For a road trip, you can choose biscuits carrying a Fairtrade claim for a specific ingredient, such as cocoa, or biscuits whose certification covers all ingredients available on Fairtrade terms. Check which claim appears on the packaging, then choose a pack size to suit your fellow travellers. Also read the current allergen and nutritional information, along with the storage instructions.
You want to know whether the Fairtrade claim on a biscuit applies to a specific ingredient or to all ingredients available on Fairtrade terms. This distinction matters for composite products such as biscuits, according to Fairtrade Netherlands.
You want to take biscuits with you and share them out on the way. Check the size and storage instructions of the pack you buy.
You check whether the ingredients and nutritional values meet your needs. A Fairtrade claim alone tells you nothing about a biscuit’s allergens or nutritional value.
Start by checking what the Fairtrade claim means, then see whether the pack size suits your journey. Check the label on your chosen biscuits before you set off.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| What Fairtrade means | Check which certification appears on the biscuits and which ingredients the packaging identifies as Fairtrade. For composite products, Fairtrade Netherlands distinguishes between a claim covering ingredients available on Fairtrade terms and one covering specifically named ingredients. | If I choose Fairtrade products, I want to know exactly what the claim applies to. For around 36% of consumers, this clarity comes first. |
| Portions for the journey | Check the net weight, the number of portions or individual packs, and the storage instructions. | For a journey with only a few snack breaks, I want to take an amount that suits us and is easy to share out. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this pack size. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and nutritional values per 100 g or per portion. | If an ingredient matters to me, I want to be able to check the label myself; the Fairtrade claim does not answer that question. For around 21% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
| Quantity for a group | Compare the number of biscuits and the total pack size with the number of travellers and journeys. | When travelling with others, I want to take enough individual portions without choosing a box we won’t use. Around 14% of consumers prioritise the quantity for the group. |
For a composite product such as a biscuit, the claim may refer to all ingredients available on Fairtrade terms, or to specifically named ingredients, according to Fairtrade Netherlands.
Check the certification and read the packaging to see which ingredients the claim covers.
A Fairtrade claim does not tell you which allergens a biscuit contains. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of clear allergen information on labels.
Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, even if you have bought the biscuit before or viewed it online.
How ingredients are sourced does not tell you how much sugar, fat or salt a biscuit contains.
Check the nutritional information for the product separately, for example per 100 g and per portion.
A box of individually wrapped biscuits can be handy for a group, but it takes up more space and may contain more than you want to take for a single journey.
Choose a quantity that suits the number of travellers and when you plan to eat the biscuits.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a compact chocolate biscuit with a Fairtrade cocoa claim.
Worth considering if individually wrapped biscuits for several travellers are important to you.
Worth considering if you’re looking for individually wrapped speculoos biscuits for a group or several journeys.
No, you can’t draw that conclusion from a Fairtrade cocoa claim alone. For composite products, Fairtrade Netherlands distinguishes between claims for specifically named ingredients and claims covering all ingredients available on Fairtrade terms. Check which certification and ingredients are listed on the packaging.
Yes, a Fairtrade claim does not replace allergen information. Check the current packaging before you set off; ingredients can vary between biscuits and variants.
A Fairtrade claim alone tells you nothing about the amount of sugar, fat or other nutritional values. For that, check the nutritional information on the packaging of the specific biscuit.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you take with you. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information for Verkade Choco s'mores says to store the product in a cool, dry place.
