Who is this relevant to?

Choosing chocolate biscuits with a certification

You want to know whether a Fairtrade mention applies only to the cocoa or also to other ingredients that are available as Fairtrade.

Supermarket shopper

You buy biscuits from a supermarket you trust and want to distinguish the retailer’s cocoa policy from the claim on the packet you choose.

Snack shopper who checks the label

As well as the Fairtrade claim, you want to check the ingredients, allergens and portion size of the biscuits you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide what you mean by Fairtrade: a claim about available Fairtrade ingredients, or one specifically about cocoa. Then choose the biscuits and packaging that suit your night in.

Fairtrade Mark with an arrow

A good fit if: you want all ingredients available as Fairtrade in a composite product to be sourced on Fairtrade terms.

Bear in mind: according to Fairtrade Netherlands, this doesn’t mean that every ingredient is Fairtrade; read the explanation accompanying the mark.

Fairtrade cocoa

A good fit if: the cocoa in a chocolate biscuit is your main Fairtrade requirement.

Bear in mind: the claim doesn’t automatically apply to other ingredients. Fairtrade Netherlands also explains that physical mixing of cocoa is permitted under the mass balance principle.

Biscuit without cocoa

A good fit if: you’d rather choose a speculoos biscuit without chocolate and Fairtrade cocoa isn’t a requirement.

Bear in mind: this choice won’t meet a desire to buy Fairtrade cocoa; check any other Fairtrade claim separately.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important to?
What Fairtrade means Compare the Fairtrade Mark with an arrow with a claim for a specific ingredient, and read the packaging text. I want the claim to cover the ingredients that matter to me, not just the chocolate on the biscuit. For around 42% of consumers, the scope of the Fairtrade claim comes first.
Ingredients and portion size Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packet you choose; compare nutritional information per 100 g and per portion if that’s relevant to your choice. If I’m sharing biscuits, I want to know in advance what’s in them and how large a portion is. For around 33% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority.
Snack style and convenience Check the type of biscuit, the packaging and the Fairtrade claim on that specific variety. I’m looking for a biscuit that’s easy to put out and suits my preference for chocolate or speculoos. The type of snack matters most to around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming every Fairtrade logo means the same thing

    For composite products such as biscuits, the Fairtrade Mark with an arrow means something different from a claim that applies only to a named ingredient.

    Check which ingredients are covered by the wording on the packaging, and choose accordingly.

  • Assuming Fairtrade cocoa is physically traceable

    According to Fairtrade Netherlands, mass balance is permitted for cocoa: Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa can be physically mixed during processing, while the volumes sold are tracked.

    If physical separation matters to you, look for specific information about the product’s traceability.

  • Assuming a supermarket policy applies to every biscuit

    As well as Fairtrade, Albert Heijn, Lidl and ALDI list other certification schemes for cocoa. Their general policies therefore don’t confirm that a particular biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa.

    Check the information on the packaging of the variety you want to buy.

  • Forgetting about allergens because of the certification

    A Fairtrade claim tells you nothing about a biscuit’s ingredients or allergens. Even a variety without cocoa may contain ingredients you want to avoid.

    Always check the current ingredients list and allergen information on the packet.

Brands to consider

Verkade

A brand to check biscuit by biscuit if you’re looking for Fairtrade cocoa.

  • Albert Heijn product pages mention Fairtrade cocoa in products including Verkade Crunchy Oat Biscuits with Milk Chocolate and Verkade Chocolate Brownie Ice Biscuits.
  • A mention of cocoa doesn’t automatically apply to other ingredients or every Verkade variety; check the packet you choose.

Albert Heijn eigen merk

An own-brand option where the cocoa policy is a starting point, not the product claim.

  • Albert Heijn says that the cocoa in its own-brand products is Fairtrade- or Rainforest Alliance-certified.
  • Check the individual biscuit packet to see which certification is listed for the variety you’ve chosen.

Lidl eigen merk

An own-brand option for anyone looking to check the cocoa certification on chocolate biscuits.

  • Lidl lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification as options for its own-brand cocoa.
  • That doesn’t make every own-brand biscuit containing cocoa a Fairtrade option; check the product packaging.

ALDI eigen merk

An own-brand option where the certification on the specific biscuit will guide your choice.

  • ALDI lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and the EU organic logo for cocoa in its products.
  • A general statement about cocoa doesn’t identify a specific Fairtrade biscuit; check the variety in store.

Lotus Biscoff

A speculoos option for anyone who doesn’t want chocolate or cocoa with their night-in snack.

  • The ingredients list for Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos doesn’t mention cocoa or chocolate.
  • This variety won’t meet a desire to buy Fairtrade cocoa; the ingredients list includes wheat and soya, among other ingredients.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are all the ingredients Fairtrade if there’s a Fairtrade logo on the biscuits?

No. According to Fairtrade Netherlands, the Fairtrade Mark with an arrow on a composite product means that all ingredients available as Fairtrade are sourced on Fairtrade terms; a claim for a specific ingredient may cover less. Read the explanation on the packet to see what applies to your biscuits.

Is Fairtrade cocoa in biscuits always physically traceable?

No. Fairtrade Netherlands allows mass balance for cocoa. Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa can be mixed during processing, and the volumes of Fairtrade cocoa sold are tracked. If physical traceability is a deciding factor for you, look for separate information about it.

Do I need Fairtrade chocolate for biscuits on a night in?

Only if buying Fairtrade cocoa is your aim. If you’d rather have a biscuit without chocolate, you could consider Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos, for example, but it won’t meet a desire to buy Fairtrade cocoa.

Should I still check the allergens when buying a well-known biscuit brand?

Yes. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you’re buying, even if you know the brand. A Fairtrade mention is no substitute for checking.