Who are these options relevant to?

Gamers who want to check the Fairtrade claim

You’re looking for a chocolate biscuit with clear information on whether its cocoa or chocolate is covered by Fairtrade terms, rather than relying on a general sustainability claim.

Snack sharers who want to serve straight away

You want to put out ready-made biscuits and check in advance how many portions are in the pack and which allergens are listed on the label.

Home bakers who choose their own ingredients

You’d rather bake your own cookies so you can choose the flavour, ingredients and portions, and want to use chocolate with an explicit Fairtrade claim.

What should you look for when choosing?

For a gaming session, you can choose biscuits that are ready to share or bake your own cookies. Either way, check the Fairtrade claim separately from the allergen and nutritional information on the label.

Ready-made chocolate biscuits

When to choose them: Choose this option if you want to share biscuits without any preparation and the packaging carries an explicit Fairtrade claim for the cocoa or chocolate.

The trade-off: The recipe and portion sizes are fixed, so check that the ingredients and allergens are suitable for everyone at the table.

Homemade cookies

When to choose them: Choose this option if you want to decide for yourself which ingredients to use, how much chocolate to add and how many portions to make.

The trade-off: Baking takes time to prepare. Using Fairtrade chocolate as an ingredient does not automatically make the finished cookie Fairtrade-certified.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Fairtrade claim Look for an explicit statement about the cocoa or chocolate. If the claim applies to only part of the product, check which ingredients it covers. I want to know exactly what the Fairtrade claim covers in the biscuit, not just see a promising name. For around 42% of consumers, this check is the top priority.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current packaging for allergens and warnings about possible traces. When I’m sharing snacks, I want to check in advance whether the ingredients are suitable for everyone eating with me. Around 33% of consumers put this allergen and ingredient check first.
Portions and nutritional information Compare the pack size and stated portions; check the nutritional values per 100 g or per portion. I want to make sure there are enough biscuits to share and decide how many to serve. For around 25% of consumers, planning portions and snacks is the main reason for buying.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming that ‘fair’ in a name means the cocoa is Fairtrade

    A product name doesn’t tell you which ingredients are covered by Fairtrade terms. For the former Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes product, Jumbo specified that the claim applied to the dark chocolate and cane sugar, which together made up 47% of the product.

    Read the exact claim and, if stated, check which part of the biscuit it applies to.

  • Confusing Fairtrade with organic or allergen-free

    These terms relate to different aspects of a product. Albert Heijn states that Verkade Chocorondjes contain Fairtrade cocoa, as well as milk and wheat, which are relevant ingredients for people with allergies.

    Check the Fairtrade claim, any organic label and the allergens separately on the packaging.

  • Relying on an old product page

    Recipes and product ranges can change. Jumbo no longer lists the Bio+ biscuits mentioned above in its online range; Albert Heijn advises customers to check the packaging for Chocorondjes because product information may change.

    Compare the current product information just before buying. If you have allergies, check the packaging of the biscuits you plan to serve.

  • Checking only the Fairtrade claim on a snack you plan to share

    A Fairtrade statement doesn’t tell you how many portions are in the pack or what the nutritional values are. Albert Heijn lists Verkade Chocorondjes as a 150 g pack containing nine portions.

    Before deciding how many biscuits to put out, also check the number of portions and the nutritional information per 100 g or per portion.

Brands to consider

Verkade

Worth considering for ready-made chocolate biscuits, where you can check the claim on each product. Verkade says it uses Fairtrade-certified cocoa in its chocolate bars and chocolate coatings on biscuits.

  • Albert Heijn lists the Fairtrade cocoa, pack size, portions, ingredients and allergens for Verkade Chocorondjes.
  • A brand-wide statement doesn’t replace checking the biscuit you choose. Chocorondjes contain milk and wheat, among other ingredients.

Tony's Chocolonely

A possible source of chocolate if you’re baking your own cookies or want to serve chocolate alongside the biscuits, rather than an example of a ready-made chocolate biscuit.

  • Tony's Chocolonely describes the chocolate in its Dutch shop as Fairtrade-certified.
  • A claim for the chocolate doesn’t automatically apply to a homemade cookie; check the other ingredients in your recipe separately.

Bio+

An example of how organic ingredients and Fairtrade terms for specific ingredients can appear side by side on a label.

  • According to Jumbo, the dark chocolate and cane sugar in Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes, together making up 47% of the product, were traded under Fairtrade terms.
  • Jumbo no longer lists this 140 g product in its online range, so don’t use it as an indication of current availability.

Albert Heijn

Worth considering if you want to compare information about a specific biscuit with the retailer’s broader statements about cocoa.

  • Albert Heijn states that the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance- or Fairtrade-certified.
  • This statement doesn’t confirm that every individual own-brand biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa. Check the claim on the product you choose.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I spot a Fairtrade claim on chocolate biscuits?

Look on the current packaging for an explicit statement about Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade chocolate, or an explanation of which ingredients are covered by Fairtrade terms. For example, Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade cocoa for Verkade Chocorondjes; a word such as ‘fair’ in the product name alone doesn’t offer the same clarity.

Does organic also mean Fairtrade?

No, they are separate attributes. For the Bio+ example, Jumbo listed both organic ingredients and a separate Fairtrade statement for the dark chocolate and cane sugar. Check what each claim applies to on every product.

Do I need to check for allergens if the cocoa is Fairtrade?

Yes. A Fairtrade cocoa claim says nothing about the allergens in the biscuit. For Verkade Chocorondjes, Albert Heijn lists milk and wheat, among other ingredients. If you have allergies, read the current packaging, even if you’ve already checked the product information online.

Can I tell from an old product page whether a biscuit is still available?

No. Check availability with the shop where you plan to buy it. Jumbo no longer lists Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes 140 g in its online range, so an old product listing doesn’t confirm that it’s currently available.