If you’re choosing biscuits made with Fairtrade cocoa for autumn half-term, check the specific product for the FAIRTRADE Mark or an explicit statement about the cocoa. For a biscuit with several ingredients, this does not automatically mean every ingredient is Fairtrade. If you’re taking biscuits out and about, check whether they’re individually portioned, and read the current ingredients and allergen information on the label for everyone who’ll be eating them.
You’re looking for chocolate or cocoa biscuits for autumn half-term, and want to see exactly what the Fairtrade claim applies to on the specific product. Fairtrade International says this is relevant when checking products made with several ingredients, such as biscuits.
For a day out or a snack away from home, you might compare individually portioned biscuits with a pack to share. For example, Albert Heijn says Verkade Lange Nekken come in packs of two. Also check the ingredients for everyone who’ll be eating them.
If someone needs to avoid certain allergens, compare the current labels for the flavours and packs you’re considering. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the label; a Fairtrade claim is no substitute for this information.
Start by checking the Fairtrade claim on the biscuits themselves. Then compare the packaging with your planned snack occasion, and read the ingredients for everyone who’ll be eating them.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark or an explicit statement that the cocoa is Fairtrade. Read any explanation of the mark. | If Fairtrade cocoa is my main reason for buying, I want to know exactly what claim applies to these biscuits. This is the most important check for around 42% of consumers. |
| Portions for days out | Compare the number of biscuits in each pack and check whether they’re individually wrapped or portioned. | For a day out, I want to be able to take biscuits with me and share them without opening a large pack straight away. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this kind of portion convenience. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and, where relevant, check whether the product may contain other allergens. | If someone eating with me needs to avoid certain allergens, I need to be able to check the label on that exact pack. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
An organic label alone doesn’t mean the cocoa was sourced under Fairtrade terms. What’s more, on biscuits with several ingredients, the Fairtrade claim may apply only to certain ingredients.
Check the Fairtrade claim on the specific biscuits and read any explanation on the packaging.
A Fairtrade claim doesn’t change the ingredients. Chocolate biscuits may contain milk, cereals containing gluten or soya, among other ingredients. Individual products may also carry a warning about other allergens.
Before sharing the biscuits, check the current ingredients and allergen information for the flavour and pack you’ve chosen.
A product page may still be visible even when the biscuits are unavailable to order. This can be especially inconvenient if you’re planning what to buy for a specific day out.
Check availability just before you buy. If necessary, choose another type of biscuit and check its Fairtrade claim and ingredients too.
Verkade Lange Nekken are milk chocolate biscuits that Albert Heijn describes as being packed in pairs. Joybuy lists Fairtrade ingredients for this specific product.
Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits 140 g are a specific example of a product that combines organic ingredients with a Fairtrade claim.
No, the mark on a product made with several ingredients doesn’t automatically mean this. Fairtrade International also describes the mark for products containing multiple ingredients, such as biscuits. Read any explanation on the packaging to see what the claim applies to.
Check the current label, especially the ingredients list. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed and distinguished there. Compare the information for each flavour and pack.
Not if you need to take ingredients or allergens into account. Albert Heijn’s product information for Verkade Lange Nekken milk chocolate lists milk, wheat, oats, barley and soya, and says the product may contain egg and nuts. Check the label on the pack you buy.
Not necessarily: a product page may be visible even when the biscuits are unavailable to order. Check availability just before you buy, and if you choose an alternative, check its Fairtrade claim and ingredients too.
