Choose biscuits whose packaging makes it clear whether the Fairtrade claim applies to the product or to an ingredient such as cocoa. A sustainable-looking pack or a supermarket’s name isn’t enough. For your Easter brunch, also check that they’re actually biscuits, which allergens are listed and whether the product is available. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo with a white background refers only to a certified ingredient.
When choosing chocolate biscuits, you want to see what the Fairtrade claim applies to, rather than relying on the look of the packaging. Milieu Centraal distinguishes between a certified ingredient and the product as a whole.
You’re serving biscuits to several people, so you check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens on each pack.
You want to know whether you can get a suitable product and how much is in the pack. A product page alone doesn’t tell you whether an item is available when you’re ready to buy.
If a guest has an allergy, start with the current packaging. Then check exactly what the Fairtrade claim covers and whether the type and quantity are right for your Easter brunch.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| What Fairtrade means | Look for the certification mark or a specific claim about Fairtrade cocoa or another ingredient. According to Milieu Centraal, a logo with a white background indicates a certified ingredient, not necessarily the product as a whole. | I want to be able to see whether the cocoa genuinely meets Fairtrade conditions, rather than relying on a sustainable-looking pack. For around 36% of consumers, being able to check this claim is the top priority. |
| Type and quantity of biscuits | Check whether they’re individual biscuits or chocolate with a biscuit filling. Compare the pack size and, if stated, the number of biscuits. | For a sharing platter, I want biscuits that suit my guests in terms of type, flavour and quantity. For around 29% of consumers, this choice of what to serve is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack, including any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | If a guest has an allergy, I want to know which ingredients and warnings apply to these biscuits. For around 21% of consumers, checking this comes first. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the pack size and, shortly before buying, whether the item is available. An older product page doesn’t confirm that it’s in stock. | I want to be able to buy enough suitable biscuits without planning my brunch around a product that isn’t available. For around 14% of consumers, current availability matters most. |
A retailer’s policy or a brand name doesn’t automatically tell you whether the pack of biscuits you’ve chosen is Fairtrade. For example, Milieu Centraal describes Fairglobe as a Lidl brand, not as a certification mark.
Check the certification mark and product description on the pack you intend to buy.
According to Milieu Centraal, a logo with a white background means that an ingredient is Fairtrade-certified. It doesn’t automatically mean that all the ingredients are certified.
Check which ingredient the logo refers to and decide whether that fits with your choice.
Fairtrade certification doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for guests with allergies. The Galler variant described by Albert Heijn contains, among other things, hazelnut, milk and wheat, and states that it may contain egg.
If a guest has an allergy, always check the current packaging of the product you’re actually serving first.
The Galler variant described by Albert Heijn and the Bio+ chocolate biscuits on Jumbo’s product page were listed as no longer part of the online range. A product description can therefore remain visible even when the product can’t be ordered online.
Check whether your chosen item is available shortly before your Easter brunch.
Albert Heijn describes a Galler product with a biscuit filling and Fairtrade-certified cocoa. It’s chocolate with a biscuit filling, rather than individual biscuits for your brunch platter.
For Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits, Jumbo states that the dark chocolate and cane sugar were traded under Fairtrade conditions.
According to Milieu Centraal, Fairglobe is a Lidl brand that includes chocolate products. The brand name alone isn’t a Fairtrade certification mark.
Look for the certification mark and check the pack to see which product or ingredient it refers to. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo with a white background refers only to a certified ingredient, not necessarily the whole biscuit.
No. An organic claim is separate from a Fairtrade claim. For Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits, Jumbo separately states that the dark chocolate and cane sugar were traded under Fairtrade conditions. Check these claims on the specific product.
Before serving the product, check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the current packaging. A Fairtrade claim doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy.
Don’t assume so without checking. Product pages can remain online even after an item has left the online range, so check the current availability of the specific product shortly before buying.
