergen information and warnings on the packaging; don’t rely on the words ‘dark’ or ‘vegan’ alone.

  • Adding an outdated product listing to your shopping list

    Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade Original dark chocolate flakes on a product page that also says the product has been discontinued.

    Check that a product is still available before adding it to your list. Don’t automatically replace it with flakes carrying a different certification if Fairtrade is a must-have.

Brands to compare

Certification varies by product; a brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a pack of chocolate flakes carries a Fairtrade mark.

PLUS

PLUS displays the Fairtrade Cacao mark on its 300 g packs of dark and milk chocolate flakes.

  • The product page labels the dark variety as vegan.
  • The dark variety may contain milk and lactose; the milk variety contains milk and lactose.

Fairtrade Original

Albert Heijn has a product page for 300 g packs of Fairtrade Original dark chocolate flakes.

  • The page describes the cocoa as coming from fair trade farmers.
  • Albert Heijn marks this product as discontinued, so don’t count on it being available for your back-to-school shop.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers, among other products, 300 g packs of its own-brand dark chocolate flakes.

  • Jumbo states that its dark variety is Rainforest Alliance certified.
  • That doesn’t make this pack a Fairtrade option; the product may contain milk.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter makes dark chocolate flakes, with product information available from Albert Heijn.

  • Albert Heijn states that the cocoa in this variety is Rainforest Alliance certified.
  • The variety listed doesn’t carry a Fairtrade mark and may contain milk.

Lidl

Lidl offers chocolate flakes and also outlines its policy for sourcing own-brand cocoa.

  • Lidl says its own-brand cocoa comes from farms with certifications including Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or organic certification.
  • A general sourcing policy doesn’t tell you which certification appears on a specific pack of flakes, so check the packaging.

ALDI

ALDI offers Kiekeboe chocolate flakes in 300 g packs, in both milk and dark varieties.

  • The product page states that they are Rainforest Alliance certified.
  • That isn’t a Fairtrade mark for these flakes.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify Fairtrade cocoa in chocolate flakes?

Check whether the specific pack or current product page carries a Fairtrade mark, such as Fairtrade Cacao. Fairtrade Netherlands sets out the conditions for using its marks; a retailer’s general sustainability message or a Rainforest Alliance logo alone doesn’t confirm a Fairtrade mark for that pack.

Are PLUS dark Fairtrade flakes free from milk?

You can’t tell from the word ‘dark’ or the vegan label alone: PLUS says its dark Fairtrade flakes may contain milk and lactose. If you have a milk allergy, check the current allergen information on the packaging before choosing.

What’s the difference between PLUS dark and milk chocolate flakes?

Both PLUS varieties are 300 g packs of chocolate flakes carrying the Fairtrade Cacao mark, but the dark variety is labelled vegan and may contain milk and lactose. The milk variety contains milk and lactose, so choose according to your taste and check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.