Organisers who check allergens first
You want to know what the school allows before choosing a treat. Check the allergens listed on the current packaging, along with any ‘may contain’ warnings, and make sure your plans follow the school’s policy.
Which serving format is right for you?
Those handing out individually wrapped portions
You want to be able to hand each visitor a sealed portion without dividing up the biscuits yourself. Check that the individual portions are actually wrapped separately and whether one portion consists of a single bar or, for example, two biscuits.
Organisers planning around pack sizes
You want to match the number of portions to the expected number of visitors. A pack of loose biscuits calls for a different approach from a pack of individually wrapped portions; you can only portion them yourself if the school allows it.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, find out which products are allowed under the school’s policy. Then choose the serving format, and work out how many packs you need to provide the required number of portions.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and the school’s policy | Ask which allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings the school allows. Compare its policy with the current ingredients and allergen information. | If the school excludes certain allergens, I don’t want to hand out a product before checking the label. For around 42% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
| Sealed portions for handing out | Check whether each portion is individually wrapped and how many biscuits or bars are in each sealed unit. | When handing them out to visitors, I want to be able to give each person a sealed unit without portioning it myself. Around 33% of consumers put this first. |
| Number of units to hand out | Compare the number of items with the number of sealed portions; these figures may differ. | When buying for several visitors, I want to know how many individual portions a pack provides. This is the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a stated portion is individually wrapped
A pack may contain several portions without each one being wrapped separately. So the number of portions shown in the nutritional information doesn’t automatically tell you how the product can be handed out.
For individually wrapped portions, choose a product that specifically says it contains separate packs. If you want to portion it yourself, check with the school first to make sure that’s allowed.
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Checking for gluten and nothing else
Other listed allergens and possible traces also matter for the chocolate biscuit options covered here. A product name or flavour won’t give you the full picture.
Check the full ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging, then compare them with the school’s policy.
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Planning to buy a shop product without checking the packaging
Lidl lists its Chocobiscuits as an in-store product. Before choosing them for the school fair, you’ll need to check whether the packaging and ingredients are suitable for the way you plan to hand them out.
Check the product in store before deciding how many you need.
If you only discover while shopping that the packaging isn’t suitable, you may need to make an extra trip or change how you plan to hand the biscuits out.
Brands to consider
These examples show the types of packaging you can compare. Suitability depends on the current packaging and the school’s policy in each case.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn describes its chocolate caramel biscuit bars as a multipack of individually wrapped portions.
- Sealed portions work well if you want to hand them out without dividing them up yourself.
- Check the allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging before offering them at school.
Verkade
Verkade offers products including Lange Nekken in a pack of 5 × 2 biscuits, as well as a larger 225 g Choco Biscuitreep Karamel.
- The stated portions of two biscuits make the intended serving size clear.
- Don’t assume the larger bar comes in individually wrapped portions; check the current allergen information for both products.
Lotus
The Lotus range reviewed includes 180 g speculoos chocolate bars.
- An option if you’re specifically looking for a combination of speculoos and chocolate.
- Check how the portions are wrapped before choosing a larger bar to hand out individually.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists its Chocolade Biscuits Puur as a pack of nine, weighing 125 g.
- The number of biscuits in each pack makes it easy to plan how many to hand out.
- Nine biscuits doesn’t automatically mean nine individually wrapped portions; check the packaging and the school’s policy.
Lidl
Lidl describes its 125 g Chocobiscuits in milk and dark chocolate varieties as an in-store product.
- Two chocolate varieties to compare in store.
- Check the portion packaging, ingredients and allergens in store before choosing a variety for the school fair.
Aldi
ALDI Nederland describes its Biscotto Chocoladekoekjes as 20 biscuits weighing 250 g in total, packed in pairs.
- A pack of two may work if two biscuits are an acceptable portion to hand out.
- Check that this two-biscuit portion and the current allergen information meet the school’s requirements.
Products for different portion sizes
These Joybuy products include chocolate with biscuit pieces, chocolate biscuits and wafers. A wafer isn’t the same as a biscuit, so first decide which type of product and portion size you want to hand out. Then check the allergen information on each pack against the school’s policy.
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DPB Hershey Cookies n Crème 24 × 90 g
Consider this pack if you need 24 bars of 90 g each. Check that every bar is individually sealed and read the current allergen information before handing them out.
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Glico Pocky Cookie Bar Chocolate Flavor 47 g IN
The 47 g pack is a different serving size from a large bar. Check how many sealed units it contains and compare the current allergen information with the school’s policy.
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LU Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
This 150 g pack may suit a school fair featuring chocolate biscuits. Check how many biscuits make up one sealed portion and read the current label.
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Nestle Kitkat Strawberry Short Cake 9 pieces, 104,4 g
This wafer option contains nine pieces in a 104,4 g pack. Decide whether a wafer is right for your school fair, then check which pieces are individually sealed and what the label says about allergens.
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Meito Pukupukutai Chocolate Strawberry Wafer 16,5 g per pack
This strawberry and chocolate wafer has a stated pack weight of 16,5 g. Check whether the pack works as a sealed portion to hand out, and read the current ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Which packaging is handy for handing out treats individually at a school fair?
A pack with clearly individually sealed portions means you won’t have to divide them up yourself. Albert Heijn describes its chocolate caramel biscuit bars as individually wrapped portions. For a pack of 5 × 2 biscuits, check whether a pair is the right serving size. In both cases, check the school’s policy and the current label first.
Should I check for allergens other than gluten?
Yes. Check all the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings, not just the references to gluten or wheat. The products discussed also list milk and soya, and warnings about nuts or peanuts may be relevant too. Your choice will depend on the current packaging and the school’s policy.
Where can I find allergen information on prepacked food?
Check the ingredients list on the packaging. According to Your Europe, allergens in prepacked food sold in the EU must be emphasised in the list. Compare the information, including any ‘may contain’ warnings, with what the school allows at the fair.