Who is this choice relevant to?

Organisers who prioritise Fairtrade

You want to see an explicit Fairtrade mark on the chocolate sprinkles for your rusks, rather than infer it from the pure variety or a different certification.

Organisers mindful of allergens

You’re serving rusks to several neighbours and want to check the allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen before buying and serving.

Fans of a pronounced dark chocolate flavour

You compare pure varieties by their stated cocoa content to choose a flavour, without assuming this indicates Fairtrade status.

What should you consider when choosing?

First decide which certification matters to you. Then check the allergens in your chosen variety and consider what flavour and serving quantity will suit your neighbourhood get-together.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade mark Check that the Fairtrade mark is shown explicitly for the chocolate sprinkles variety you’ve chosen; Rainforest Alliance is a different certification. I want to be able to point out at the neighbourhood get-together that these particular chocolate sprinkles carry the Fairtrade mark. For around 50% of consumers, this choice of certification comes first.
Allergens Check the current pack for listed allergens and any warnings about what the product may contain. When neighbours are joining me for food, I want to know whether the chocolate sprinkles I’ve chosen are suitable for them. Around 30% of consumers give checking allergens their highest priority.
Flavour and portion size Compare the stated minimum cocoa solids percentage of specific varieties and decide how many rusks you’ll serve. I want to choose a pure variety that suits the flavour I’m after and the amount I’ll put on the table. Flavour and presentation come first for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming Rainforest Alliance or a pure variety means Fairtrade

    Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade for Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur, but Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa for the Venz and De Ruijter varieties discussed here. The word ‘pure’ doesn’t tell you which certification a product carries either.

    Check the certification for the exact variety you’re buying. Choose a different certification only if it also meets your requirements for the get-together.

  • Relying on the product name alone to check allergens

    Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur may contain milk. The Venz and De Ruijter varieties discussed here list milk and soya; some also carry a warning about milk protein and lactose.

    Read the label on the pack you’ve chosen just before serving, and keep the pack available for guests who want to check the ingredients.

  • Taking a higher cocoa content as proof of certification

    Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Specials Hagelslag Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids. This percentage tells you something about the ingredients, not whether the variety is Fairtrade.

    Use the cocoa content to compare varieties and check the Fairtrade mark separately. Also decide in advance how much topping you’d like to serve on each rusk.

Brands compared

Fairtrade Original

A relevant choice if you’re looking for pure chocolate sprinkles with an explicit Fairtrade mark for your neighbourhood get-together.

  • Albert Heijn lists the Fairtrade mark for Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur. For the 380 g variety, Fairtrade Original states that it contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • The variety may contain milk. Also check the nutritional information and the portion you want to serve on the pack you’ve chosen.

Venz

A pure chocolate sprinkles variety to compare if Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa meets your requirements.

  • For the 400 g Venz Hagelslag Puur variety discussed here, Albert Heijn states that it contains at least 32% cocoa solids and lists Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa.
  • This certification is not proof of Fairtrade. The variety lists milk and soya; check the full allergen information on the pack.

De Ruijter

The pure varieties discussed here offer a choice of stated cocoa content, including Specials Hagelslag Intens Puur.

  • Albert Heijn states that Specials Hagelslag Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids and lists Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa.
  • This cocoa content doesn’t prove Fairtrade status. The pure varieties discussed here list milk and soya; check the pack you’ve chosen for warnings about possible traces.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether chocolate sprinkles for a neighbourhood get-together are Fairtrade?

Look for the Fairtrade mark on the current pack or product page for the exact variety. Albert Heijn lists this mark for Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur; the brand name, the word ‘pure’ or another certification isn’t proof of Fairtrade in itself.

Is Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa the same as Fairtrade?

No, they are different certifications. The product listings for the Venz and De Ruijter varieties discussed here mention Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. If Fairtrade is a requirement for your purchase, check that this particular mark is shown for the variety you’ve chosen.

Which allergens should I check before serving rusks with chocolate sprinkles?

Read the allergen information and any warnings about possible traces on the pack you’re serving. According to the listing discussed here, Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur may contain milk; the Venz and De Ruijter varieties discussed here list milk and soya. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for pre-packed products appears on the label.

Does baker’s salt in rusks tell me anything about the chocolate sprinkles?

No, a reference to baker’s salt relates to the bakery product underneath the chocolate sprinkles, not to the chocolate sprinkles themselves. Voedingscentrum says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt; for a specific type of rusk, check the ingredients list rather than trying to infer this from the topping.