Who this choice is for

Anyone who cares about Fairtrade cocoa at the table

You want to choose chocolate sprinkles for coffee with friends that clearly carry a Fairtrade claim for the cocoa. A brand name or general sustainability message isn’t enough.

Anyone looking for dark sprinkles labelled vegan

You’re considering a dark variety labelled vegan. If a guest needs to avoid milk, check the allergen warning separately too.

Anyone buying for guests with different preferences

You want to weigh up dark and milk chocolate before choosing one pack for the coffee table. The ingredients and allergen information matter just as much as the flavour you’re looking for.

What to consider when choosing

First decide whether Fairtrade cocoa is a must-have. Then choose between dark and milk chocolate to suit your guests; another certification is only an alternative if you’re willing to relax that first requirement.

Dark chocolate with Fairtrade Cocoa

Best for: guests who want dark chocolate sprinkles or look for a vegan label. PLUS lists both features for its dark variety.

Bear in mind: according to the product information, PLUS’s dark sprinkles may contain milk and lactose.

Milk chocolate with Fairtrade Cocoa

Best for: a group that wants milk chocolate sprinkles and has no objection to milk as an ingredient.

Bear in mind: PLUS’s milk variety contains whole milk powder, so it isn’t suitable for anyone looking for a vegan option.

Sprinkles with a different certification

Best for: anyone open to considering another certified approach to cocoa, such as the Rainforest Alliance label on ALDI’s Kiekeboe sprinkles.

Bear in mind: Rainforest Alliance is not the same as Fairtrade.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Fairtrade cocoa Read the exact claim on the packaging and check whether it applies to the cocoa or the whole product. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo on a white background may apply only to a certified ingredient. I want to be able to explain why I chose these particular sprinkles to go with coffee. For around 50% of consumers, a verifiable Fairtrade cocoa claim would be the main requirement.
Taste and dietary preferences Compare the ingredients in the dark and milk varieties and read the allergen warning on the pack you choose, even if it says vegan. If guests have different tastes or dietary preferences, I want to avoid excluding anyone with my choice. For around 30% of consumers, guests’ preferences would be the top priority.
Availability and pack size Check that the product you’ve chosen is available and that the pack size suits your group. The PLUS dark and milk varieties mentioned here come in 300 g packs. If I’m buying the sprinkles shortly before the get-together, I want to know whether I can pick up the right pack. For around 20% of consumers, practical planning would come first.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking another sustainability certification for Fairtrade

    ALDI lists Rainforest Alliance for its Kiekeboe chocolate sprinkles. This is a different label from Fairtrade and doesn’t automatically meet a specific Fairtrade requirement.

    Read the claim on the pack you choose and decide whether another certification is acceptable to you too.

  • Assuming vegan means milk-free

    PLUS labels its dark Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles as vegan, but also warns that they may contain milk and lactose. That warning matters if a guest needs to avoid milk.

    For that guest, check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging. Don’t rely on the vegan label alone.

  • Assuming an old product page means you can still buy the item

    Albert Heijn’s product page lists 300 g Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles as discontinued. The Fairtrade information on that old page doesn’t tell you whether the product is available for your coffee get-together.

    Check which products are available just before you buy, and read the claim on the packaging of the product you actually choose.

Brands to compare

Check the label on each product: certification on one item from a brand doesn’t tell you anything about all the other sprinkles from that brand.

PLUS

PLUS lists Fairtrade Cocoa for its 300 g dark and milk chocolate sprinkles.

  • The dark variety is labelled vegan; the milk variety contains whole milk powder.
  • Check which ingredients are covered by the Fairtrade claim. According to PLUS, the dark variety may contain milk and lactose.

Fairtrade Original

Albert Heijn stated that the cocoa in Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles came from Fairtrade farmers in Africa.

  • The former product page describes the origin claim for the cocoa.
  • Albert Heijn marks this item as discontinued, so the page doesn’t show a current buying option.

Kiekeboe

ALDI lists Rainforest Alliance for Kiekeboe milk and dark chocolate sprinkles.

  • An option to look at if you’re also considering a certification other than Fairtrade.
  • The Rainforest Alliance label doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status for these sprinkles.

De Ruijter

Jumbo lists various De Ruijter chocolate sprinkles, including dark and milk varieties.

  • The flavours mentioned offer options to suit different tastes.
  • Don’t assume a product is Fairtrade just because it’s in the range; check the claim on the variety you choose.

Lidl Way To Go

Lidl describes Fairtrade certification for its Way To Go chocolate bars, not for chocolate sprinkles.

  • The programme shows which claim Lidl makes for those bars.
  • Don’t use a claim for chocolate bars as proof that sprinkles are certified.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does Fairtrade Cocoa mean that all the ingredients are Fairtrade?

No, a claim about cocoa doesn’t automatically mean that. Milieu Centraal explains that a Fairtrade logo on a white background may apply to one certified ingredient rather than the whole product. So check the exact wording on the packaging.

Are vegan dark chocolate sprinkles also milk-free?

Not necessarily: PLUS labels its dark Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles as vegan, but also says they may contain milk and lactose. If a guest needs to avoid milk, the allergen information on the current packaging should determine your choice.

How should I store chocolate sprinkles until it’s time for coffee?

PLUS recommends storing its dark and milk chocolate sprinkles in a cool, dry, dark place. Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy too.

Can I still buy Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles at Albert Heijn?

Albert Heijn’s product page marks the 300 g Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles as discontinued. Before you visit, check what’s currently available and look at the Fairtrade claim on any alternative product you’re considering.