Who is this choice relevant to?

Gym-bag planners looking for Fairtrade

You make a sandwich at home or prepare breakfast to take with you. You want your chosen chocolate sprinkles to be explicitly labelled Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cocoa.

Fans of sweet toppings comparing portions

You use chocolate sprinkles now and again and want to compare the sugars per serving in a dark and a milk variant. You see chocolate sprinkles as a topping, not as food in their own right for around your workout.

Shoppers checking allergens

You need to know whether a variant contains milk, lactose or soya, or carries a warning about them. The word ‘dark’ is not enough reason for you to skip checking the label.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check whether the specific variant carries the Fairtrade label. Then consider what you want to take with you, and read the nutritional information and allergen details on the packaging.

Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles

Suitable for: anyone who wants to use dark chocolate sprinkles with an explicit Fairtrade label on a sandwich or breakfast item prepared in advance.

Bear in mind: this variant may contain milk and is still a sweet topping, even if you choose dark chocolate.

PLUS Fairtrade Milk Chocolate Sprinkles

Suitable for: anyone looking for milk chocolate sprinkles who wants to see the Fairtrade Cocoa label on the chosen variant.

Bear in mind: this variant contains milk and lactose; check that the ingredients are suitable for you.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade label Look for Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cocoa on the exact packaging you choose. Another cocoa certification does not confirm this label. If I specifically want to take Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles with me, I need to be able to spot the certification on my chosen variant. For around 40% of consumers, this label is the top priority.
Use and nutritional information Decide which sandwich or breakfast item you’re packing, then compare the nutritional values per 100 g or per serving on the label. For my gym bag, I want to know what role the chocolate sprinkles play in the food I’ve packed, without seeing them as a complete snack. This use comes first for around 40% of consumers.
Allergens and taste For the specific dark or milk variant, read the ingredients and warnings about milk, lactose and soya, among other things. I like to choose a flavour that suits me, but I also need to be able to check which allergens are listed on the label. This matters most to around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking Rainforest Alliance for Fairtrade

    The listings reviewed for De Ruijter, Venz and Kiekeboe mention Rainforest Alliance. This does not confirm that those variants also carry the Fairtrade label.

    If Fairtrade is a must for you, look for Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cocoa on the packaging of the variant you’re buying.

  • Taking chocolate sprinkles as a standalone gym snack

    Chocolate sprinkles are a sweet topping. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 0.9 g of protein and 9.4 g of sugars for a 15 g serving; this serving is not a substitute for a post-workout meal.

    If you like, use chocolate sprinkles on a sandwich or breakfast item prepared in advance, and consider the whole meal you’re taking with you.

  • Assuming dark chocolate sprinkles are milk-free

    According to Albert Heijn, the Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles variant reviewed may contain milk. The dark variants reviewed from De Ruijter and Venz also list milk and soya in their allergen information.

    Before buying and packing them, read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current packaging.

  • Relying on a label you read previously

    When choosing a specific variant, it’s the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging you buy that matter.

    Check these details again if you choose a different pack or variant, and check the best-before date too.

Brands compared

The certifications and features mentioned apply to the chocolate sprinkle variants described, not automatically to every product from a brand.

Fairtrade Original

The 380 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles is an option if you’re looking for an explicit Fairtrade label.

  • According to Fairtrade Original, this variant contains at least 32% cocoa solids. The product information lists 65.8 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • According to the Albert Heijn product listing, this variant may contain milk; it is still a sweet topping.

PLUS

The 400 g pack of milk chocolate sprinkles is worth considering if you’re looking for the Fairtrade Cocoa label.

  • The PLUS product information lists Fairtrade Cocoa and 70.4 g of sugars per 100 g for this variant.
  • This milk variant contains milk and lactose.

De Ruijter

The 390 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed is an alternative to compare if an explicit Fairtrade label isn’t essential.

  • The Albert Heijn product listing mentions Rainforest Alliance cocoa and 64 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The variant reviewed lists milk and soya in its allergen information; Rainforest Alliance does not confirm a Fairtrade label.

Venz

The 400 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed offers another flavour and pack-size option if Fairtrade isn’t a firm requirement.

  • The Albert Heijn product listing mentions Rainforest Alliance cocoa and 65 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The variant reviewed lists milk and soya and, according to the product information, may also contain milk protein and lactose.

Kiekeboe

The 600 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed is from ALDI’s own-label range.

  • ALDI Nederland lists Rainforest Alliance cocoa for this variant.
  • That listing does not confirm a Fairtrade label for the chocolate sprinkles reviewed.

Chocolate sprinkles on Joybuy

Related products will appear soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are chocolate sprinkles a standalone snack during or after exercise?

No. Chocolate sprinkles are a sweet topping, not a standalone meal or recovery snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 0.9 g of protein and 9.4 g of sugars for 15 g of chocolate sprinkles. If you like, use them as part of a sandwich prepared in advance or breakfast to take with you.

How can I spot a Fairtrade label on chocolate sprinkles?

Look for Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cocoa on the packaging of the specific variant. The Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles variant reviewed is labelled Fairtrade; the PLUS Fairtrade Milk Chocolate Sprinkles variant reviewed is labelled Fairtrade Cocoa. A Rainforest Alliance label on another variant is not, by itself, a Fairtrade label.

Are dark chocolate sprinkles automatically milk-free?

No. According to the Albert Heijn product listing, Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles may contain milk. So even with dark chocolate sprinkles, read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current packaging.

How can I take chocolate sprinkles with me in my gym bag?

If you like, add the chocolate sprinkles to a sandwich, wrap or breakfast item at home, then pack the whole thing to suit what you’re taking with you. Follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the packaging.