Who might find this choice relevant?

People planning their carbohydrate intake with diabetes

You want to be able to assess the carbohydrates and sugars in the portion you eat, regardless of any mark or sugar claim on the packaging.

People who prioritise Fairtrade

You want to know which ingredients the mark applies to, rather than assume that every ingredient is Fairtrade.

People looking for less sugar

You compare stroopwafels by their sugars and carbohydrates per serving, without assuming that a lower-sugar version also carries a Fairtrade claim.

What should you look for when choosing?

Decide whether you’re mainly looking for the carbohydrate content of your portion, a verifiable Fairtrade claim or a lower sugar content. Then check the other factors separately: none of these labels replaces the nutritional information on the packaging.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Carbohydrates per serving Check the serving size and the carbohydrates, including sugars, per 100 g. Work out the values for the number of waffles you eat. If I’m planning my carbohydrate intake with diabetes, I want to know what’s in my own portion. Around 50% of consumers prioritise planning their portions.
What the Fairtrade claim covers Alongside the mark, read the information about the Fairtrade ingredients and, if stated, their proportion of the product. I want to be able to distinguish which ingredients were sourced under Fairtrade terms. For around 30% of consumers, this clarity is the top priority.
Less sugar Check which product the sugar claim is compared with, then read the sugars and total carbohydrates in the nutritional information. When I’m looking for a lower-sugar stroopwafel, I still want to assess how many carbohydrates are in my portion. This is the first consideration for around 20% of consumers.

The product category also matters. PLUS states that its Choco Fairtrade wafer contains Fairtrade cocoa, but describes it as an egg waffle with hazelnut-flavoured filling, not a stroopwafel. Fairtrade International says that mass balance may be used for ingredients including cocoa and sugar, so check the specific explanation of the mark on a product made with several ingredients.

Common misconceptions

  • Reading Fairtrade as a nutritional claim

    A Fairtrade claim is about the terms under which ingredients were sourced, not the amount of sugars or carbohydrates in a stroopwafel.

    Use the mark to assess sourcing, then check the nutritional information for the portion you plan to eat.

  • Relying on ‘less sugar’ alone

    Albert Heijn states that AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels contain 32% less sugar than its regular butter stroopwafels. The lower-sugar version still contains 23 g of sugars and 44 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

    Check what the claim is compared with, as well as the nutritional values per 100 g and per portion eaten.

  • Mistaking a cocoa wafer for a stroopwafel

    A wafer containing Fairtrade cocoa may have a different filling and different nutritional values from a stroopwafel. PLUS’s Choco Fairtrade wafer is an egg waffle with hazelnut-flavoured filling.

    Check the product type first, then assess the Fairtrade information and nutritional values.

  • Not checking the packaging

    Ingredients and allergens vary from product to product. A product page is no substitute for the declaration on the packaging of the product you buy.

    Read the ingredients, allergens, nutritional values and explanation of the mark on that packaging.

Brands to consider

Fair Trade Original

Jumbo listed Fair Trade Original mini stroopwafels whose cane sugar and invert sugar syrup were traded under Fairtrade terms.

  • The product listing states that 25.5% of the product’s total content is Fairtrade.
  • That listing doesn’t mean all the ingredients are Fairtrade. Jumbo says this product is no longer available in its online range.

AH

AH offers a butter stroopwafel as a lower-sugar option.

  • Albert Heijn states that AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels contain 32% less sugar than AH Roomboter stroopwafels. The lower-sugar version contains 44 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Consider this sugar comparison separately from Fairtrade: it doesn’t establish that this version carries a Fairtrade claim.

PLUS

PLUS states that its Choco Fairtrade wafer contains Fairtrade cocoa.

  • The claim identifies the Fairtrade ingredient.
  • It’s an egg waffle with hazelnut-flavoured filling, not a stroopwafel. PLUS states that it contains 51.4 g of carbohydrates and 39 g of sugars per 100 g.

Daelmans

The classic Daelmans stroopwafel provides a reference point for comparing serving sizes and nutritional values.

  • For this version, Albert Heijn states that one waffle weighs 39 g, and that it contains 67 g of carbohydrates and 38 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • These nutritional values don’t tell you about its Fairtrade status; check the packaging of the version you choose for that information.

Related Joybuy products

Related products will appear here soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Fairtrade stroopwafel automatically suitable for someone with diabetes?

No, the Fairtrade mark says nothing about the amount of carbohydrates or sugars. Check the nutritional information and how much you actually eat to see how the stroopwafel fits into your own carbohydrate plan.

What does Fairtrade mean on a stroopwafel with several ingredients?

The mark doesn’t necessarily mean that every ingredient is Fairtrade. Check the packaging to see which ingredients are specified; Fairtrade International says that mass balance may be used for ingredients including sugar and cocoa.

Does ‘less sugar’ mean low in carbohydrates?

No, ‘less sugar’ compares the sugar content with that of a reference product; it doesn’t describe the total carbohydrates. Albert Heijn states that its AH Roomboter minder suiker stroopwafels contain 23 g of sugars and 44 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

Can I compare a Fairtrade cocoa wafer with a stroopwafel?

Yes, as an alternative for a snack, but not as the same type of product. PLUS’s Choco Fairtrade wafer is an egg waffle with hazelnut-flavoured filling; compare its ingredients, serving size and nutritional values separately with those of a stroopwafel.

Where can I check allergens and up-to-date product information?

Check the packaging of the product you buy. Read the allergen declaration and ingredients list, as well as the nutritional information and any explanation of the Fairtrade mark.