Is organic certification a must for your Boxing Day buffet? If so, only choose sprinkles whose exact variety carries the EU organic logo on the packaging. Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and vegan labels are not substitutes for this logo; also check the ingredients and allergen information on each pack before serving.
You want to serve only certified organic sprinkles. According to the Netherlands Government, you can identify organic products by the EU logo on the packaging; a brand name or another sustainability label is no substitute for checking this.
You’re serving sprinkles as a bread topping or garnish and want to check the ingredients and allergens for each variety. Product information from PLUS shows that milk, lactose, wheat and soya declarations can vary from product to product.
You want to know which sprinkles will go with your planned rolls and desserts, and how much you’ll need. Treat flavour, pack size and organic certification as separate selection criteria.
If organic products are a must for your buffet, start by checking for the EU organic logo. Then check the allergens and decide which flavours and quantities will work for the different parts of your buffet.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Check for the EU organic logo and organic wording on the packaging of the exact variety. | If I promise organic sprinkles, I want to be sure that the pack actually going on the table is certified. Organic credentials are the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Check the current ingredients and allergen information on each pack; keep serving utensils separate if there’s a risk of cross-contact. | When guests have different dietary requirements, I don’t want to rely on words such as ‘plain’ or ‘vegan’ alone. Allergens and dietary suitability are the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Flavour and use | Choose a flavour to go with your planned rolls and toppings, and check that the product is suitable for how you intend to use it. | If the sprinkles will be served on bread as well as with dessert, I want to choose a flavour that works with both. Use and flavour matter most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Check the weight in grams against the number of guests and the buffet dishes you plan to use the sprinkles for. | I want to put out enough without having lots left over. The quantity needed is the top priority for around 10% of consumers. |
Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance do not represent the same certification as the EU organic logo. A vegan label also doesn’t prove that sprinkles are organic.
If organic products are a requirement for your buffet, check for the EU logo on the packaging of the exact variety. The Netherlands Government describes this logo as a way to identify organic products.
According to PLUS product information, its plain sprinkles labelled vegan may contain milk and lactose. Choca sprinkles contain wheat starch and soya lecithin, and may contain milk.
Check the current packaging of every pack, and use separate serving utensils if you want to avoid cross-contact between buffet items.
A chocolate sprinkles brand for bread toppings and garnishes, with milk, dark and white varieties among the options at Dutch supermarkets.
A supermarket own brand offering dark, milk and duo sprinkles in 300 g packs as part of Jumbo’s sprinkles range.
A supermarket own brand that includes 300 g packs of dark chocolate sprinkles.
A brand with a 200 g sprinkles variety that PLUS describes as cocoa-style sprinkles.
A brand offering milk and vanilla, and dark chocolate and vanilla sprinkles in the ranges at Albert Heijn and Jumbo.
Check for the EU organic logo on the packaging of the exact variety: a leaf made up of twelve stars. According to the Netherlands Government, this logo identifies organic products; Skal Biocontrole states that it is compulsory on pre-packed foods produced in the EU and sold as organic.
No, these labels are not a substitute for the EU organic logo. PLUS labels its dark chocolate sprinkles as Fairtrade and vegan; if you’re choosing organic products for your buffet, you’ll still need to check the certification on the exact pack.
You can, if the variety is suitable for both. PLUS recommends De Ruijter milk chocolate sprinkles for bread, croissants, yoghurt and desserts, among other things; just check the ingredients and allergens before using the same pack for different parts of your buffet.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information for every variety you choose, and keep serving utensils separate if necessary. According to PLUS, its dark chocolate sprinkles may contain milk and lactose, while Choca sprinkles contain wheat starch and soya lecithin, and may contain milk.
