When doing your Christmas shopping, first decide which Fairtrade claim you’re looking for: a certification mark on a product made from several ingredients, or a claim relating to a named ingredient, such as cocoa. Verkade says that its chocolate and the chocolate coatings on its biscuits contain Fairtrade cocoa. If you’re specifically looking for an organic chocolate biscuit with Fairtrade ingredients, also check current availability and the label. Check the ingredients and allergens for each product separately.
If you’re looking for biscuits or chocolate for the Christmas table or as a gift, you’ll want to know exactly what the claim applies to. For products made with several ingredients, Fairtrade International distinguishes between a certification mark and claims relating to specific ingredients. So be sure to read the information on the packaging too.
If you’re putting out a plate of biscuits or handing out small portions, the product format and number of packs both matter. For example, Albert Heijn describes a Lotus Biscoff chocolate variety sold in six individual packs of three biscuits. Check its Fairtrade claim separately.
A Fairtrade or organic label doesn’t tell you which allergens a biscuit contains. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods. Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the variety you choose.
First, decide whether you’re looking for a Fairtrade claim for the whole product or for a named ingredient. Then compare the serving format, ingredients and availability before doing your Christmas shopping.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| What the Fairtrade claim covers | Read the certification mark and any accompanying information. Does the claim relate to the product as a whole, or specifically to cocoa or another ingredient? | If Fairtrade is the reason I’m choosing Christmas biscuits, I want to know which part of the product the claim covers. Around 40% of consumers put this kind of transparency first. |
| Sharing and product format | Compare the number of biscuits, whether they come in individual portions and whether you want to serve biscuits or a chocolate bar. | For a Christmas table or a small gift, I want to choose something that suits how I’ll be sharing it. This is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any warnings on the packaging. | If I need to take an allergy or dietary requirement into account, whether a particular biscuit is suitable comes before my other preferences. Around 20% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Current availability | Check shortly before buying that the variety you want is available, and that any alternative carries the Fairtrade claim you’re looking for. | If I want to get all my Christmas shopping done in one go, I mainly need an option that’s actually available. This matters most to around 10% of consumers. |
A biscuit containing Fairtrade cocoa doesn’t automatically contain only Fairtrade ingredients. For products made with several ingredients, Fairtrade International distinguishes between different ways of indicating how ingredients are sourced.
Check the packaging to see which certification mark or ingredient claim is used. If there’s a certification mark with an arrow, read the information on the back too.
Jumbo’s listing for Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits also said that the item was no longer part of its online range. So the description doesn’t confirm that you can buy these biscuits now.
Check availability just before doing your Christmas shopping. If you choose an alternative, check its Fairtrade claim and ingredients again.
Finding an alternative can take extra time if you’re looking for a specific combination of organic and Fairtrade.
Fairtrade and organic labels don’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy. For example, Jumbo’s product information for the Bio+ biscuits described here lists milk and wheat.
Check the ingredients and highlighted allergens on the current packaging of the variety you’re buying.
A familiar brand name or a chocolate variety doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether that specific product is Fairtrade.
If Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase, look for a specific certification mark or a named Fairtrade ingredient claim on the current packaging.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for chocolate biscuits or chocolate letters for Christmas and Fairtrade cocoa matters to you.
An example of a product for anyone looking for an organic chocolate biscuit with named Fairtrade ingredients.
A brand to compare if you’re mainly looking for individually wrapped chocolate speculoos biscuits to share.
A chocolate option for a gift or dessert, rather than ready-made Fairtrade biscuits.
A brand to explore if you’re looking for ingredients to make your own Christmas biscuits or dessert.
No, not necessarily. A claim may relate specifically to cocoa or another named ingredient. For products made with several ingredients, Fairtrade International distinguishes between different types of claim. Check the certification mark, ingredient claim and any information on the packaging to see what they apply to.
Verkade says the cocoa in the chocolate coatings on its biscuits is Fairtrade. Check the packaging of the variety you want to buy: the cocoa claim doesn’t cover all the other ingredients or tell you about allergens.
Read the ingredients list and the highlighted allergens on the specific pack, along with any warnings relevant to your needs. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists 14 allergens that must be shown on the labels of prepacked foods.
Use a product page to shortlist biscuits, but also read the packaging of the product you buy. Product information, including details of ingredients and allergens, can change.
No. Jumbo’s Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits, described here, combined organic and Fairtrade claims but contained milk and wheat. Check for a vegan label and read the ingredients separately for the current variety.
