Who is this choice relevant to?

Christmas bakers who want to check Fairtrade claims

You’re looking for chocolate sprinkles for rusks or as a decoration, and want to know whether the Fairtrade claim applies to the specific variety you’ve chosen.

Families choosing a topping for Christmas treats

You want to choose a dark, milk or mixed variety to suit what you’re serving, and you’re also checking the ingredients and how much you’ll need.

Shoppers who need to check for allergens

You check the current label before using chocolate sprinkles for others. For example, an Oxfam Fair Trade product sheet for dark chocolate sprinkles lists milk, so the word ‘dark’ is no substitute for checking allergen information.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing chocolate sprinkles for rusks and Christmas bakes, first check that the Fairtrade claim applies to the variety you’ve selected. Then choose the flavour and use, and check the ingredients and allergens before serving.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Verifiable Fairtrade cocoa Look for the mark or a specific Fairtrade cocoa claim on the pack you’ve chosen. Check whether the claim applies to the cocoa alone or to other ingredients too. I want to choose chocolate sprinkles with a Fairtrade cocoa claim I can verify. For around 50% of consumers, the cocoa’s origin comes first.
Decoration and flavour Choose between dark, milk and mixed, and consider whether you need sprinkles to scatter rather than chocolate to melt. I want a flavour that suits those eating it, to finish off rusks or Christmas bakes. For around 30% of consumers, decoration and flavour matter most.
Allergens and portion size Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any warnings, and check the nutritional information per portion. If I’m making something for others, I need to know what’s in the topping and how much I’m using. For around 20% of consumers, this check is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a brand name means a Fairtrade claim

    A familiar brand or a name that sounds sustainable doesn’t tell you whether the cocoa in that particular variety of chocolate sprinkles is Fairtrade-certified.

    Check the mark or specific cocoa claim on the pack you’re buying.

  • Assuming dark chocolate sprinkles are milk-free

    An Oxfam Fair Trade product sheet for dark chocolate sprinkles lists milk. The flavour description alone won’t tell you whether a product contains allergens.

    Read the current ingredients and allergen information on every pack, even if you’ve used the same type before.

  • Confusing Fairtrade with nutritional advice

    Fairtrade relates to trading conditions and certification. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre separately highlights the energy, saturated fat and sugar content of chocolate sprinkles.

    Consider the Fairtrade claim and nutritional information separately when choosing your topping and portion size.

  • Buying more than you’ll use for your baking

    An opened pack can lose quality if it gets damp. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping chocolate sprinkles dry and in a tightly sealed container.

    Choose a pack size to suit your plans, and seal any leftover sprinkles carefully after use.

Brands compared

Fairtrade Original

Fairtrade Original lists a 380 g variety of dark chocolate sprinkles, suitable for everything from cake to crackers.

  • The product listing gives you a specific starting point when choosing a Fairtrade variety for rusks or decoration.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens on the current pack; this listing says nothing about other varieties.

PLUS

PLUS states that its own-brand products, including chocolate sprinkles, contain Fairtrade cocoa, and lists milk and mixed varieties.

  • According to PLUS, the cocoa in its own-brand products has been Fairtrade-certified since 2020.
  • That cocoa claim doesn’t tell you the ingredients or allergens in an individual pack, so check the label.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter is a chocolate sprinkles brand you can compare with others; PLUS lists a 200 g variety of dark chocolate sprinkles.

  • The dark variety offers a particular flavour profile to compare with other chocolate sprinkles.
  • If you want Fairtrade cocoa, check whether the specific De Ruijter variety you’ve chosen carries a mark or a specific claim.

Venz

Venz offers a milk and vanilla variety of chocolate sprinkles as a different flavour option for rusks or other toppings.

  • The Joybuy product listing for this variety includes ingredients and nutritional information.
  • The listing mentions milk and soya, among other ingredients. Check the allergens and any Fairtrade claim on the pack you choose.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles for Christmas baking?

Look for a Fairtrade mark or a specific Fairtrade cocoa claim on the current pack of the variety you’ve chosen. Also check what the claim applies to: Fairtrade cocoa doesn’t automatically mean that all the ingredients are Fairtrade.

Can I use dark Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles as a decoration?

Yes, if you want to scatter them over rusks or Christmas bakes. Fairtrade Original says its dark chocolate sprinkles can be used on everything from cake to crackers. If you need liquid chocolate, don’t choose sprinkles based on this use alone.

Are dark Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles automatically milk-free?

No. An Oxfam Fair Trade product sheet for dark chocolate sprinkles lists milk. If you have a food allergy, always check the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack of the variety you plan to serve.

How should I store chocolate sprinkles left over after Christmas baking?

Seal an opened pack tightly and keep it dry, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends for chocolate sprinkles. Check the pack for its best-before date.

Does a rusk with chocolate sprinkles always contain iodine from baker’s salt?

You can’t assume this is true of every rusk; check the ingredients and nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that baker’s salt with added iodine is used in bread, but bakers aren’t required to use it. This information about bread doesn’t confirm which salt is used in a particular rusk.