Who is this choice relevant to?

Hosts who require Fairtrade

You want to serve chocolate sprinkles with an explicit Fairtrade label on the rusks or at the dessert table. Another cocoa certification won’t automatically meet that requirement.

Hosts who need to consider allergens

You’re serving people for whom milk or soya is a concern. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, checking the label is important if you have a food allergy, so assess the rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately.

Organisers of an outdoor buffet

You want to put the topping out just before serving and keep the rest of the pack in a cool, dry place. On a warm day outdoors, that means keeping it out of the sun and away from the barbecue.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether Fairtrade is a requirement or whether another cocoa certification would also suit you. Then check the separate packs of rusks and chocolate sprinkles for allergen information, storage instructions and nutritional information.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Fairtrade certification Look for an explicit Fairtrade label on the chocolate sprinkles you choose; a Rainforest Alliance label is not the same thing. If I specifically want to serve Fairtrade, another certification doesn’t meet that requirement. Around 33% of consumers would make the Fairtrade label their first purchasing criterion.
Storage and serving Check the storage instructions and whether you can keep the pack closed in a cool, dry place until it’s time to serve. For a warm outdoor buffet, I want to be able to put out the topping without leaving the whole pack outside for too long. Around 27% of consumers would put storage and serving first.
Allergens Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles you choose, even if they’re labelled ‘dark’. If a guest needs to avoid milk or soya, I want to know whether the ingredients or warnings make the product suitable for them. Around 20% of consumers would consider allergens first.
Portion size and nutritional information Compare the sugar and fat content per 100 g, and decide how much chocolate sprinkles you want to use per serving. When I serve rusks as a sweet finish, I want to be able to control the amount of topping. Around 20% of consumers would put portion size and nutritional information first.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Rainforest Alliance with Fairtrade

    According to Rainforest Alliance, the two certification schemes differ in their focus and approach. Chocolate sprinkles made with Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa therefore won’t automatically meet an explicit Fairtrade requirement.

    Check the pack of the variety you choose to see which certification it actually carries.

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means it contains no milk or soya

    The product information for Fairtrade Original Puur says ‘may contain milk’. Milk and soya are listed for the dark varieties from De Ruijter and Venz that were checked.

    If you have a food allergy, read the current ingredients and warnings on the exact pack you plan to serve, and check the rusks separately.

  • Leaving the opened pack outside

    The storage instructions for the chocolate sprinkle varieties discussed recommend keeping them in a cool, dry place. A table in the sun outdoors isn’t suitable.

    Put out a small amount when it’s time to serve, and keep the main pack sealed in a cool, dry place.

  • Confusing a certification with nutritional information

    A Fairtrade label doesn’t tell you how much sugar a serving contains. Fairtrade Original lists 65.8 g of sugar per 100 g for Hagelslag Puur.

    Check the nutritional information per 100 g for the variety you choose, and bear in mind how much you sprinkle over each rusk.

Brands to compare

Compare the specific variety of chocolate sprinkles, not just the brand: certifications, allergens and packaging can vary from one product to another.

Fairtrade Original

Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur 380 g with the Fairtrade certification. This variety therefore meets an explicit Fairtrade requirement.

  • The product information states that this dark variety contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • The allergen information says ‘may contain milk’. According to Jumbo, the sprinkles stay fresh for longer when stored in a cool, dry place.

De Ruijter

The product information for De Ruijter Chocoladehagel Puur at Albert Heijn lists Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. This is a different certification from Fairtrade.

  • This dark variety can be used as a topping on rusks or other foods.
  • The variety checked lists milk and soya; check the pack before serving it to guests with relevant allergies.

Venz

According to the product information at Albert Heijn, Venz Hagelslag Puur contains cocoa from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms, rather than carrying an explicit Fairtrade label.

  • The dark variety discussed comes in a 400 g pack and contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • The allergen information lists milk and soya. Store the pack in a cool, dry place as advised.

Albert Heijn

According to its product page, AH Biologisch Bio Hagelslag Puur combined organic and Fairtrade labels.

  • The product page also described this variety as vegetarian and gluten-free.
  • Albert Heijn lists this variety as discontinued. Before you shop, check whether there’s a current product that meets your requirements.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are Rainforest Alliance chocolate sprinkles the same as Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles?

No. Rainforest Alliance explains that the two certifications differ in their focus and approach. If Fairtrade is a requirement for you, look for an explicit Fairtrade label on the pack you choose.

Can I serve dark chocolate sprinkles to someone with a milk allergy?

Don’t rely on the word ‘dark’. Fairtrade Original Puur says ‘may contain milk’, while the dark varieties from De Ruijter and Venz discussed here list milk and soya. If you have a food allergy, check the current labels on both the chocolate sprinkles and the rusks.

How should I store chocolate sprinkles during a summer barbecue?

Keep the main pack sealed in a cool, dry place, and only put out a small amount when it’s time to serve. This follows the storage instructions for the chocolate sprinkle varieties discussed here.

Can I tell from the name of the rusks whether they contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. Check the ingredients list for the specific rusks instead. The Dutch Commodities Act Decree defines baker’s salt as iodised table salt used in making bread and other bakery products; that definition doesn’t tell you which ingredients are in a particular pack of rusks.

Does Fairtrade affect the nutritional value of chocolate sprinkles?

The certification itself doesn’t provide nutritional information. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the chocolate sprinkles you choose, and consider how much you use per serving. Fairtrade Original lists 65.8 g of sugar per 100 g for Hagelslag Puur.