Who is this choice relevant to?

Brunch host who wants to verify Fairtrade credentials

You want to serve guests chocolate sprinkles with a Fairtrade statement on the product itself, rather than relying on a retailer’s general sustainability promise.

Dark chocolate fan who compares labels

You’re looking for dark chocolate sprinkles for bread or Easter baking, and want to check the stated cocoa percentage, sugars and allergens as well as the flavour.

Family keeping an eye on allergens and sugars

You want to know before serving whether an option contains or may contain milk, and compare the nutrition information for this sweet topping.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check that the specific pack meets your Fairtrade requirement. Then compare dark and milk chocolate options by flavour, and read the current ingredients, allergen and nutrition information before serving.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Fairtrade statement Look for the certification mark or an explicit Fairtrade statement on the specific pack. A Rainforest Alliance statement is not the same thing. If Fairtrade is the main requirement for my Easter brunch, I want to be able to check for that statement on the chocolate sprinkles I choose. Around 50% of consumers put this need first.
Dark or milk chocolate Compare the chocolate type and ingredients; Fairtrade Original Dark states that it contains at least 32% cocoa solids. Also check whether the option you want is available. For bread or Easter baking, I mainly want to choose a flavour that suits how I’ll be serving it. Around 30% of consumers put flavour first.
Allergens and nutrition information Read the allergen statement and compare sugars per 100 g on the current packaging. Fairtrade Original Milk contains milk; Dark may contain milk. If I’m serving guests or comparing sweet toppings, I need to be able to check the allergen and nutrition information before use. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking Rainforest Alliance for Fairtrade

    Jumbo and ALDI state that certain chocolate sprinkle products contain Rainforest Alliance cocoa. That doesn’t automatically mean those specific products are Fairtrade-certified.

    If Fairtrade is a must, look for a Fairtrade statement on the product you’re actually buying.

  • Assuming dark chocolate sprinkles can’t contain milk

    Albert Heijn states that Fairtrade Original Dark may contain milk. The milk chocolate option contains milk as an ingredient.

    If you have a food allergy, check the ingredients and allergen statement on the current packaging shortly before buying and serving.

  • Thinking Fairtrade is a nutrition claim

    The certification mark says nothing about the amount of sugars or fats in a serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre doesn’t include chocolate sprinkles in its Wheel of Five healthy eating guidelines and highlights sugars and saturated fat, among other things.

    Assess the Fairtrade statement and nutrition information separately, and compare products on the same basis, for example per 100 g.

  • Assuming it’ll always be available

    Albert Heijn’s product page lists Fairtrade Original Milk as discontinued. That doesn’t tell you whether it’s available elsewhere.

    Before you shop, check whether your preferred option is available from the retailer you plan to buy it from, and check the pack again when you purchase it.

Brands compared

Fairtrade Original

Albert Heijn and Jumbo list the dark chocolate sprinkles as a Fairtrade product; Albert Heijn states that the milk chocolate option contains Fairtrade cocoa and sugar.

  • The dark chocolate option states that it contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • The dark chocolate option may contain milk. The milk chocolate option contains milk and is listed as discontinued by Albert Heijn.

Jumbo

Jumbo Dark Chocolate Sprinkles 200 g offer a different certification route to compare with Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles.

  • Jumbo states that this option contains Rainforest Alliance cocoa and at least 50% cocoa solids.
  • The Rainforest Alliance statement doesn’t confirm that these chocolate sprinkles are Fairtrade-certified.

Kiekeboe

ALDI states that Kiekeboe Dark Chocolate Sprinkles 600 g contain Rainforest Alliance cocoa.

  • The 600 g pack size and stated cocoa certification are useful points of comparison with other dark chocolate sprinkles.
  • ALDI’s wider policy on certified cocoa doesn’t confirm that this Kiekeboe option is Fairtrade-certified.

Chocolate sprinkles at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Fairtrade certification mark mean every ingredient is Fairtrade?

No. For a product with multiple ingredients, the certification mark doesn’t necessarily mean that every ingredient is Fairtrade. Fairtrade Netherlands explains that ingredients available under Fairtrade terms must have been purchased on those terms. Check the type of certification mark and the accompanying text on the specific pack of chocolate sprinkles.

Can I serve Fairtrade Original Dark to someone with a milk allergy?

Don’t assume that Fairtrade Original Dark is milk-free: Albert Heijn states that this option may contain milk. Check the current packaging and, if someone has a known allergy, ask them which products are suitable. Fairtrade Original Milk contains milk as an ingredient.

Where can I find allergen information for chocolate sprinkles?

Read the ingredients and allergen statement on the pack you’re going to serve. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be clearly and correctly shown on the label. If a guest has a food allergy, don’t rely on the words ‘dark’ or ‘milk’ alone.

Does Fairtrade tell me anything about the nutritional value of chocolate sprinkles?

No. A Fairtrade statement doesn’t replace the nutrition information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights sugars and saturated fat, among other things, in chocolate sprinkles. For your brunch, compare the nutritional values per 100 g and consider separately how much you plan to serve.