Choose a biscuit whose packaging clearly states whether the Fairtrade claim applies to the cocoa, chocolate or other ingredients. Before baking together, check the ingredients and allergens for that exact variety. A sharing pack is only useful if the biscuits are suitable for the children to eat and for what you have in mind.
For chocolate biscuits, Fairtrade may apply specifically to the cocoa or chocolate. Read the wording next to the certification mark on the variety you choose before assuming that the other ingredients are covered too.
Whether a biscuit is suitable for sharing with children depends on the ingredients and allergens in that variety. Check the current packaging, even if you have bought a biscuit from the same brand before.
If you’re decorating or baking with several children, the quantity and shape of the biscuits matter. Work out how many you need in advance and check that the variety you choose is suitable for everyone who’ll be eating them.
Start by checking the exact Fairtrade claim and the allergens in the biscuit you’ve chosen. Then see whether the quantity and shape are right for baking, crumbling or sharing.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of the Fairtrade claim | Check whether the claim applies to cocoa, chocolate or specific ingredients listed separately. Check the exact flavour and variety. | I want to know which ingredients in my chocolate biscuits are covered by the Fairtrade claim. For around 45% of consumers, the scope of the claim is the most important factor. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, the allergens listed and any warnings about possible traces on the current packaging. | If a child or guest needs to avoid certain allergens, I want to know what’s in the biscuits I’ve chosen before baking. Around 33% of consumers prioritise allergen information. |
| Quantity and use | Decide whether you want to crumble the biscuits, use them as decoration or serve them on their own. Compare the pack size with the amount you need. | For an afternoon of baking with several children, I want enough biscuits to share or crumble without having lots left over. Around 22% of consumers prioritise how suitable they are for baking and sharing. |
For a biscuit with several ingredients, the claim may apply specifically to the cocoa or chocolate. That doesn’t in itself mean that ingredients such as sugar or grains are covered by the same claim.
Read the exact claim and the explanation next to the certification mark on the packaging. Fairtrade Netherlands describes separate labels for products with multiple ingredients.
A biscuit selection or chocolate biscuit may contain allergens that matter for a child or guest, regardless of the Fairtrade claim.
Before opening and sharing the biscuits, check the ingredients, listed allergens and any warnings about possible traces on the exact packaging.
Fairtrade cocoa is listed for specific Verkade chocolate biscuits, including Nizza coconut milk chocolate and Choco s'mores.
PLUS lists Fairtrade cocoa in products including a biscuit selection and oat biscuits with milk chocolate.
For the organic Brazil nut and date biscuits described, the ingredients traded under Fairtrade terms are listed.
ALDI Netherlands says that the cocoa in its products is certified under Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or the EU organic logo.
No, not necessarily. For a biscuit with several ingredients, the claim may apply specifically to the cocoa or chocolate. Check the exact packaging to see which ingredients the claim covers and what the explanation next to the certification mark says.
A Fairtrade cocoa claim doesn’t tell you whether a product is free from allergens. Chocolate biscuits and biscuit selections may contain ingredients such as wheat, milk, soya, egg, peanuts or nuts, depending on the variety. Check the current packaging before sharing them.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about possible traces on the pack you’ve chosen. Also check the best-before date and storage instructions, and make sure you have enough for what you want to bake or decorate.
