Choose Fairtrade chocolate flakes with a savoury breakfast only if you deliberately want to add something sweet. If you want a completely savoury breakfast, it’s best to leave them out. PLUS lists Fairtrade Cocoa for both its dark and milk chocolate flakes. The dark version is labelled vegan, but may contain milk and lactose; the milk version contains milk and lactose.
You’re looking for chocolate flakes with an explicit Fairtrade Cocoa claim and would rather choose dark than milk chocolate. PLUS labels its dark version vegan, but also says it may contain milk and lactose. Check this warning if you need to avoid milk.
You want a sweet chocolate element alongside something like cheese or egg. If you’d rather avoid sweet flavours at breakfast, chocolate flakes aren’t the right choice for you.
Your choice between dark and milk chocolate also depends on the ingredients listed on the current packaging. According to PLUS, the milk version contains milk and lactose, while the dark version may contain them.
First decide whether you want a sweet topping with your savoury breakfast. Then compare the Fairtrade claim and the ingredients of the version you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade Cocoa | Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the current packaging. For a product made with several ingredients, check which ingredient the claim applies to. | If I’m choosing specifically for Fairtrade Cocoa, I don’t want to rely on a general sustainability certification. For around 42% of consumers, verifiable Fairtrade status is the most important factor. |
| Sweet with savoury | Decide whether you want chocolate flakes as a separate sweet element. Choose a savoury topping if you’re not looking for a sweet-and-salty contrast. | With cheese or egg, I’ll only add flakes if that sweet flavour works with them. This difference in taste comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Milk and nutritional information | Read the ingredients, allergen warning and nutritional information per 100 g for the version you choose. | If I need to avoid milk or compare dark and milk chocolate, I need the details on the packaging. For around 25% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade are different claims. ALDI describes its Kiekeboe chocolate flakes as Rainforest Alliance certified; that is not the same as the Fairtrade Cocoa claim on the PLUS versions reviewed.
Check exactly what the packaging says and which ingredient the claim applies to.
According to the product information, PLUS dark Fairtrade chocolate flakes may contain milk and lactose. The milk version contains these ingredients.
Check the ingredients and allergen warning on the current packaging every time you buy, especially if you need to avoid milk because of an allergy.
Fairtrade certification doesn’t make chocolate flakes a savoury sandwich topping. According to PLUS, the dark and milk versions reviewed contain 63,8 g and 67,1 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
If you want a completely savoury breakfast, choose a topping with the flavour you’re looking for rather than chocolate flakes.
The Fairtrade Original product page checked at Albert Heijn was marked ‘No longer available’. An older product listing is therefore no guarantee that you can still buy it.
Before buying, check whether your chosen version is available and compare the current packaging with the product information.
PLUS lists Fairtrade Cocoa for the dark and milk chocolate flakes reviewed, both in 300 g packs.
For the dark chocolate flakes reviewed, Albert Heijn listed 33% cocoa and stated that the cocoa came from Fairtrade farmers in Africa.
The De Ruijter milk chocolate flakes reviewed are worth considering as a comparison with a different cocoa certification.
Only if you deliberately want to combine sweet and savoury flavours. Chocolate flakes are a sweet topping, so it’s best to leave them out if you don’t want a sweet element.
Not necessarily. PLUS says its dark Fairtrade version may contain milk and lactose, despite being labelled vegan on the product page. If you need to avoid milk, always check the allergen warning on the current packaging.
No, they are different claims. The PLUS versions reviewed list Fairtrade Cocoa, while ALDI describes its Kiekeboe flakes as Rainforest Alliance certified. Check the exact claim on the product you choose.
Compare the ingredients, allergen warning and nutritional information per 100 g for both versions. According to PLUS, the milk version contains milk and lactose, while the dark flakes may contain them. Don’t rely on the words ‘dark’ and ‘milk’ in the name alone.
