For a birthday, choose a chocolate biscuit with a Fairtrade mark or an explicit claim about Fairtrade cocoa, and check the packaging to see which ingredients the claim applies to. Then work out the quantity and portions based on your guests, and ask about allergies in advance. For a small celebration, you could also bake biscuits yourself using chocolate that is demonstrably Fairtrade.
You want to know whether the Fairtrade mark on your chosen biscuits applies to the cocoa, other ingredients or all ingredients for which Fairtrade options are available. Fairtrade Netherlands explains that this can vary for composite products.
You’re looking for portions that are easy to hand out, and you ask in advance which products children avoid because of allergies or religious beliefs, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
You want to choose the size and ingredients of the biscuits yourself, and have time to bake. Fairtrade Netherlands, for example, has a recipe for cookies made with Fairtrade cocoa.
Start by checking the Fairtrade claim on the specific biscuit or chocolate you plan to use. Then consider which ingredients are suitable for your guests and how you’d like to serve the biscuits.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Read the mark and accompanying wording. A white Fairtrade mark specifies which ingredients are Fairtrade. | If Fairtrade cocoa matters to me, I want to know exactly what the claim on my biscuits means. Around 36% of consumers say this is their top priority when buying. |
| Suitability for guests | Ask about allergies and other dietary requirements in advance; check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging. | When serving guests with different dietary needs, I want to be able to assess what they can eat from each pack. For around 29% of consumers, suitability comes first when choosing. |
| Portions and serving | Compare the number of biscuits, net weight and any individual wrapping with your guest list. | For a treat, I want to hand out small portions without having lots left over. Ease of serving is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Baking your own | Check the Fairtrade claim on the chocolate, the recipe ingredients and the quantity you’ll need. | For a small celebration at home, I want to choose the shape, quantity and ingredients myself, even if it takes some preparation. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this flexibility. |
A chocolate biscuit isn’t a Fairtrade product simply because of its name. Fairtrade Netherlands distinguishes between claims for specific ingredients and claims for all ingredients available under Fairtrade terms in composite products.
Read the mark and the wording on the packaging before presenting a biscuit as a Fairtrade choice.
A claim about cocoa says nothing about allergens. The Verkade biscuits described contain milk and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients; other allergens may also be relevant depending on the product.
Ask guests about their needs in advance, then check the ingredients and allergens on every pack you choose.
It’s hard to work out how many biscuits you need without knowing how many guests you’ll have and how you’ll serve them. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small portions for children's treats.
Decide whether you’ll hand out individual portions or put out a plate, then choose the number of packs accordingly.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn notes in its product information that the packaging may differ from what’s shown online.
Just before serving, read the label on the pack you actually bought.
Verkade says that the chocolate on and in its biscuits uses Fairtrade-certified cocoa. Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade milk chocolate in products including Verkade Lange Nekken and Chocorondjes.
Albert Heijn says the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified. This general statement doesn’t tell you which mark appears on an individual biscuit.
Jumbo has separate categories for Fairtrade products and chocolate biscuits. Appearing in either category doesn’t confirm that a particular chocolate biscuit has both attributes.
Not always. For a composite product such as a biscuit, the claim may apply to specific ingredients only. Fairtrade Netherlands explains that packaging with a white mark specifies which ingredients are Fairtrade, so read both the mark and the accompanying wording.
Ask in advance about allergies and products children avoid for other reasons, then read the label on the pack you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends taking allergies and religious beliefs into account at children's parties; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on labels.
No. A Fairtrade cocoa claim tells you nothing about gluten or animal-derived ingredients. Check the ingredients, allergens and any separate claims on the specific pack to find out.
Fairtrade Netherlands’ chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe makes 12–14 cookies and takes 60 minutes to prepare. Use your guest numbers and preferred portion size to work out how many to bake.
