Breakfast fans who look for Fairtrade
You want chocolate flakes for a sweet breakfast and are looking for a Fairtrade label on the product itself, rather than just a general sustainability promise from the retailer.
Who might be interested in these flakes?
Fans of dark chocolate flakes
You prefer a rich, dark chocolate flavour or want to avoid milk as an ingredient. If you have a milk allergy, it’s still important to check for a warning that the product may contain milk.
Fans of milk chocolate flakes
You’re looking for flakes with a milk chocolate flavour and, when choosing, take into account that the milk chocolate version we reviewed contains milk and lactose.
What should you look for when choosing?
When choosing Fairtrade chocolate flakes for a sweet breakfast, first decide which label you want to see on the pack. Then compare the ingredients and allergen information for the dark and milk chocolate versions, and check whether the one you’ve chosen is available where you shop.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for the Fairtrade mark or the Fairtrade Cocoa label on the specific pack. Read any information about traceability. | I want to choose flakes for my sweet breakfast that clearly carry a Fairtrade cocoa label. For around 46% of consumers, this label is the most important factor. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Compare the dark and milk chocolate versions using the current ingredients list, and check for warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | If you want to avoid milk as an ingredient or are looking for a milk chocolate flavour, you need to know which version suits your preference. If you have an allergy, warnings about the possible presence of allergens matter too. Flavour and ingredients come first for around 36% of consumers. |
| Pack size and availability | Check the pack size and availability of the exact version whose label and ingredients you’ve checked. | If I want to pick up flakes with my usual shopping, the version I choose needs to be available in a suitable pack size. This practical consideration matters most to around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing a retailer’s policy with the label on a pack
Lidl lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification as possible options for its own-brand cocoa. That alone doesn’t tell you which label appears on the chocolate flakes you’ve chosen.
Check the label on the pack or the current product page for that exact version.
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Assuming ‘dark’ or ‘vegan’ means milk-free
According to PLUS, its dark Fairtrade version contains no milk as an ingredient, but the product information says it may contain milk and lactose.
If you have a milk allergy, check both the ingredients and any warning about the possible presence of allergens on the current packaging.
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Confusing Fairtrade with nutritional information
The Fairtrade label relates to the cocoa; it doesn’t tell you how much sugar or fat the flakes contain.
Check the nutritional information per 100 g and decide separately how much you want to use.
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Assuming an old product page shows what’s currently available
Albert Heijn’s page for Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Flakes says that the product is no longer ranged.
Check the current product status before you set off. If you choose an alternative, check the Fairtrade label on that version again.
Brands to consider
PLUS
PLUS lists 300 g packs of dark and milk chocolate flakes, with the Fairtrade Cocoa label shown on the individual product pages.
- According to PLUS, the dark version is vegan and contains no milk as an ingredient.
- The dark version may contain milk and lactose; the milk chocolate version contains whole milk powder.
Fairtrade Original
Albert Heijn has a product page for 300 g packs of Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Flakes.
- Albert Heijn marks this product as no longer ranged. If you choose another product, check both its availability and its label again.
De Ruijter
De Ruijter flakes in dark and milk chocolate versions appear in Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product listings.
- You can compare the listed flavours separately.
- Check the specific pack to see whether it carries the Fairtrade label you’re looking for.
Lidl
Lidl lists 300 g packs of dark chocolate flakes as a store product.
- Lidl lists several certification options for its own-brand cocoa. Check the pack to see which label applies to those flakes.
ALDI
ALDI includes Fairtrade chocolate in its general range and has listed De Ruijter flakes as a promotional product.
- A general Fairtrade claim doesn’t confirm that promotional flakes carry the label. Check the pack you choose.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fairtrade cocoa in chocolate flakes always processed separately?
No, not always. Fairtrade International says mass balance is permitted for cocoa. This means Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa can be mixed during processing, while the volumes sold under Fairtrade terms are tracked. If physical traceability matters to you, check any information about the label on the packaging.
Which of the two PLUS versions contains no milk as an ingredient?
According to PLUS, Fairtrade Dark Chocolate Flakes contain no milk as an ingredient and are labelled as vegan. However, the product information warns that they may contain milk and lactose, so if you have a milk allergy, check the current packaging.
What does Fairtrade say about the nutritional value of chocolate flakes?
A Fairtrade label doesn’t tell you about the nutritional value of the flakes. To compare them, check the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging, such as the sugar and fat content, and consider how much you’ll use.
Where can I find allergen information on packaged flakes?
Check the ingredients list and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens on the pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens in prepacked foods must be listed in the ingredients list. Always check the current packaging of the version you’re buying.