If you’re looking for an organic chocolate gift, a box of chocolates is a good choice when you want to give something special and offer a selection of flavours. Just check that the specific box is organic and that its ingredients are suitable for the recipient. Chocolate flakes are a different option: Albert Heijn categorises them as a sweet topping or spread for bread. If someone has dietary requirements or allergies, choosing an individual chocolate bar may make it easier to check whether it’s suitable. However, the label on the exact product is always the deciding factor.
You’re looking for a gift-ready pack and want to check the organic label on the product you choose. According to Skal Biocontrole, the EU organic logo is compulsory on prepacked food produced in the EU and sold as organic.
You’re choosing chocolate for someone who avoids certain ingredients. A mixed box of chocolates means checking each variety you choose: the Belvas chocolates described by Ekoplaza contain milk, hazelnut and almond, and may contain soya. A general statement on a brand page is no substitute for checking the label.
You’re looking for a topping for bread, not a box of chocolates. Albert Heijn categorises flakes as a sweet topping or spread, so assess them according to their intended use and the information on the packaging.
First, decide whether you’re looking for a gift or a topping for bread. If it’s a gift, check the organic label and the ingredients that matter to the recipient.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gift format | Check that you’re choosing a box of chocolates and see which flavours or fillings it contains. | I want to give chocolate and take the recipient’s taste into account. For around 36% of consumers, the gift format comes first. |
| Organic label | Check the label on the specific pack. According to Skal Biocontrole, the EU organic logo is compulsory on prepacked organic food produced in the EU. | If organic is the deciding factor for me, I want to be able to identify this on the product I choose. Around 29% of consumers put this check first. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings for the exact variety. | If the recipient has an allergy or dietary requirement, I want to know whether the chocolate is suitable before choosing a pack. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Everyday use | Distinguish between flakes for bread, a chocolate bar and chocolates to give as a gift. | If I’m looking for something to put on bread, I want flakes; gift presentation isn’t my main concern. Everyday use matters most to around 14% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn categorises flakes as a sweet topping or spread. A box of chocolates is a different product format, with individual chocolates and possibly a variety of fillings.
Before you start looking, decide whether you need a topping for bread or a chocolate gift, then check the product format on the packaging.
An organic label doesn’t tell you which allergens a chocolate contains. The Belvas variety described by Ekoplaza contains milk and nuts, and may contain soya.
For the recipient’s sake, check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warnings for the exact variety you’ve chosen.
A variety you looked at before may not be available to choose now; Albert Heijn lists a Fairtrade Original flakes variety as discontinued.
Check which variety is available just before you buy, and read the latest product and packaging information.
Ekoplaza describes a Belvas box containing assorted chocolates as organic and Fairtrade. This specific product format is worth considering if you’re looking for a box to give as a gift.
Ekoplaza describes Lovechock as an organic, vegan chocolate brand. A bar offers a different kind of gift from a box of chocolates.
Ekoplaza’s brand page lists vegan and lactose-free options from Bonvita. Choose according to the labels on the individual product.
Ekoplaza describes Chocolatemakers’ organic chocolate as bars, with the origins of the ingredients stated.
Look for the organic label on the specific pack. According to Skal Biocontrole, the EU organic logo is compulsory on prepacked food produced in the EU and sold as organic.
No. If both matter to you, check each label separately. Ekoplaza describes the Belvas chocolates in question as both organic and Fairtrade, but that doesn’t mean the same applies to other chocolates from the brand.
Don’t rely on the organic label alone: check the ingredients and allergens for the exact box before buying. The Belvas chocolates described by Ekoplaza contain milk, hazelnut and almond, and may contain soya.
Chocolate flakes are a good choice if you’re looking for a topping for bread, but not if you specifically want to give someone a box of chocolates. Albert Heijn categorises flakes as a sweet topping or spread, so consider a gift box separately.
