If you want to check the Fairtrade claim
You want to see before buying whether the claim applies to the cocoa, the chocolate or the biscuit as a whole.
Who is this for?
If you’re preparing a Christmas buffet
You’re looking for biscuits you can serve straight away, and want to use the pack size or serving information to work out how many you’ll need.
If you need to consider allergens
For a mixed group of guests, you want to check the ingredients, allergen information and any may-contain warnings on the current packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check the Fairtrade claim on the individual product. Then decide which pack suits your buffet and read the label if guests need to avoid certain ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check the claim for cocoa or chocolate and the explanation of the certification mark on the packaging. | I want to be able to tell my guests exactly what the Fairtrade choice is based on, without mistaking a general brand claim for a claim about a specific product. For around 50% of consumers, this verifiable claim comes first. |
| Serving and sharing | Check the net weight and, where listed, the number of servings or biscuits; for seasonal products, check current availability too. | For my Christmas buffet, I want biscuits I can put out and to be able to work out in advance how many packs I’ll need. Around 25% of consumers give planning and serving the highest priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings about possible traces. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s on the sharing platter. This check comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Mistaking a general sustainability claim for a Fairtrade claim on the biscuit
For a product made from several ingredients, the claim may apply to specific ingredients. Fairtrade International also allows mass balance for cocoa, so a claim about Fairtrade cocoa does not prove that the physical cocoa in every biscuit is individually traceable.
Read the certification mark, any arrow and the information on ingredients and sourcing on the packaging.
-
Filling a platter without reading the label
Chocolate, fillings and biscuit dough may contain ingredients that aren’t suitable for every guest. Warnings about possible traces may also affect your choice.
Check the packaging shortly before the celebration and keep it with the biscuits so guests can read the information for themselves.
-
Relying on a seasonal product without checking availability
ALDI describes Winter Kransen as biscuits for the winter season. That doesn’t tell you whether they’ll be in stock at the shop where you’re buying supplies for your celebration.
Check shortly before buying to see whether the product is available, and look at the label then too. Keep another biscuit with a Fairtrade claim on the individual product in mind as a backup.
Brands to consider
Verkade
Verkade says it uses Fairtrade-certified cocoa for the chocolate coatings on its biscuits. Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade milk chocolate for Nobo Sprits milk chocolate and Chocorondjes milk chocolate.
- For these varieties, you can check a specific claim about the chocolate.
- Don’t assume the claim about the chocolate applies to all the ingredients; read the label for the variety you choose.
ALDI seizoensaanbod
ALDI describes Winter Kransen as winter biscuits with chocolate flavour and Fairtrade cocoa.
- These seasonal biscuits are a specific option to consider for your Christmas table.
- Check availability and the ingredients on the current packaging before choosing them for your guests.
Fairtrade Original
If you’d like to bake your own Christmas biscuits, Fairtrade Original is a brand to consider for cocoa ingredients; Jumbo, for example, lists Fairtrade Original cocoa powder.
- Baking your own gives you the freedom to choose the shape and serving size of the biscuits.
- Check the Fairtrade claim and ingredients of every product you use in the recipe; cocoa powder doesn’t determine the status of the other ingredients.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are all the ingredients Fairtrade if the biscuit says it contains Fairtrade cocoa?
No. A claim about Fairtrade cocoa doesn’t, on its own, mean that all the ingredients are Fairtrade. Fairtrade International distinguishes between the ingredients in products made from several ingredients and explains that cocoa can be sourced through mass balance. So read the exact claim and the explanation of the certification mark on the packaging.
How do I work out how many biscuits I’ll need for Christmas?
Use the number of biscuits or servings shown on the pack you choose to plan how much you need. Net weight alone doesn’t tell you how many individual biscuits you can serve, so consider what else you’ll be putting out on the buffet too.
Is online allergen information enough for my guests?
Use online information to help you make your choice, but read the physical packaging of the biscuits you’re actually serving. Check the ingredients and allergens, as well as any warnings about possible traces.
Can I plan to serve Winter Kransen on any date over Christmas?
Don’t assume they’ll be available on the date of your celebration without checking stock. ALDI presents Winter Kransen as a seasonal winter product, so check shortly before buying whether they’re available at the shop in question, and read the label on the pack.