Who is this choice relevant to?

Bakers who require Fairtrade

You want to choose chocolate sprinkles for your pepernoten whose Fairtrade status you can check on the specific product. Another cocoa certification is not enough for you.

Bakers who want to use pure chocolate sprinkles

You’re looking for chocolate sprinkles to use in baking or as a topping, so you check the stated baking use and cocoa content. Albert Heijn says Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur is suitable for baking; Fairtrade Original states that it contains at least 32% cocoa solids.

Bakers who need to check allergens

You’re baking for someone who needs to avoid milk, gluten or wheat. Fairtrade Original says its pure chocolate sprinkles may contain milk. According to Jumbo, Jumbo Chocolade Hagelslag Puur 200 g contains milk and may contain gluten and wheat.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether Fairtrade is a requirement for you. Then consider how you plan to use the chocolate sprinkles, and check the ingredients and allergens on the pack before baking.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade status Check for the FAIRTRADE Mark on the packaging or a current Fairtrade statement for the product. Fairtrade International links use of the mark to requirements set out in international Fairtrade Standards. If I require Fairtrade, I want to be able to check that status on the chocolate sprinkles themselves. For around 50% of consumers, that assurance comes first.
Use in baking and pure flavour Check whether baking is listed as a suitable use and what minimum cocoa content is stated on the product. Try mixing the sprinkles into pepernoten dough on a small scale first. I want to use pure chocolate sprinkles in or on my pepernoten, but I don’t want to assume they’ll behave the same way in every dough. Around 30% of consumers prioritise baking use and flavour.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients list and allergen statement on the current packaging; don’t rely on the word ‘pure’ alone. If I’m baking for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what the chosen pack contains or may contain. For around 20% of consumers, this check comes before the other selection criteria.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Rainforest Alliance with Fairtrade

    Jumbo and ALDI list Rainforest Alliance cocoa for the chocolate sprinkles included in this comparison. That does not confirm that the specific product carries the FAIRTRADE Mark.

    Is Fairtrade a requirement for you? Check the Fairtrade status on the pack you plan to buy rather than relying on a different cocoa claim.

  • Assuming pure chocolate sprinkles are milk-free

    Fairtrade Original says its pure chocolate sprinkles may contain milk. According to Jumbo, the pure chocolate sprinkles from Jumbo included in this comparison contain milk and may contain gluten and wheat.

    If you have allergies, read the allergen statement on the current packaging, even if you’ve used the same variety before.

  • Taking a general baking claim as an instruction for pepernoten dough

    Albert Heijn says Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur is suitable for baking, but that statement doesn’t tell you how the sprinkles will behave in your pepernoten dough.

    Use the chocolate sprinkles as a topping after baking, or try a small amount of dough first before making the whole batch.

Brands to consider

Fairtrade Original

A product-specific option if Fairtrade is a requirement: Albert Heijn lists Hagelslag Puur 380 g as Fairtrade and suitable for baking.

  • Fairtrade Original states that this pure variety contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • According to the product information, the chocolate sprinkles may contain milk. The general baking claim is not an instruction for using them in pepernoten dough.

Jumbo

An alternative to compare if an explicit Fairtrade statement isn’t a requirement.

  • Jumbo states that Chocolade Hagelslag Puur 200 g contains at least 50% cocoa solids; the product information lists Rainforest Alliance cocoa.
  • That cocoa claim does not confirm Fairtrade status. According to Jumbo, this variety contains milk and may contain gluten and wheat.

Kiekeboe (ALDI)

An option to compare if you’re looking for a larger pack of pure chocolate sprinkles.

  • ALDI describes Kiekeboe Hagelslag Puur as a 600 g pack made with Rainforest Alliance cocoa.
  • The Rainforest Alliance cocoa statement does not confirm that this product carries the FAIRTRADE Mark.

Lidl

Relevant if you want to take a retailer’s cocoa policy into account, separately from your choice of a specific pack of chocolate sprinkles.

  • Lidl Netherlands says the cocoa in its own-brand products comes from certified sustainable farming, through Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or organic certification.
  • This general policy does not confirm that an individual Lidl chocolate sprinkle product is Fairtrade-certified; check the product label for that.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether chocolate sprinkles are Fairtrade?

Check for the FAIRTRADE Mark on the packaging and consult the current product information for the variety you’ve chosen. Fairtrade International links use of the mark to international Fairtrade Standards; a statement that the product contains Rainforest Alliance cocoa does not confirm that it carries the mark.

Can I use Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur for pepernoten?

You can use these chocolate sprinkles as a topping; Albert Heijn also says this variety is suitable for baking. If you want to mix them into pepernoten dough, try a small amount first, as the general baking claim doesn’t describe the specific results you’ll get with pepernoten.

Should I check allergens again for a product I know and trust?

Yes. Check the allergen statement on the current packaging before use. Fairtrade Original says its pure chocolate sprinkles may contain milk; according to Jumbo, the pure variety included in this comparison contains milk and may contain gluten and wheat.