Fairtrade Biscuits for Board Game Night: What to Check

Who are these choices relevant to?

Shoppers who want to check the Fairtrade claim

You want to know exactly what the claim applies to on the biscuit you choose: the cocoa, the chocolate or the product as a whole.

Hosts with guests who have allergies

Before serving, you want to check the allergens and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the packet.

Shoppers comparing labels

When comparing similar biscuits, you want to check their sugar, saturated fat and salt content, as well as the portion size.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking the exact Fairtrade wording on the packet. Then check what your guests can eat and whether the pack size suits the number of people at the table.

What to check	What to look for when buying	Who it matters to
Fairtrade claim	Check the specific packet to see whether the Fairtrade wording applies to the cocoa, the chocolate or the whole biscuit. Another sustainability label is not a Fairtrade claim.	I want to serve a biscuit with a Fairtrade claim I can point to, without making claims about the ingredients beyond what the packet says. For around 36% of shoppers, having a claim they can verify comes first.
Allergens	Read the ingredients, listed allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packet you’re buying.	If a guest has an allergy, I want to know which ingredients and warnings are relevant to them before serving. For around 29% of shoppers, this check is the top priority.
Sharing at the table	Check the pack size and number of portions, and think about how to serve the biscuits without eating over the game.	I want to be able to hand out biscuits easily during the game without having to keep handling the packet. For around 21% of shoppers, ease of sharing is the main consideration.
Nutritional information	Compare similar biscuits per 100 g for energy, sugars, saturated fat and salt, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre when comparing labels.	When choosing between similar biscuits, I want to compare nutritional values on the same basis, rather than using portion sizes that have been set differently. Around 14% of shoppers prioritise this comparison.

Common mistakes

Mistaking a brand’s sustainability claim for a Fairtrade claim on the biscuit

Lotus Bakeries mentions Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa for Biscoff chocolate bars and certain other products. This does not confirm a Fairtrade claim for a Biscoff biscuit.

Check the wording on the individual biscuit and see whether it applies only to the cocoa or chocolate.
Serving chocolate biscuits without checking the allergens

Albert Heijn lists milk and wheat among the ingredients in Verkade Chocorondjes milk chocolate, along with warnings about other allergens. A Fairtrade claim does not change this information.

Ask your guests in advance which allergens are relevant to them, and keep the packet handy when serving the biscuits.
Comparing nutritional values for different portion sizes

Portion sizes can vary between manufacturers. So comparing per portion does not always show the same differences as comparing equal quantities.

Use the nutritional information per 100 g as a basis for comparing similar biscuits.
Relying only on an online ingredients list

Albert Heijn notes that product information can change. The information on the packet you’re serving is especially important when someone has an allergy.

Before opening the packet, check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging again.

Brands and retailers to consider

Verkade

Worth considering if you’re looking for a specific chocolate biscuit labelled as containing Fairtrade cocoa.

Albert Heijn describes Verkade Chocorondjes milk chocolate as biscuits made with Fairtrade milk chocolate.
This wording does not prove that all the ingredients are Fairtrade. Check the allergens on the packet too.

Lotus Biscoff

A biscuit to consider for its flavour if Fairtrade isn’t a firm requirement.

Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.
Lotus Bakeries’ mention of Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa relates to products including Biscoff chocolate bars, not to a Fairtrade claim for the Biscoff biscuit.

Albert Heijn

A retailer where you can check product information for Verkade Chocorondjes milk chocolate.

The product information mentions Fairtrade milk chocolate and provides details about ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Product information can change, so check the label on the packet you actually buy.

Jumbo

The Fairtrade range can be a good starting point when you’re looking for biscuits.

Jumbo provides an overview of products with a Fairtrade claim.
A product’s inclusion in a range does not tell you which Fairtrade claim appears on an individual packet of biscuits.

Lidl

Worth considering if you’re also thinking about buying Fairtrade chocolate separately from your biscuits.

Lidl describes its Way To Go chocolate bars as Fairtrade-certified.
A chocolate bar isn’t a biscuit, and the claim for those bars doesn’t automatically apply to other products.

Related Joybuy products

Frequently asked questions

Are all the ingredients Fairtrade if a biscuit says ‘Fairtrade cocoa’?

No, you can’t assume that from a claim about cocoa. Albert Heijn says Verkade Chocorondjes are made with Fairtrade milk chocolate. Check exactly what the claim covers on the packet before applying it to the whole biscuit.

What should I check if a guest has a food allergy?

Read the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packet you’re going to serve. Ask the guest which information is relevant to their allergy, and don’t rely solely on a product page you looked at earlier.

Should I compare nutritional values per portion or per 100 g?

Compare similar biscuits per 100 g, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre when comparing labels. Portion sizes can vary between products, so check the portion size separately if you want to work out how many biscuits to serve.

How should I store an opened packet of biscuits after game night?

Follow the storage instructions on the packet. For Verkade Chocorondjes, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a cool, dry place and keeping the packet sealed after opening.