Who are these choices relevant to?

Cake bakers who want to check Fairtrade status specifically

If Fairtrade cocoa or chocolate is a condition of your purchase, check the claim for the product you choose. A supermarket’s general sustainability claim is not enough.

Bakers making biscuit or speculoos cake

For a biscuit base, crumb layer or decoration, choose biscuits according to their role in the recipe. Lotus Bakeries uses Biscoff products in a traybake recipe; check the Fairtrade status of any chocolate you add separately.

Bakers who need to consider allergens

If someone eating the cake has a food allergy, check the up-to-date ingredients and allergen information for the biscuits, chocolate and decorations. A Fairtrade claim does not replace this check.

What should you look for when choosing?

Decide what role the biscuits and chocolate will play in your recipe. Then check the Fairtrade claim and the allergens in the ingredients you’re actually buying.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade status Look for a Fairtrade claim for the cocoa or chocolate you’ve chosen on the current packaging or product page. Check whether the claim applies to the product or to specific ingredients. If Fairtrade is my main requirement, I want to know whether the chocolate in my cake meets it. This is the top priority for around 40% of consumers.
Role in the recipe Use biscuits for the base, crumbs or decoration, and choose the type and quantity of chocolate called for in the recipe. I need something different for my cake base than for the chocolate mixture; the role of each ingredient guides my choice. For around 30% of consumers, suitability for the recipe matters most.
Allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information for every ingredient, including crumbs and decorations. Check for warnings about possible traces where relevant. If someone eating the cake has a food allergy, I need to be able to assess every ingredient I use. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a general sustainability claim for a Fairtrade claim

    Albert Heijn says its own-brand cocoa is Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certified; Lidl and ALDI also refer to several certification schemes. That doesn’t mean every individual product is Fairtrade.

    Check the Fairtrade claim on the packaging or product page for the cocoa or chocolate you choose.

  • Assuming the whole cake is Fairtrade

    Fairtrade chocolate says nothing about the status of the biscuits or other ingredients. A biscuit base and a chocolate ingredient are separate choices.

    Describe your cake as made with Fairtrade chocolate unless you can substantiate a broader claim about the other ingredients too.

  • Checking allergens only after baking

    A biscuit or type of chocolate that seems suitable may still not be right for someone with an allergy you need to consider. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods.

    Before buying, read the current packaging for all ingredients, including toppings and biscuit crumbs.

Brands to consider as a starting point

Lotus Biscoff

Speculoos products for a biscuit base, crumb layer or decoration.

  • Lotus Bakeries uses Biscoff spread, biscuit crumbs and biscuits in a traybake recipe.
  • Choosing Biscoff does not substantiate a Fairtrade claim for the biscuits or the whole cake; check any chocolate you add separately.

Albert Heijn

Own-brand products containing cocoa, for which the supermarket refers to various certifications.

  • Albert Heijn says that cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified.
  • As this general statement covers both certifications, check the individual product if you specifically want Fairtrade.

Jumbo

Cocoa and chocolate with product-specific information you can compare with your baking recipe.

  • Jumbo presents Fairtrade Original Cocoa Powder as a baking product and says its Organic 85% Extra Dark Chocolate contains Fairtrade-certified cocoa and vanilla.
  • Check which ingredient the Fairtrade claim applies to, and whether cocoa powder or a chocolate bar is right for your recipe.

Lidl

Own-brand cocoa and seasonal chocolate with different product and range claims.

  • Lidl describes its Favorina seasonal chocolate as Fairtrade certified.
  • For its own-brand cocoa, Lidl also refers to Rainforest Alliance and organic certification, so check the claim on the product you choose.

ALDI

Chocolate ranges for which ALDI makes a Fairtrade claim, alongside own-brand cocoa with other certification schemes.

  • ALDI says its Moser Roth and seasonal chocolates are Fairtrade certified.
  • Its broader statement about own-brand cocoa also covers Rainforest Alliance and EU organic certification; check the packaging of the bar you want to use.

Chocolate for this baking choice on Joybuy

This bar is a relevant option if you’re looking for dark chocolate for your cake. Choose biscuits separately for a biscuit base or crumb layer; check the bar’s current Fairtrade claim and make sure the variety suits your recipe.

Tony's Chocolonely Pure 70% Dark Chocolate, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely Pure 70% Dark Chocolate – 180 g

For a cake recipe that calls for dark chocolate, not for the biscuit base. The pack contains 180 g; check the cocoa percentage, Fairtrade claim and allergens on the current packaging.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether the chocolate for my cake is Fairtrade?

Look for a Fairtrade claim on the current packaging of the specific chocolate or cocoa you’re buying. For example, Jumbo says its Organic 85% Extra Dark Chocolate contains Fairtrade-certified cocoa and vanilla; check which ingredients are covered by a claim like this.

Is certified cocoa always Fairtrade?

No. In their general statements about cocoa, Albert Heijn, Lidl and ALDI also mention other certifications, including Rainforest Alliance or organic certification. Check the individual product if Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase.

Do the biscuits also need to be Fairtrade if I use Fairtrade chocolate?

Only if you want to make that claim about the biscuits too. Biscuits can be used for the base or decoration while you choose the chocolate separately. In that case, describe the result as a cake made with Fairtrade chocolate rather than calling the whole cake Fairtrade without checking the other ingredients.

Which allergens should I check before baking the cake?

Check the current ingredients and allergen information for every product that goes into the cake, including the decorations. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that 14 allergens must be listed on labels for pre-packed foods; also look out for warnings about possible traces if these are relevant to the people eating the cake.