Consumers who want to check organic certification
If organic certification is a must for you, look beyond words such as ‘natural’ or ‘pure’. Check the organic labelling on the pack before comparing the varieties by taste.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Fans of extra-dark chocolate
If you’re looking for a pronounced cocoa flavour with your coffee, compare the stated cocoa content of the exact variety. Also check the sugar content per 100 g; more cocoa doesn’t, in itself, tell you how much sugar a product contains.
Consumers who need to check allergens
If milk, lactose or soya matters to your choice, read the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging. Even dark chocolate sprinkles may carry a warning about traces.
What should you look for when buying?
Start by checking the organic labelling, then compare your taste preferences, nutritional information and allergens on the label of your chosen variety. According to Skal Biocontrole, the EU organic logo is compulsory for pre-packed foods produced in the EU and sold as organic. Also check the control body code and the indication of origin.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Check the EU organic logo, the control body code and the indication of origin, where applicable to the product. | If I want to have organically certified chocolate sprinkles with my coffee, I check the certification before considering my taste preference. Around 36% of consumers put certification first. |
| Cocoa flavour and sugar | Compare the stated cocoa content and sugar per 100 g for the exact varieties. | If I’m looking for a pronounced cocoa flavour, I want to see how the varieties compare in terms of sugar too; around 29% of consumers consider this the most important factor. |
| Milk, lactose and soya | Read the ingredients and both the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid one of these ingredients or possible traces, I can’t rely on the word ‘dark’ alone. Around 21% of consumers give checking allergens top priority. |
| Availability | Check the current availability of your chosen variety before heading to a shop. | If you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles for a planned coffee break, you’ll want to know whether your chosen variety is available. Around 14% of consumers put availability first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming organic means less sugar
Product information from Ekoplaza and Albert Heijn gives sugar values of 50.0 g to 72 g per 100 g for the organic varieties discussed. So the organic label is no substitute for checking the nutritional information.
Compare sugar and energy per 100 g, and also consider how much you use yourself.
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Assuming dark chocolate sprinkles don’t contain milk
The dark varieties discussed may contain milk or lactose. Milk is listed as an ingredient in the milk chocolate varieties we looked at.
Check both the ingredients list and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging. Don’t choose based on the word ‘dark’ in the product name alone.
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Mistaking a product page for current stock
Albert Heijn’s product pages for AH Biologisch Bio Dark Chocolate Sprinkles and Jumbo’s for Bio Nature Dark Chocolate Sprinkles mark these varieties as discontinued. So a product page that’s still visible doesn’t confirm that you can buy the product.
Check availability shortly before buying, and if you’re considering an alternative, compare its certification and label again.
An unavailable variety can cost you extra time if you need to look for another shop or an alternative product.
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Relying on ‘extra dark’ alone
The name doesn’t tell you how much cocoa or sugar is listed for the exact variety. Possible traces of milk are another thing to check separately.
Compare the labels side by side, checking the cocoa content, sugar per 100 g and allergen information.
Brands compared
Chocoreale
The organic chocolate sprinkles we looked at come in Intense Dark and Extra Dark varieties.
- According to Ekoplaza’s product information, Extra Dark lists at least 50% cocoa solids and 50.0 g sugar per 100 g; Intense Dark lists at least 32% cocoa solids and 68.0 g sugar per 100 g.
- Both varieties discussed may contain milk. So check the label for the variety you choose.
Your Organic Nature
The organic chocolate sprinkles we looked at include a dark variety and a milk chocolate variety.
- For the dark variety, Ekoplaza lists organic cane sugar and cocoa mass as ingredients.
- The dark variety contains 68 g sugar per 100 g and may contain traces of lactose, milk and soya. The milk chocolate variety contains whole milk powder, so the two varieties aren’t interchangeable if you need to avoid milk.
AH Biologisch
The own-brand product discussed is a 200 g pack of organic dark chocolate sprinkles.
- Albert Heijn lists the EU organic logo, Skal 103769 and at least 32% cocoa for this variety.
- The product page marks this variety as discontinued and says it may contain milk and lactose. If you find a pack in a local shop, check the labelling again.
Joybuy products
Related products will appear soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can I recognise organically certified chocolate sprinkles?
For pre-packed chocolate sprinkles produced in the EU and sold as organic, check the EU organic logo, the control body code and the indication of origin. According to the European Commission, the logo can only be used on products certified as organic by a recognised control authority or control body.
Is the EU organic logo compulsory on every organic pack?
According to Skal Biocontrole, the requirement applies to pre-packed foods produced in the EU and sold as organic. If a product doesn’t meet these criteria, don’t judge it solely by whether it carries the logo; check the organic labelling applicable to that particular pack.
Do organic chocolate sprinkles automatically contain less sugar?
No. Organic certification doesn’t, in itself, tell you how much sugar chocolate sprinkles contain. Check the sugar per 100 g on the label for the exact variety and, if you’re comparing portions, consider how much you use.
Can I choose organic dark chocolate sprinkles if I need to avoid milk?
Don’t assume that ‘dark’ means the chocolate sprinkles are milk-free. The dark varieties discussed may contain milk or lactose, so read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging before choosing a variety.