Chocolate snacker who looks for a certification mark
You want chocolate sprinkles with an explicit Fairtrade mark for a TV night. You then assess the taste and nutritional information separately.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Sweet-toothed snacker who watches portion sizes
You want something sweet to enjoy in front of the TV and would like to decide in advance how many chocolate sprinkles to have. The nutritional information per 100 g and per portion helps you compare quantities.
Consumer who checks allergens
You need to check whether a variety contains milk or soya, or carries a warning that these may be present. The word ‘dark’ and a certification mark are no substitute for checking.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the certification mark if Fairtrade is a must for you. Then compare the nutritional information and check the allergen declaration for the exact variety.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade mark | Look for the word Fairtrade on the exact pack or current product page; don’t confuse it with Rainforest Alliance. | If I specifically want Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles, the variety I buy must carry the mark. Around 50% of consumers give this certification their highest priority. |
| Portion and nutritional value | Compare sugars and saturated fat per 100 g and per portion; decide in advance how much you want to have. | When snacking in front of the TV, I want to know how much sugar and saturated fat my chosen quantity contains. For around 30% of consumers, portion size comes first. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen declaration on the pack, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. | If I need to avoid milk or soya, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘dark’. Checking the label is the first concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing Rainforest Alliance with Fairtrade
The product pages for the De Ruijter and Venz varieties we looked at list Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. That is not the same as a Fairtrade claim for those chocolate sprinkles.
If Fairtrade is a must for you, check the name of the certification mark on the exact pack or current product page.
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Assuming ‘dark’ is a nutritional or allergen claim
The flavour name doesn’t tell you how much sugar a variety contains or which allergens are listed. Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles may contain milk; the dark varieties from De Ruijter and Venz that we looked at contain milk and soya.
Compare the nutritional value per 100 g and read the allergen declaration on the pack you choose.
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Snacking straight from the pack without measuring a portion
According to the Voedingscentrum, 15 g of dark chocolate sprinkles contains an average of 9.1 g of sugars. This general figure may not match the value for your brand.
Measure out the amount you want to eat into a small bowl beforehand, and use the product’s label for its nutritional information.
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Relying only on ingredient information online
For the ingredients and allergens in the chocolate sprinkles you actually buy, the information on that pack is what you need to check.
Read the packaging before use, especially if you need to avoid an allergen.
Relevant brands to compare
Fairtrade Original
Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles is a 380 g variety we looked at, with at least 32% cocoa solids according to the manufacturer.
- Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade certification for this specific variety.
- Albert Heijn lists 66 g of sugars and 9.2 g of saturated fat per 100 g; the product may contain milk. Assess the certification and nutritional information separately.
De Ruijter
The De Ruijter Dark Chocolate Sprinkles we looked at come in a 390 g pack and contain at least 32% cocoa solids.
- Jumbo lists Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa for this variety.
- This does not confirm Fairtrade certification for this variety. According to Jumbo, it contains milk and soya and may contain lactose.
Venz
The Venz Dark Chocolate Sprinkles we looked at come in a 400 g pack, which Albert Heijn describes as chocolate sprinkles containing at least 32% cocoa solids.
- Albert Heijn lists Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa for this variety.
- This is not a Fairtrade claim for this variety. The product information lists 65 g of sugars and 10 g of saturated fat per 100 g, declares milk and soya, and warns that milk protein and lactose may be present.
Joybuy products related to this topic
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are chocolate sprinkles with Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa automatically Fairtrade?
No, these are different claims. The product pages we looked at for De Ruijter and Venz mention Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa, while Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade certification for Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles. If Fairtrade is a deciding factor for you, check the mark on the exact variety.
Can I rely on the word ‘dark’ if I have a milk or soya allergy?
No, read the allergen declaration on the exact pack. Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Sprinkles may contain milk; according to their product information, the dark varieties from De Ruijter and Venz that we looked at contain milk and soya and also list the possible presence of lactose or milk protein.
How do I decide on a portion of chocolate sprinkles for a TV night?
Measure out the amount you want to have in advance and compare it with the nutritional information on your pack. As a guide, the Voedingscentrum lists an average of 67 kcal, 9.1 g of sugars and 1.3 g of saturated fat for 15 g of dark chocolate sprinkles; values for a specific product may differ.
What information can I compare on a prepacked product of chocolate sprinkles?
Compare the ingredients, allergens, net quantity and nutritional value of the exact variety, among other things. Your Europe lists these details, along with the best-before date, as part of the general EU rules for labelling prepacked food.