Fairtrade Chocolate Sprinkles for Christmas: Dark or Milk?

Who are these sprinkles for?

Christmas bakers who prioritise Fairtrade

You want the cocoa in the sprinkles for your Christmas baking to be explicitly labelled as Fairtrade. Then choose between dark and milk, and check the allergen information.

Fans of dark chocolate sprinkles

You’re looking for dark chocolate sprinkles to finish off cakes or desserts. The dark PLUS variety has no milk in its ingredients list, but the warning that it may contain milk and lactose is still important.

Fans of milk chocolate sprinkles

You prefer milk chocolate sprinkles to decorate your Christmas baking and can use a product that contains milk and lactose.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check the Fairtrade claim on the specific pack. Then choose between dark and milk based on your recipe and the ingredients and allergen information.

What to consider	What should you check?	Who is this important for?
Fairtrade cocoa	Look for the Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cocoa claim on the specific product; another certification is not the same thing.	When decorating Christmas baking, I want sprinkles whose cocoa is explicitly labelled as Fairtrade. Around 45% of consumers prioritise this claim.
Dark variety and allergens	Check both the ingredients list and the warning that the dark PLUS sprinkles may contain milk and lactose.	For dark decoration, I want to be able to check the ingredients, because a vegan label doesn’t cancel out a milk warning. This check is the most important consideration for around 33% of consumers.
Milk chocolate flavour	Check whether the milk variety suits your recipe and look for the milk and lactose information.	I prefer milk chocolate sprinkles for my Christmas dessert and can use milk in the recipe. This flavour is the main consideration for around 22% of consumers.

Common mistakes

Assuming Rainforest Alliance means Fairtrade

According to Jumbo, the De Ruijter Vlokken Puur reviewed here carry Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa. This is a different certification from the Fairtrade Cocoa claim on the PLUS sprinkles reviewed here.

If Fairtrade cocoa is a must for you, check the certification on each pack individually.
Assuming a vegan label means there’s no milk

PLUS labels its dark Fairtrade sprinkles as vegan, but also states that they may contain milk and lactose.

Check both the ingredients list and the warning about the possible presence of allergens on the current packaging.
Treating an old product page as a current buying option

The Albert Heijn page reviewed states that Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles are no longer in its range. The Jumbo page reviewed states that De Ruijter Vlokken Puur is no longer available in its online range.

Check availability with the shop where you plan to do your shopping before choosing a specific variety for your Christmas baking.

Brands and product ranges at a glance

PLUS

PLUS describes dark and milk chocolate sprinkles, each weighing 300 g, with a Fairtrade Cocoa claim.

The dark variety is labelled vegan and states that it contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
The dark variety may contain milk and lactose. The milk variety contains milk ingredients and states that it contains at least 20% cocoa solids; the percentages alone don’t tell you how the sprinkles will perform in a baking recipe.

Fairtrade Original

The dark chocolate sprinkles described by Albert Heijn are an example of a product made with Fairtrade cocoa, not a current buying option through that product page.

According to Albert Heijn, the cocoa in these dark sprinkles came from fairtrade farmers in Africa.
On the product page reviewed, Albert Heijn states that the product is no longer in its range.

De Ruijter

The dark sprinkles reviewed are only an alternative to consider if you’re happy with a certification other than Fairtrade.

Jumbo states that De Ruijter Vlokken Puur contains Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa and mentions using it in baked goods.
Rainforest Alliance is not the same certification as Fairtrade. Jumbo says the product is no longer in its online range; it contains soya and may contain milk.

Joybuy products

Frequently asked questions

Are sprinkles made with Rainforest Alliance cocoa also Fairtrade?

Not automatically: Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade are different certifications. Jumbo states that the De Ruijter sprinkles reviewed contain Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa, while PLUS states that its sprinkles reviewed contain Fairtrade Cocoa. If Fairtrade is a must for you, check the specific product.

Can I choose the dark PLUS Fairtrade sprinkles if I need to avoid milk?

Don’t rely on the ingredients list or vegan label alone: PLUS warns that the dark sprinkles may contain milk and lactose. Check the current packaging carefully if you need to avoid milk.

Should I check the packaging if I’ve already read the product page?

Yes. Before use, check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, even if you’ve already looked at it online. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of allergen labelling on packaging; product information can change in the meantime.

Should I use Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles in the batter or as decoration?

The reviewed PLUS sprinkles are most clearly suited to sprinkling or decorating. If you want to use them in a batter that will go in the oven, check whether the packaging gives guidance for this use; the cocoa percentages of the dark and milk varieties don’t predict how they’ll perform when baked.