Who is this relevant to?

Parents specifically looking for Fairtrade

You want to be able to see whether the chocolate sprinkles carry the Fairtrade mark on the packaging you choose, rather than relying on a general sustainability claim.

Parents planning a treat

You’re considering chocolate sprinkles for a toddler, but want to distinguish an occasional treat from an everyday snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit, vegetables and a little wholemeal bread as snacks for young children and toddlers.

Families checking ingredients and allergens

You want to read the label on the variant you’ve bought before using it, especially if milk or soya is relevant to your family.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’re planning an everyday snack or an occasional treat with chocolate sprinkles. For the latter, check the Fairtrade claim on the exact variant and choose a pack size that suits how often you’ll use it.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Suitability as a snack Decide whether it’s for an everyday snack or an occasional treat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit, vegetables and a little wholemeal bread as snacks for toddlers. If I’m looking for something for an everyday snack, I don’t want to rely on the certification mark alone: for around 42% of consumers, suitability as a snack comes first.
Fairtrade mark Check the packaging of the exact variant for the mark; Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa does not carry the same certification. When I want to make a conscious choice to buy Fairtrade, I need to be able to check this on the pack; around 33% of consumers give this certification the highest priority.
Pack size Compare the quantity on the pack with how often you plan to use the chocolate sprinkles. Fairtrade Original lists 380 g for its dark variant. If I only use chocolate sprinkles occasionally, I want to choose a quantity that suits how I use them; for around 25% of consumers, pack size matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Rainforest Alliance with Fairtrade

    According to their product information, the dark variants from De Ruijter, Venz and Albert Heijn use Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. This is not the same as carrying the Fairtrade mark.

    If you’re specifically looking for Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles, check the packaging of the exact variant for the mark.

  • Assuming certification makes a product suitable for every day

    Fairtrade relates to the supply chain, not nutritional value. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, 15 g of chocolate sprinkles contains an average of 9,4 g of sugars.

    For an everyday snack for a toddler, choose from the foods the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends for this purpose, such as fruit, vegetables or a little wholemeal bread.

  • Relying only on older allergen information online

    Information varies by variant: Fairtrade Original says its dark chocolate sprinkles may contain milk; the dark variants from De Ruijter and Venz list milk and soya.

    Before serving, read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you’ve actually bought.

Brands compared

Fairtrade Original

An option if the Fairtrade mark is a condition of purchase: Fairtrade Original says its products carry this mark.

  • According to Fairtrade Original, its dark chocolate sprinkles come in a 380 g pack and contain at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • The product information lists 65,8 g of sugars per 100 g and says the dark variant may contain milk. Check the label on the pack you buy.

De Ruijter

Its dark chocolate sprinkles have a different certification: product information from Jumbo lists Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa.

  • The product information lists at least 32% cocoa solids for this dark variant.
  • The Rainforest Alliance claim does not demonstrate Fairtrade certification. According to the product information, this variant contains milk and soya.

Venz

For Venz dark chocolate sprinkles, product information from Jumbo also lists Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa.

  • This variant is listed as containing at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • Rainforest Alliance certification is not proof of Fairtrade certification. The product information lists milk and soya as allergens.

Albert Heijn

AH Dark Chocolate Sprinkles is a supermarket own-brand variant for which Albert Heijn lists Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa.

  • According to Albert Heijn, the dark variant reviewed comes in a 600 g pack.
  • The Rainforest Alliance claim does not demonstrate Fairtrade certification; when buying, also check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify Fairtrade-certified chocolate sprinkles?

Check the packaging of the exact variant for the Fairtrade mark. Fairtrade Original says its products carry the mark; the Rainforest Alliance claim on the dark variants from De Ruijter, Venz and Albert Heijn is not the same certification.

Are Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles suitable for an everyday snack for a toddler?

For an everyday snack, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that young children and toddlers mainly eat foods from the Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables or a little wholemeal bread. Fairtrade certification doesn’t change the nutritional value of chocolate sprinkles; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, 15 g of chocolate sprinkles contains an average of 9,4 g of sugars.

Which allergens should I check in dark chocolate sprinkles?

Read the allergen information on the pack you buy, as it varies by product. Fairtrade Original says its dark chocolate sprinkles may contain milk, while the product information for the dark variants from De Ruijter and Venz lists milk and soya.