Festival organisers handing out biscuits
You’ll need a pack with enough servings for your group. Check the Fairtrade statement and make sure visitors can read the allergen information.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Visitors bringing a snack
A compact pack is easier to carry. Even with a small pack, it’s important to check the ingredients and Fairtrade statement for the specific product.
Shoppers for whom Fairtrade is essential
You’re looking for a clear statement about Fairtrade cocoa or chocolate, and don’t want to confuse it with another sustainability certification.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re buying for a group or want something to take with you. Then check the Fairtrade statement, allergens and storage instructions for each biscuit you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa or chocolate | Look for a clear Fairtrade statement on the label of the specific product. Another sustainability certification is not the same thing. | If I’m specifically looking for Fairtrade cocoa, I don’t want to mistake another sustainability claim for it. This Fairtrade requirement is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Sharing and servings | Compare the net weight and stated number of servings; also check whether you can seal the pack securely once opened. | When buying for a group, I want to know how many packs to bring, whereas a small pack is enough for one visitor. Around 33% of consumers prioritise how easy a product is to share. |
| Allergens and storage | Read the allergens and any warnings on the current pack. Follow the storage instructions and seal opened packs carefully. | When I’m offering biscuits outdoors, I want to be able to show the allergen list and store the packs safely. This is the top priority for around 17% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking another sustainability certification for Fairtrade
Lotus Bakeries mentions Rainforest Alliance certification for cocoa ingredients in certain product ranges. This is not a Fairtrade statement for the biscuit you choose.
If Fairtrade is a requirement, check the statement on the current packaging of that specific product.
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Handing out biscuits without allergen information
Ingredients vary between chocolate biscuits. Without the label, visitors can’t check for themselves which allergens are relevant to them.
Keep the original packaging with you when handing them out, or make sure the full ingredients and allergen information for your chosen pack is easy to read.
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Planning to use a compact pack for a whole group
A pack that’s easy to take with you may contain fewer servings than you need to hand out.
Before you buy, work out how many packs you’ll need based on the stated servings and the number of visitors you plan to share them with.
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Leaving opened biscuits unprotected
Moisture and an open pack can affect the quality of biscuits. The Voedingscentrum advises keeping biscuits cool, dry, dark and in a well-sealed container.
Follow the instructions on the pack and use a dry, sealable storage box at the festival, away from direct sunlight.
Brands to consider
Verkade
Verkade says it uses Fairtrade-certified cocoa for the chocolate on and in its biscuits. Check the statement and recipe for the variety you’re buying.
- Albert Heijn lists 150 g Chocorondjes; the product information mentions FairTrade Cocoa.
- Fairtrade cocoa doesn’t mean that all the ingredients are Fairtrade. Check the allergens for each variety too.
Galler
Galler states that its chocolate is made with 100% Fairtrade cocoa. The Puur Koekjes variety described by Albert Heijn is a chocolate bar with a biscuit filling, not a standard biscuit to hand out individually.
- Albert Heijn’s product information mentions Fairtrade cocoa and no palm oil for this variety.
- The Albert Heijn product mentioned was no longer in the range. If you choose another product, check its label and availability separately.
Lotus Biscoff
This brand helps illustrate the difference between certifications, but a claim about a chocolate bar doesn’t automatically apply to a Biscoff biscuit.
- Lotus Bakeries reports Rainforest Alliance certification for cocoa ingredients in its Biscoff chocolate bars and certain other ranges.
- Rainforest Alliance is not the same as Fairtrade. If Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase, look for a separate Fairtrade statement.
Bio+
A Bio+ butter biscuit with chocolate, described by Jumbo, stated that its dark chocolate and cane sugar were traded under Fairtrade terms.
- The product information linked the Fairtrade terms to the stated ingredients, not to the biscuit as a whole.
- Jumbo marked this particular variety as no longer available in its online range. Check what’s currently available before buying for a festival.
Products ranked by festival use
The order puts a sharing pack first, followed by a compact pack and then a coconut variety. It says nothing about taste or overall product quality; the product information comes from Albert Heijn and Joybuy.
| Rank | Product | Features | Why it ranks here | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verkade Chocorondjes milk chocolate 150 g | 150 g; approximately nine stated servings; FairTrade Cocoa according to Albert Heijn. | Ranks first as a sharing pack for a group. Check the allergens on the pack before handing them out. | Albert Heijn |
| 2 | Verkade Choco S'mores milk chocolate marshmallow 66 g | 66 g; six stated servings according to Albert Heijn. | Next is a compact pack to take with you. This variety contains beef gelatine, among other ingredients; check the rest of the ingredients and allergens too. | Albert Heijn |
| 3 | Verkade Nizza coconut milk chocolate with sugar coating 177 g | 177 g; Joybuy mentions Fairtrade chocolate. | A coconut variety after the sharing and take-along options. Check the current product information and availability before relying on it for a festival. | Joybuy |
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check whether a chocolate biscuit meets my Fairtrade requirement?
Look on the packaging of the specific product for the FAIRTRADE mark or a clear statement about Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade chocolate. A general sustainability claim or Rainforest Alliance certification is not the same thing.
Does Fairtrade cocoa mean that all the cocoa in my biscuit can be physically traced?
No, not necessarily. Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa: Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa may be mixed during processing, while the corresponding volumes sold are tracked. The mark also doesn’t mean that all the other ingredients are Fairtrade.
Which allergens should I check when handing out biscuits?
Check the allergen information for every specific product you’re handing out. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, labels must list 14 specified allergens; which ones are present or mentioned as a warning varies from biscuit to biscuit.
How should I store chocolate biscuits at a street festival?
Store them somewhere cool, dry and dark, in a well-sealed container, as the Voedingscentrum advises for biscuits. Follow the instructions on the packaging too, and seal an opened pack carefully.