Who is this for?

Buffet organisers who prefer Fairtrade

You want to check whether the cocoa or chocolate in your chosen biscuit is Fairtrade-certified, rather than relying on a general statement about a brand or retailer.

Organisers catering for guests avoiding allergens

You’re serving a selection of biscuits and want to be able to tell guests which allergens are listed in the ingredients for each variety, as well as any warnings on the packaging.

Shoppers planning their biscuit selection

You’re looking for biscuits for the buffet table, but also want to take the number of biscuits per pack, nutritional information and seasonal availability into account.

What should you look for?

Start with the requirement that matters most for your buffet. Then compare the packaging for each variety you’ve chosen: a Fairtrade claim, allergen information and the number of biscuits answer different questions.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade cocoa or chocolate Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim about the cocoa or chocolate on the packaging or product page for the specific variety you’ve chosen. I want to see that the claim applies to the biscuit on my buffet table, not just the retailer’s range. For around 43% of consumers, this product-specific Fairtrade status is the top priority.
Allergens Check the ingredients and allergen warnings for each variety, and keep the packaging next to the serving plate. If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know which biscuits I can serve separately. Allergen information matters most to around 29% of consumers.
Quantity and availability Compare the number of biscuits and nutritional information per 100 g or per serving; check seasonal products again before buying. I want to be able to serve enough biscuits without relying on a changing Christmas range for my plans. For around 28% of consumers, buffet planning and nutritional information are the deciding factors.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a cocoa policy means every biscuit carries a Fairtrade claim

    Albert Heijn, Lidl and ALDI refer to different cocoa certification schemes. That doesn’t mean the cocoa in every individual biscuit is Fairtrade-certified.

    Check the Fairtrade claim on the packaging or product page for the exact variety you want to serve.

  • Mixing biscuits before checking the allergens

    When different biscuits are served together on one plate, it can be difficult for guests to tell which ingredients are in each variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of allergen information on labels.

    Check each pack in advance, keep varieties separate and save the packaging or put a clearly labelled card next to each plate.

  • Relying only on seasonal biscuits

    ALDI described Winter Kransen with chocolate flavour and Fairtrade cocoa, but listed the winter product in question as unavailable. That makes a seasonal product an uncertain choice for your buffet plans.

    Check availability close to the time you plan to buy, and have an alternative ready whose Fairtrade claim you can check yourself.

  • Confusing Fairtrade with nutritional information

    A Fairtrade claim doesn’t tell you how much sugar or saturated fat a biscuit contains. These values can vary between products.

    As well as checking the certification claim, read the nutritional information and compare values on the same basis, such as per 100 g.

Brands to consider

The examples below can help you check product claims; a brand’s name alone doesn’t mean all its biscuits have the same certification.

Verkade

Worth considering if you’re looking for a chocolate biscuit with an explicit Fairtrade claim. Albert Heijn says Verkade Lange Nekken milk chocolate is made with Fairtrade-certified cocoa.

  • The cocoa claim applies to this specific variety.
  • According to the product information, this variety contains milk, wheat, oats, barley and soya, and may contain egg and nuts. Check other varieties separately.

Albert Heijn

One retailer to consider if you want to look at own-brand products for the same buffet. Albert Heijn says the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance- or Fairtrade-certified.

  • Its cocoa policy gives you a useful starting point when searching.
  • This statement doesn’t confirm which of the two certifications applies to a particular own-brand biscuit. Check the product itself to find out.

Lidl

Lidl lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification as options for its own-brand cocoa, and says its Favorina seasonal chocolate is Fairtrade-certified.

  • This information can help you look for a certification mark on a seasonal product.
  • A claim about Favorina seasonal chocolate doesn’t confirm that a specific biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa.

ALDI

ALDI described Winter Kransen with chocolate flavour and Fairtrade cocoa as a seasonal option.

  • The Fairtrade claim applies to the Winter Kransen variety described.
  • ALDI listed the winter product in question as unavailable. Check both the current range and the packaging of the variety you find.

Lotus Biscoff

A biscuit option to consider if an explicit Fairtrade claim for the cocoa isn’t an essential requirement for you.

  • Lotus describes Biscoff as a caramelised biscuit, ideal with coffee among other things.
  • Lotus says the cocoa in specific Biscoff chocolate bars is Rainforest Alliance-certified; this doesn’t confirm that a Biscoff biscuit you’ve chosen contains Fairtrade cocoa.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify a biscuit with Fairtrade cocoa for my buffet?

Check whether the packaging or product page for the exact variety mentions Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade chocolate. For example, Albert Heijn makes this cocoa claim for Verkade Lange Nekken milk chocolate. A general statement about a supermarket’s cocoa policy won’t tell you which certification applies to every individual biscuit.

How can I make allergens clear on a buffet at home?

Check the ingredients and allergen warnings for each biscuit you’ve chosen before serving it. Keep the varieties separate and save their packaging or put out labels, so guests can find the information for the right biscuit.

Does Fairtrade tell me about the nutritional value of biscuits?

No. A Fairtrade claim alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar or saturated fat a biscuit contains. Check the nutritional information for your chosen variety and compare products on the same basis, such as per 100 g.

Can I rely on Christmas biscuits for Boxing Day?

Only count on a specific seasonal product once you’ve checked its availability and best-before date. ALDI listed the winter product described as unavailable, so have an alternative ready if that biscuit is an important part of your buffet.