Who is this choice important for?

Shoppers who require Fairtrade

They want to see a Fairtrade label on the pack they choose and won’t settle for a supermarket’s general sustainability promise.

Families checking for milk and lactose

They read both the ingredients and allergen warnings before packing lunch, even when sprinkles are described as dark or vegan.

Shoppers planning a regular lunch shop

They check pack size and current availability, while making sure a replacement product still meets their Fairtrade requirement.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check the Fairtrade label on the exact variety you’re considering. Then compare the ingredients and allergen information, and check whether your chosen pack is available when you do your school lunch shop.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should pay particular attention?
Fairtrade label Look for Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cacao on the variety you choose; Rainforest Alliance is not confirmation of Fairtrade. If Fairtrade is a must for me, I want to see that label on the exact pack of sprinkles I buy; around 42% of consumers put this product check first.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current label, even for a dark variety. When packing a lunch where milk or lactose is a concern, I don’t want to miss a warning; around 33% of consumers prioritise this check.
Pack size and availability Check the pack size and whether your chosen variety is currently available. If you want to buy the same things for school lunches regularly, it helps to have a suitable pack that’s available; around 25% of consumers put this first.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking another cocoa certification for Fairtrade

    The sprinkles listed by Jumbo and ALDI as Rainforest Alliance Certified don’t automatically meet the requirement for Fairtrade sprinkles.

    Check for a Fairtrade label on both the product page and the packaging of the exact flavour and variety you’re buying.

  • Assuming vegan means milk-free

    PLUS describes its dark Fairtrade sprinkles as vegan, but also warns that they may contain milk and lactose.

    If you need to avoid milk or lactose, check the current allergen label; don’t rely on the words dark or vegan alone.

  • Adding a previously listed product to your regular shopping list

    Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles as discontinued. That makes them an unreliable choice for regular school lunch shops.

    Check current availability before relying on a variety, and assess any alternative product individually.

  • Looking only at the Fairtrade label

    The Fairtrade label doesn’t assess nutritional value. PLUS lists 63.8 g and 67.1 g of sugars per 100 g for its dark and milk varieties respectively, and a Nutri-Score of E for both.

    Also read the nutrition information per 100 g, check how much you use per serving and bear in mind any school rules about packed lunches.

Brands to consider

PLUS

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

  • Ingredients and allergen information for both varieties are available on the product page.
  • The dark variety may contain milk and lactose; the milk variety contains milk powder. Check the pack you choose.

Fairtrade Original

Albert Heijn describes a 300 g dark chocolate sprinkles variety whose cocoa, according to the product page, comes from fair trade farmers in Africa.

  • The claim relates to the cocoa in this specific variety of sprinkles.
  • Albert Heijn marks the product as discontinued; check current availability before relying on it.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists its 300 g dark chocolate sprinkles as Rainforest Alliance Certified.

  • The product page provides ingredient information for this variety.
  • Rainforest Alliance certification doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status for these sprinkles; a Fairtrade claim on another bread topping doesn’t change that.

ALDI / Kiekeboe

ALDI lists Kiekeboe chocolate sprinkles in 300 g milk and dark varieties.

  • The product listing describes these sprinkles as Rainforest Alliance Certified.
  • ALDI’s wider Fairtrade range doesn’t confirm that these Kiekeboe sprinkles are Fairtrade.

Lidl

Lidl has a product listing for dark chocolate sprinkles and also describes its own-brand cocoa policy.

  • According to Lidl, its own-brand cocoa may be certified Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or organic.
  • That general policy doesn’t tell you which label appears on the variety of sprinkles you choose; check the packaging.

De Ruijter

Jumbo lists De Ruijter dark and milk chocolate sprinkles in its sprinkles range.

  • The varieties are listed separately in the range overview.
  • If Fairtrade is a must when you buy, check the packaging of the variety you choose.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles?

Look for the Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cacao label on the current packaging of the variety you choose. According to Fairtrade International, the FAIRTRADE mark is used when the relevant ingredients meet international Fairtrade Standards; a shop’s general Fairtrade promise doesn’t tell you anything about every individual pack of sprinkles.

Are dark Fairtrade sprinkles free from milk and lactose?

You can’t tell from the word dark: PLUS says its dark Fairtrade sprinkles may contain milk and lactose. If you need to avoid milk or lactose, always check the current allergen information on the packaging.

What’s the difference between PLUS’s dark and milk varieties?

Both PLUS varieties contain 300 g and carry the Fairtrade Cacao label. PLUS describes the dark variety as vegan, but warns that it may contain milk and lactose; the milk variety contains whole milk powder and lists milk and lactose as allergens.

Are sprinkles with Rainforest Alliance certification also Fairtrade?

A Rainforest Alliance label on its own doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status. The Jumbo and ALDI sprinkles described here carry that other label; if Fairtrade is a must for you, check that the exact variety you choose says Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cacao.

What does Fairtrade tell me about the nutritional value of sprinkles?

The Fairtrade label doesn’t tell you how much sugar a serving of sprinkles contains. PLUS lists 63.8 g of sugars per 100 g for its dark variety and 67.1 g per 100 g for the milk variety, both with a Nutri-Score of E; for your lunch choice, also read the nutrition information and check how much you use per serving.