When choosing biscuits for a Friday afternoon get-together, first check whether the specific product carries a Fairtrade claim. A general policy on sustainably certified cocoa doesn’t mean every variety contains Fairtrade cocoa. Then check the allergens and the number of biscuits or portions, so the pack is suitable for the group you’ll be sharing them with.
You want to choose biscuits for your get-together whose cocoa is demonstrably Fairtrade-certified. Check the claim on the specific product, not just the brand or retailer’s sustainability policy. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo with a white background may apply to one certified ingredient rather than the whole product.
You’re sharing biscuits with a group and want to know in advance which allergens are listed for the variety you’ve chosen. The Verkade products reviewed have different ingredients and warnings about possible traces, so check the packaging you’re buying.
You’re looking for a pack with enough biscuits or portions for the group, without losing sight of the Fairtrade requirement. Individually wrapped biscuits and a pack to share call for different ways of serving them.
First, check the Fairtrade claim on the biscuits you’ve chosen. Then look at the allergens and compare the number of biscuits or portions and availability to find a pack that suits your get-together.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it’s most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade status of the cocoa | Look for the Fairtrade logo or an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim on the product you’ve chosen. Certification for one ingredient doesn’t automatically apply to the whole biscuit. | I want to serve biscuits whose cocoa is demonstrably Fairtrade-certified, rather than relying on a broad sustainability claim. This is a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, including any warnings about traces. | When I’m buying for a group, I want to check in advance which biscuits are suitable to offer everyone. Checking the label is the main concern for around 31% of consumers. |
| Biscuits and portions | Compare the net weight, number of biscuits or portions, and how the biscuits are packaged. | I want to have enough biscuits to serve and share them without much preparation. Around 23% of consumers focus most on how easy they are to share. |
| Availability | Check that your chosen variety is available while you’re planning the get-together, especially if it’s part of a limited-time range. | I want to be able to find a suitable Fairtrade variety in good time, without relying entirely on a limited-time product. Availability is the biggest consideration for around 15% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn, Lidl and ALDI list several certification schemes in their own cocoa policies. This doesn’t establish that an individual biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa.
Check the Fairtrade claim on the variety you’ve chosen before selecting it for your get-together.
Ingredients, allergens and packaging can vary between biscuits from the same brand. A Fairtrade claim on one product doesn’t automatically apply to another, either.
Check the certification, ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying.
A pack that looks easy to share may contain fewer biscuits or portions than you need for your group.
Count how many people will want biscuits and compare that with the stated number of biscuits or portions.
A limited-time range may no longer be available when your get-together comes around.
Check availability shortly beforehand and decide which other biscuits, checked individually for Fairtrade certification, would also be suitable.
A brand name or retailer policy can help you narrow down your search, but check the Fairtrade claim and allergens on the biscuits you actually choose.
Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade cocoa for specific Verkade chocolate biscuits, including Chocorondjes, Lange Nekken and Choco S'mores.
PLUS says that all the cocoa in its own-label products, including biscuits, has been Fairtrade-certified since 2020.
Albert Heijn says the cocoa in its own-label products is certified by Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade.
Lidl Netherlands describes a policy for its own-label cocoa that includes Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification.
ALDI Netherlands lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and the EU organic logo as certification schemes for the cocoa in its products.
Check the Fairtrade claim on the specific product, not just a general sustainability claim from the retailer. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo with a white background indicates a certified ingredient, and doesn’t necessarily apply to the whole product.
Yes, read the allergen information on the pack you’re buying. The Verkade varieties reviewed differ in their ingredients and possible traces. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also explains the mandatory allergen labelling for prepacked foods.
No, that doesn’t follow from their general cocoa policies. Lidl, ALDI and Albert Heijn list other certification schemes alongside Fairtrade, so you’ll need to check the specific biscuit variety if you want to choose a Fairtrade product.
Work out how many people will want biscuits, then compare that with the number of biscuits or portions in each pack. Also take into account any other snacks you’ll be serving; the pack size alone won’t tell you how many biscuits you can hand out.
No, a Fairtrade claim for cocoa doesn’t tell you how much sugar or fat the biscuit contains. Check the nutrition table for the variety you’ve chosen, ideally per 100 g and per portion if both values are provided.
