Who should consider this choice?

Shoppers who require organic products

You want to be able to check the organic status of your flakes on the packaging, rather than settling for a general sustainability claim.

Those looking for cereal flakes for the night shift

By flakes, you mean a base for something like yoghurt or milk, and you want to compare ingredients and nutritional information, not just the flavour of a topping.

Fans of chocolate flakes as a topping

You’re looking for a little something to add to bread, yoghurt or porridge, and want to check the flavour, portion size, sugars and allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you mean chocolate flakes or cereal flakes. Then check the organic labelling, nutritional information and allergens for the specific product.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Organic certification Check the EU organic logo, control body code and indication of origin on the current packaging. If I only want to buy organic flakes, I need to be able to check the product labelling; this is the top priority for around 46% of consumers.
Cereal flakes as a base Read the ingredients and compare the nutritional information per 100 g, including fibre and sugars. For my night-shift bowl, I’m looking for cereal flakes rather than a chocolate topping. Around 36% of consumers say choosing a base is their top priority.
Chocolate topping Compare sugars per 100 g and per stated portion; check the allergens in your chosen variety. I’m mainly after a chocolatey flavour on bread or yoghurt, and want to see how much I’d use; this topping choice matters most to around 18% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a cocoa certification for organic certification

    A claim about cocoa sourcing does not confirm that the chocolate flakes as a whole are organically certified. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo may only appear on products certified as organic by an authorised body.

    When buying organic, check the organic labelling, control body code and indication of origin on the packaging.

  • Comparing chocolate flakes and cereal flakes as if they were the same product

    Chocolate flakes are intended as a bread topping or garnish, while cereal flakes can form the base of a bowl. So, the product names alone tell you little about the ingredients or how to use them.

    Decide which type you’re looking for, then compare products within that category.

  • Reading only the front of the packaging

    A flavour name won’t tell you how much sugar a stated portion contains. Jumbo lists 13,2 g of sugars per 20 g portion for its Chocolade Vlokken Melk.

    Check both the portion size and the nutritional information per 100 g, and read the ingredients list.

  • Overlooking allergens in a different variety

    Ingredients vary from product to product: the listed De Ruijter Vlokfeest contains wheat starch and soya lecithin, while Smaakt Zevengranenvlokken contains cereals containing gluten.

    For every pack you choose, check the allergens and any warnings about traces.

Brands to consider

Smaakt

Smaakt Zevengranenvlokken bio is an example of organic cereal flakes for a breakfast-style bowl, not chocolate flakes.

  • PLUS lists this variety as organic and wholegrain.
  • The cereals listed include oats, barley, rye, wheat and spelt; check the packaging if gluten is a concern for you.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter Vlokfeest is a mix of chocolate flakes for use as a bread topping or garnish.

  • The mix combines dark chocolate flakes with white flakes.
  • The ingredients listed by PLUS start with sugar and include wheat starch and soya lecithin. Check separately for any organic labelling.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists its own-brand chocolate flakes in milk chocolate, dark chocolate and duo varieties.

  • The varieties give you a choice of different chocolate flavours.
  • For Chocolade Vlokken Melk, Jumbo lists 66,2 g of sugars per 100 g and milk as an ingredient. Check the nutritional information and allergens for each variety.

Flakes on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether flakes are organic?

Look for the organic labelling and EU organic logo on the packaging. According to the European Commission, this logo may only be used on products certified as organic by an authorised body; also check the control body code and indication of origin.

Does a cocoa certification mean that chocolate flakes are organic?

No. Cocoa certification and organic product labelling are two different things. If you’re looking for organic chocolate flakes, check the organic labelling on the packaging of the specific variety.

Can I choose chocolate flakes as the base for my night-shift snack?

Think of chocolate flakes as a topping, not as the same product as cereal flakes. If you want to put together a bowl of cereal, choose a suitable base first, then check the portion size and nutritional information for any chocolate flakes you add.

Which allergens should I check in flakes?

Read the allergen information on the specific pack, as it varies by product. Jumbo Chocolade Vlokken Melk contains milk, De Ruijter Vlokfeest lists wheat starch and soya lecithin, and Smaakt Zevengranenvlokken contains cereals containing gluten. For Smaakt Boekweitvlokken, PLUS also lists warnings about possible traces of, among other things, cereals containing gluten, peanuts and nuts.