Who is this choice relevant to?

Sports enthusiasts who prioritise Fairtrade cocoa

You want to be able to check for an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim. This claim relates to the cocoa, not the nutritional value of your entire post-workout meal or snack.

Sports enthusiasts looking for a sweet topping

You want to sprinkle chocolate flakes over an existing snack or meal without mistaking the topping for a complete post-workout meal.

Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens

For example, you may be looking for a variety labelled vegan or want to avoid milk. In that case, the ingredients and allergen information matter more than the word ‘dark’ on its own.

What should you look for when choosing?

Decide what matters most to you: the Fairtrade cocoa claim, the role of the flakes in your post-workout meal or snack, or the ingredients and allergens.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade cocoa Check whether the packaging explicitly says Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cacao. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo on a white background may apply to one certified ingredient, rather than necessarily to the whole product. If the cocoa sourcing claim is my main reason for choosing these flakes, I want to know exactly what the certification applies to. For around 38% of consumers, the Fairtrade cocoa claim comes first.
Post-workout meal or snack Check the serving size and the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving. The Voedingscentrum recommends having a regular main meal after exercise, with enough carbohydrates, protein and fluids. I want chocolate flakes on my snack, but I don’t want to base my choice of the rest of my meal or snack on the topping. For around 38% of consumers, this distinction matters most.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, including for products labelled vegan. PLUS states that its dark variety may contain milk and lactose; its milk variety contains milk and lactose. If I want to avoid milk or am looking for a variety labelled vegan, I need to look beyond the flavour name. Around 24% of consumers prioritise this ingredients or allergen check.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Fairtrade with a nutritional claim

    Fairtrade Cacao relates to the cocoa in the product. PLUS states that its dark chocolate flakes contain 63.8 g of sugars and 5.2 g of protein per 100 g; the cocoa claim says nothing about whether the flakes are suitable as a complete post-workout meal.

    Choose the flakes for their cocoa claim if that matters to you, and assess your meal or snack as a whole separately.

  • Assuming dark chocolate is automatically milk-free

    PLUS labels its dark chocolate flakes as vegan, but also states that they may contain milk and lactose. The milk variety contains milk and lactose.

    Before buying and eating them, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. If you have a milk allergy, don’t rely on the words ‘dark’ or ‘vegan’ alone.

  • Treating different cocoa certifications as the same

    For De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Melk, Joybuy states that the cocoa is Rainforest Alliance certified. This is not a Fairtrade cocoa claim.

    If Fairtrade Cacao is a condition of your purchase, check the exact certification and which ingredient the claim applies to.

Relevant brands to compare

PLUS

PLUS labels its dark and milk chocolate flakes, in 300 g packs, as containing Fairtrade Cacao.

  • The product pages list ingredients, allergens and nutritional values, so you can compare the two varieties on these points.
  • The Fairtrade claim relates to the cocoa. Check the packaging for the latest product information.

Fairtrade Original

Albert Heijn lists a 300 g pack of Fairtrade Original dark chocolate flakes made with Fairtrade cocoa.

  • The product listing makes clear that the cocoa claim applies to this specific dark variety.
  • Albert Heijn marks this product as ‘No longer available’; don’t treat the listing as a current buying option.

De Ruijter

For De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Melk, Joybuy states that the cocoa is Rainforest Alliance certified.

  • This specific cocoa claim helps you distinguish the certification for this product from Fairtrade Cacao.
  • It does not support a Fairtrade choice. According to the product information, the milk chocolate flakes contain milk, soya and milk fat.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will appear soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are Fairtrade chocolate flakes a post-workout meal on their own?

No. Treat chocolate flakes as a topping, not as a complete post-workout meal. The Voedingscentrum recommends having a regular main meal after exercise, with enough carbohydrates, protein and fluids; the Fairtrade cocoa claim does not change the nutritional value of the flakes.

Which PLUS variety is labelled vegan?

PLUS labels its dark chocolate flakes as vegan. The product information also states that they may contain milk and lactose, so check the packaging if you need to avoid these allergens.

Does Fairtrade Cacao mean the whole product is Fairtrade certified?

Not necessarily: Fairtrade Cacao refers to the cocoa. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo on a white background may indicate that only one ingredient is Fairtrade certified. So check the exact claim on the packaging.

Where can I find allergen information for pre-packed chocolate flakes?

Check the packaging label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods. Check it again if you buy the product at a later date.