Choose Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles if you’re looking for sprinkles that Albert Heijn itself labels as Fairtrade. Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles are described as containing Fairtrade-certified cocoa: that’s a different product claim. For a cycling snack, you should also consider portion size, when you eat and the allergens listed on the packaging. Sprinkles are no substitute for a plan for eating and drinking on a long ride.
You want to know whether the sprinkles you’ve chosen are labelled as Fairtrade, or whether only the cocoa is described as Fairtrade-certified. That distinction will help you choose the packaging that matches your preference.
You may want to include sprinkles as part of a meal or snack, while also considering how much to eat, when to eat it, what to drink and what you can comfortably tolerate while cycling.
Only choose a variety after checking the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. The details differ between the products reviewed.
Start by checking the exact Fairtrade wording. Then consider how the sprinkles fit into your meal or snack, and check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade wording | Check whether the product is labelled as Fairtrade, as with Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles at Albert Heijn, or whether the wording specifically refers to Fairtrade-certified cocoa, as with Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles. | If I’m choosing Fairtrade sprinkles specifically, I want to know exactly what the wording refers to. For around 36% of consumers, clarity on this is the top priority when making this choice. |
| Portion before the ride | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g with the amount you’ll actually use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a larger meal around 2 to 3 hours before exercising. | I don’t want to eat a larger meal just before setting off than I’ll feel comfortable cycling with. Around 29% of consumers give the timing and portion size top priority. |
| Eating and drinking during a long ride | Don’t judge sprinkles solely by their carbohydrate content. Also consider how you’ll manage food and drink during the ride, and whether the portion is practical to take with you. | On a long or intense ride, I want to plan my food and drink rather than rely on one type of bread topping. For around 21% of consumers, this planning matters most. |
| Allergens | Read the current packaging for the exact variety. Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles may contain milk; according to Albert Heijn, Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles contain milk and lactose. | If I need to watch out for allergens, suitable ingredient and allergen information matters more than my preference for a certification label. Around 14% of consumers make this their top priority. |
The plain chocolate varieties reviewed from De Ruijter and Jumbo display the Rainforest Alliance label, while Albert Heijn labels Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles as Fairtrade. If Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase, these labels are not interchangeable.
Read the exact wording on the packaging of the variety you’re buying.
According to Sportzorg, carbohydrates become a more important source of fuel as exercise gets more intense. Sprinkles provide carbohydrates, but they don’t tell you when or how much to eat or drink during a long ride.
Decide separately what you want to eat and drink before and during the ride, and take into account what you find comfortable.
Even dark chocolate sprinkles can contain allergens. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles may contain milk; Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles contain milk and lactose.
If you have an allergy, always check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety you’ve chosen.
The information below relates to specific varieties reviewed or, in the case of PLUS, a statement about its own-brand range. Check the packaging before making your choice.
Albert Heijn’s product page labels its dark chocolate sprinkles as Fairtrade.
Albert Heijn describes Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles as a product containing Fairtrade-certified cocoa.
PLUS says that the cocoa in its own-brand products, including chocolate sprinkles, has been Fairtrade-certified since 2020.
The De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed at Albert Heijn are labelled as containing Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. This is not the same Fairtrade wording used for Fairtrade Original.
The Jumbo dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed display the Rainforest Alliance label. This is a different variety from Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles.
That depends on the ride and how you plan to take and eat the sprinkles. For a long or intense ride, you’ll also need to plan what you drink and when you eat other food; sprinkles aren’t automatically a convenient portion to take with you. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that sports bars and gels aren’t needed for exercise lasting less than an hour.
The calculation comes to around 44,2 g of sprinkles, based on the 67,8 g of carbohydrates per 100 g listed in Albert Heijn’s product information. Based on the same nutritional values, that amount also contains around 6,9 g of fat; the calculation doesn’t tell you which portion is right for your ride.
No, they are different certification labels. Albert Heijn labels Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles as Fairtrade, while the plain chocolate sprinkles reviewed from De Ruijter at Albert Heijn and from Jumbo display the Rainforest Alliance label. Check the packaging if either label is important to you.
Yes, even with a dark variety, you should read the allergen information on the packaging you’ve chosen. According to Albert Heijn, Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles may contain milk, while Delicata dark chocolate sprinkles contain milk and lactose. Information can differ for other varieties.
