If Fairtrade is your priority, take a look at Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur and check the certification mark on the current packaging. The Rainforest Alliance claims on the De Ruijter, Venz and Kiekeboe varieties reviewed here are not the same certification. Rusks with chocolate sprinkles are better suited to a planned meal before cycling than as your only food and drink on a long, strenuous ride. For something to have on the go, consider the ride duration, your carbohydrate needs and where you can stop for a drink.
You want to know whether the chocolate sprinkles themselves carry a Fairtrade claim. So check the specific certification mark and the ingredients on the packaging, rather than relying only on the brand name or a general claim about certified cocoa.
You’re considering rusks with chocolate sprinkles as part of a regular meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says you can plan to eat around two to three hours before exercising, and have a drink with your meal.
You’ll also need to think about food and drink while you’re on the move. For a long, strenuous ride, consider how many carbohydrates you can carry, what you can eat on the way and where you can get a drink.
Separate your choice of certification from your choice of food around your bike ride: chocolate sprinkles that work for breakfast aren’t necessarily a plan for eating on the go.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade or another certification | Check the current certification mark and which ingredients the claim applies to. Rainforest Alliance is not the same as Fairtrade. | If Fairtrade is my top priority, I don’t want to rely on a general claim about certified cocoa. Around 33% of consumers put Fairtrade first. |
| Eating before your ride | Think about the size and timing of your meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a meal around two to three hours before exercising, with approximately 500 ml to drink. | If you can plan your ride in advance, you’ll want to fit rusks with chocolate sprinkles into a meal that isn’t too close to your departure time. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Eating and drinking on the go | Consider the ride duration, intensity, how easy food is to carry and where you can get a drink. For one to two and a half hours of strenuous endurance exercise, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends 30–60 g of easily absorbed carbohydrates per hour. | For a long, strenuous ride, I want to be able to carry something to eat and have it on the go without forgetting to drink. This practical approach to refuelling matters most to around 42% of consumers. |
The pure chocolate sprinkles from De Ruijter, Venz and Kiekeboe reviewed here state that they contain Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. This is not the same as a Fairtrade claim, which can be the deciding factor for some shoppers.
Check the current packaging to see which certification is shown and which ingredient it applies to.
Rusks can break while you’re on the move, and loose chocolate sprinkles aren’t always easy to eat. During prolonged, strenuous exercise, you also need to plan how you’ll manage both food and drink.
Choose what to take based on the ride duration, intensity and what you can carry. For one to two and a half hours of strenuous endurance exercise, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends 30–60 g of easily absorbed carbohydrates per hour.
Milk and soya are relevant allergens in the De Ruijter and Venz varieties reviewed here. Rusks may also contain ingredients such as wheat and egg, so check both products.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients, read the labels on both the chocolate sprinkles and the rusks just before buying.
A mention of salt in the ingredients list doesn’t tell you which type of salt was used. You can’t use that information to work out the iodine content of an individual pack of rusks.
Check the packaging or ask the manufacturer which type of salt is used in the rusks in question.
These brands can help you compare product claims and packaging. The certifications mentioned apply only to the varieties or brand communications described here.
Fairtrade Original positions its Hagelslag Puur around Fairtrade. The product page lists a 380 g pack and at least 32% cocoa solids.
According to Albert Heijn, the 390 g pack of De Ruijter Chocoladehagel Puur reviewed here contains Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa.
According to Jumbo, the 400 g pack of Venz Pure Chocolade Hagelslag reviewed here contains Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa and at least 32% cocoa solids.
According to ALDI Netherlands, the 600 g pack of Kiekeboe pure chocolate sprinkles reviewed here contains Rainforest Alliance cocoa.
Lidl lists a 600 g pack of the Mister Choc Hagelslag Puur reviewed here. Lidl also makes a brand-wide statement about sourcing cocoa for its own-brand products from certified farming.
They aren’t an obvious practical choice for a long, strenuous ride: rusks can break, and loose chocolate sprinkles are difficult to eat on the go. Think about what you can carry, what you can eat on the way and where you can get a drink. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says sports bars and gels are generally unnecessary when exercising for less than an hour.
You can include them in a planned meal before setting off. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a meal around two to three hours before exercising, with approximately 500 ml to drink. A large meal just before exercise can cause stomach problems.
No. A Rainforest Alliance claim on its own doesn’t prove Fairtrade certification. The De Ruijter, Venz and Kiekeboe varieties reviewed here state that they contain Rainforest Alliance cocoa. If Fairtrade is a must-have for you, check the certification mark on the current packaging.
No. The mention of salt alone doesn’t tell you whether iodised baker’s salt was used. Check the packaging or ask the manufacturer which type of salt the rusks contain.
