Choose a chocolate biscuit with the FAIRTRADE Mark or a clear, product-specific Fairtrade cocoa claim; the word ‘fair’ in a product name isn’t enough. Then check which ingredients the claim applies to, and whether the packaging, ingredients and allergens suit your tea break. According to Fairtrade International, mass balance can be used for cocoa, so Fairtrade cocoa does not necessarily remain physically separate during processing.
You want to be able to check whether the cocoa was sourced on Fairtrade terms when you sit down for tea. According to Fairtrade International, the Mark and any additional information on the packaging give you a clearer picture of the claim on a biscuit made with several ingredients.
You’re looking for a biscuit made with Fairtrade cocoa, but first want to know which allergens and other ingredients are in the exact variant. The current packaging’s ingredients list and any warnings are what matter most.
You want ready-to-eat biscuits to serve or take with you. As well as checking the Fairtrade claim, compare the pack format, portions and availability from your chosen retailer.
Start with the claim on the specific biscuit. Then decide whether the ingredients and pack format suit the way you plan to serve it.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark or an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim, and check which ingredients it applies to. An arrow next to the Mark points to additional information. | I want to know whether the cocoa in my biscuit was sourced on Fairtrade terms, rather than relying on the product name alone. Around 50% of consumers prioritise a verifiable cocoa claim. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and warnings such as ‘may contain’. A Fairtrade cocoa claim says nothing about the other ingredients. | If I’m buying for someone with a food allergy or dietary requirement, the exact variant must be suitable first. For around 30% of consumers, checking the ingredients is the top priority. |
| Packaging and availability | Compare the pack format and portions, and check that the product is available from your chosen retailer. | For a shared tea break, I want biscuits that are easy to serve, or perhaps a portion I can take with me. This practical consideration comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
A product name doesn’t tell you which ingredients were sourced on Fairtrade terms. That distinction matters for a biscuit made with several ingredients.
Check the Mark, which ingredients are covered by the claim, and any further information on the packaging.
According to Fairtrade International, mass balance is permitted for cocoa: Fairtrade and other cocoa may be mixed during processing, while the corresponding volumes are tracked through the supply chain.
If physical separation matters to you, read the information on the packaging. An arrow next to the Mark points to additional details.
A Fairtrade cocoa claim doesn’t change whether a biscuit contains ingredients such as milk, wheat or soya. Some variants also carry warnings about other allergens.
Before you buy, check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ statements on the exact pack.
A product may have clear information about its Fairtrade ingredients but no longer be part of that retailer’s online range. Jumbo noted this for Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits.
Check current availability and, when buying, compare the packaging with the product information again.
Compare the claim on the specific biscuit: a brand name alone doesn’t tell you which ingredients a Fairtrade claim applies to.
In 2022, Fairtrade Nederland reported that the cocoa in Verkade chocolate bars and biscuits is Fairtrade. For products including Verkade Chocorondjes, Lange Nekken and Choco S'mores, Albert Heijn gives a product-specific Fairtrade cocoa claim.
Jumbo described Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits as organic and said the dark chocolate and cane sugar were traded on Fairtrade terms. According to that product information, these ingredients together made up 47% of the biscuit.
No, not necessarily. According to Fairtrade International, for a product made with several ingredients, any ingredients available on Fairtrade terms must meet the relevant certification requirements. Check the packaging to see which ingredients the claim covers.
Not necessarily. Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa, which means cocoa may be mixed during processing and the corresponding volumes are tracked through the supply chain. If physical traceability matters to you, read the additional information on the packaging.
Check the ingredients list on the current packaging, as well as any ‘may contain’ warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that the 14 specified allergens must be declared on the label and clearly distinguished in the ingredients list.
No. The origin of the cocoa doesn’t determine whether the other ingredients come from animals. Albert Heijn lists milk in Verkade Chocorondjes and Lange Nekken, and beef gelatine in Choco S'mores. So check the ingredients in the exact variant.
