Anyone looking to serve Fairtrade cocoa
You’re looking for chocolate or cocoa for your Asian night that carries a Fairtrade claim for the product you’ve chosen. A general claim about a shop’s range isn’t enough.
Who is this relevant to?
Anyone buying gingerbread for guests
You want to compare portions and sugar content, and check in advance which ingredients, allergens and warnings about possible traces of other allergens appear on the packaging.
Anyone checking for iodine-containing ingredients
You don’t want to assume from the product category that gingerbread contains iodised baker’s salt. Instead, check the ingredients of the gingerbread you’ve chosen.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide which product needs to carry the Fairtrade claim: the chocolate or cocoa, or the gingerbread too. Then check the nutrition information and ingredients of every product you plan to serve.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Look for a Fairtrade claim that applies to the chocolate, cocoa or gingerbread you’ve chosen. | I want to know that the chocolate I’m serving is covered by the Fairtrade claim, not just other products from the same shop. Around 50% of consumers prioritise a claim that applies to the specific product. |
| Portion and ingredients | Compare sugar per portion and per 100 g. Also read the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the packaging. | If I’m sharing gingerbread with guests, I want to know what’s in a slice and whether the ingredients are suitable for them. For around 30% of consumers, portion and ingredient information is the most important factor. |
| Baker’s salt | Check whether the product lists baker’s salt or iodised salt. Don’t assume it’s present just because the product is called gingerbread. | If I’m checking for iodine-containing ingredients, I don’t want to assume that all gingerbread contains the same type of salt. An estimated 20% of consumers prioritise this product check. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a shop-wide claim for a product claim
Fairtrade Netherlands cites Fairtrade chocolate at Albert Heijn and Fairtrade cocoa in PLUS own-brand products. This doesn’t, in itself, mean that every bar, topping or gingerbread product you choose carries a Fairtrade claim.
If Fairtrade status is essential to your purchase, check the packaging or current information for the specific product.
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Assuming gingerbread contains iodine based on its name
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how iodine may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt. That doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a particular gingerbread product.
Read the ingredients of the gingerbread you’ve chosen, or ask the manufacturer about its composition if this matters to your choice.
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Reading only the front of the packaging
The product name on the packaging won’t tell you how much sugar is in a portion or which allergens might matter to your guests. For example, Peijnenburg states that its Naturel 10-pack contains slices weighing 28 g, with 11 g of sugar per slice.
Compare the nutrition information per portion and read the allergen information on the pack you’re actually buying.
Relevant brands and shops
These names can help you compare product information. Their inclusion here says nothing about the Fairtrade status of any individual gingerbread product.
Peijnenburg
A gingerbread brand with individually wrapped slices, among other options, for anyone who wants to check portion sizes in advance.
- For its Naturel 10-pack, Peijnenburg lists ten individually wrapped 28 g slices, each containing 11 g of sugar.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the variant you’ve chosen. The name gingerbread doesn’t confirm that it contains Fairtrade cocoa.
Albert Heijn
A shop where you can check chocolate and gingerbread as separate products.
- Fairtrade Netherlands cites Albert Heijn’s organic chocolate as an example of Fairtrade-certified products.
- An organic label on gingerbread doesn’t confirm that it contains Fairtrade cocoa. Check the claim for each product.
PLUS
A shop where you can check product-specific claims about cocoa and chocolate.
- Fairtrade Netherlands states that the cocoa in PLUS own-brand products is Fairtrade-certified.
- The communication in question includes promotions from May 2023. When making your choice, check the current packaging for the specific product rather than relying on a general claim about the range.
Chocolate and cocoa for this choice
These Joybuy products are chocolate bars or cocoa powder for a separate chocolate or cocoa element at your Asian night. Cocoa powder isn’t a bar to serve as it is, so choose the form that suits what you’re making and check any important Fairtrade claim on the product you select.
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Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel, 180 g
A chocolate bar to serve separately from the gingerbread. The product description mentions Fairtrade; check the current packaging for the claim on this bar. If you have allergies, also read the ingredients and allergen information.
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Tony's Chocolonely Pure 70% Dark Chocolate, 180 g
A dark chocolate bar for a separate chocolate element. Check the current packaging for the Fairtrade claim, and check the cocoa percentage too if it matters for your recipe. If you have allergies, read the product information.
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Fairtrade Cocoa Powder, 125 g
Cocoa powder for a recipe or hot chocolate, not a bar to share as it is. If certification is a condition of your purchase, check the current packaging for a Fairtrade claim that applies to this specific product.
Frequently asked questions
Is organic gingerbread automatically Fairtrade?
No. Organic and Fairtrade are different product claims. If Fairtrade cocoa is a requirement for your gingerbread, look for a claim that specifically applies to the gingerbread or the cocoa it contains.
Does gingerbread automatically contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from the name gingerbread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt, subject to limits on the salt’s iodine content. Check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer which salt was used in the gingerbread you’ve chosen.
Which allergens should I check when sharing gingerbread with guests?
Read the allergen information on the specific pack, including warnings about possible traces of other allergens. For its Naturel 10-pack, Peijnenburg lists rye flour and possible traces of milk, hazelnuts, almonds and other cereals containing gluten. Other gingerbread products may have different ingredients.