Who is this choice relevant to?

Stocking up with Fairtrade as a requirement

You buy several packs for toast, breakfast or baking, and want to check the Fairtrade label on the specific product rather than relying on a general claim from the retailer.

A household that uses lots of chocolate sprinkles

You compare pack sizes and want to know how many packs you’ll actually use before the best-before date. A larger own-brand pack doesn’t automatically carry a Fairtrade label.

A shopper who checks ingredients

You’re stocking up on chocolate sprinkles for people with different dietary needs. That means checking the ingredients and allergen information on every pack, as well as any certification.

What should you look for when stocking up?

Start by deciding which requirement matters most to you. Then check the certification on each pack, how much you can use, and the nutritional information that’s relevant to your household.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade label Check that Fairtrade is listed for the exact pack, and check the pack itself when it arrives. I want the chocolate sprinkles I stock up on to be explicitly labelled Fairtrade, rather than carrying a different cocoa certification. For around 36% of consumers, this Fairtrade requirement is the deciding factor.
Pack size and usage Compare the pack sizes and best-before dates of the products you plan to order, and follow the storage advice on the packaging. If I buy several packs, I want to use them before their best-before dates and have suitable storage space for them. This practical approach to stocking up comes first for roughly 29% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety, even when reordering. The ingredients need to be suitable for whoever in our household will be eating the chocolate sprinkles; the word ‘dark’ alone isn’t enough to tell me that. Around 21% of consumers put this check ahead of the other considerations.
Sugars and sweeteners Compare the sugars per 100 g and check which sweeteners and warnings appear on the label. I want to compare the nutritional information before stocking up on different packs, even if Fairtrade isn’t my top requirement. This is the most important consideration for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing another certification with Fairtrade

    The product information for De Ruijter Chocoladehagelslag Puur mentions Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. It does not say that this product is Fairtrade-certified. ‘Organic’ on its own doesn’t mean a product is Fairtrade either.

    If Fairtrade is a requirement for you, check that it’s listed for the exact pack of chocolate sprinkles, and check the pack when it arrives too.

  • Assuming dark chocolate sprinkles don’t contain milk

    Fairtrade Original Chocoladehagelslag Puur may contain milk. Jumbo Chocolade Hagelslag Puur in the 200 g pack contains milk and may contain gluten and wheat. So the flavour description alone doesn’t tell you enough about allergens.

    Before buying, read the allergen information for your chosen variety and check it again on every pack you receive.

  • Using an old product listing to plan your stock

    Albert Heijn describes AH Biologisch Bio hagelslag puur in the 200 g pack as organic and Fairtrade, but the product page also marks it as ‘Discontinued’.

    Just before placing your order, check that the specific pack you want to stock up on is still available to order.

Relevant brands and retailers

Fairtrade Original

A specific option if you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles that are explicitly labelled Fairtrade.

  • Albert Heijn and Jumbo list Fairtrade for Chocoladehagelslag Puur in the 380 g pack.
  • The pack may contain milk. If allergens are important to your choice, check the label on this variety too.

Jumbo

A retailer selling Fairtrade Original, and a place to compare the sizes of chocolate sprinkle packs.

  • Jumbo lists its own chocolate sprinkles in 600 g packs.
  • The large own-brand packs mentioned aren’t labelled Fairtrade on the range overview. Check the certification for each product.

Albert Heijn

A retailer whose product page lists Fairtrade Original Chocoladehagelslag Puur in the 380 g pack.

  • The Fairtrade Original product page mentions its Fairtrade certification.
  • The separate AH Biologisch Bio hagelslag puur in the 200 g pack is marked as ‘Discontinued’ on its product page. When planning your stock, don’t rely on an old product listing alone.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether chocolate sprinkles are Fairtrade?

Look for the Fairtrade label on the exact pack, and check the label again when it arrives. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list this certification for Fairtrade Original Chocoladehagelslag Puur in the 380 g pack; a different cocoa certification is no substitute for checking the specific product.

What should I consider when buying several packs of chocolate sprinkles?

Choose an amount you expect to use before the best-before date and have suitable storage space for. Follow the storage advice on the packaging and check that each variety meets your Fairtrade requirements; a larger pack won’t automatically do so.

Are dark chocolate sprinkles automatically suitable for someone with a milk allergy?

No. ‘Dark’ doesn’t mean a product is free from milk. Fairtrade Original Chocoladehagelslag Puur may contain milk. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergens must be declared on the label, so check the allergen information on the exact pack every time you buy it.

Are chocolate sprinkles with less sugar also Fairtrade?

Not on the basis of that claim alone. The product information for Céréal Hagelslag puur minder suikers mentions Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa, which doesn’t automatically mean it’s Fairtrade. For this variety, also check the nutritional information and the warning about excessive consumption of the product containing maltitols.