Hosts who want to point out the Fairtrade claim
You want to be able to show your guests the Fairtrade information on the pack you’ve chosen. A general statement about the brand or shop isn’t enough.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Hosts looking for biscuits to share
You’re looking for chocolate biscuits that are easy to serve with coffee. The number of biscuits, their size and any filling all matter once you’ve found a product with the Fairtrade information you’re looking for.
Hosts catering for guests with allergies
You’re buying for guests, so check the ingredients and warnings on the pack you’ll be serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of food label information for food allergies.
What should you look for?
Start with the Fairtrade information for the specific biscuit. Then check that the pack suits your gathering, and check the allergens on the packaging before serving.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade information | Look for a Fairtrade mark or a mention of Fairtrade cocoa on the product. Fairtrade International advises that if a mark has an arrow, you should read the explanation on the back. | I want to be able to show my friends what is Fairtrade about the cocoa in these biscuits. For around 40% of consumers, this verifiable information comes first. |
| Easy to share with coffee | Compare the number of biscuits, the type of packaging and whether the biscuit has a filling or a chocolate coating. | If I’m putting biscuits out for several guests, I want to know how many I can serve and what type of biscuit I’m offering. This is the first consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and any warnings about traces on the packaging you’ll be serving. | If a guest has an allergy, I need to know what’s in the biscuit I’ve chosen and what warnings are on the pack. For around 20% of consumers, this check matters most. |
| Current availability | Check that the product listing is up to date and that any alternative you choose carries the Fairtrade information you’re looking for. | I want to be able to buy the biscuits in time for coffee, without relying on an old product page. For around 10% of consumers, practical availability is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a general cocoa policy for a claim about a specific product
A shop may use several certification schemes for cocoa. For example, Lidl lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification for its own-brand cocoa. That doesn’t tell you which certification applies to an individual chocolate biscuit.
Check the Fairtrade information on the pack you’ve chosen or on the current product page. If the mark has an arrow, read the explanation on the back too.
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Forgetting about allergens because they’re coffee biscuits
A Fairtrade claim doesn’t tell you anything about ingredients a guest may need to avoid. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that food label information is important for food allergies.
Ask guests about any relevant allergies in advance, and read both the ingredients list and any warnings about traces on the packaging you’ll be serving.
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Using an old product page as a shopping plan
A biscuit featured earlier may no longer be available. You also shouldn’t assume that an alternative has the same Fairtrade information without checking.
Check the current product listing shortly before you buy, and reassess any replacement pack for its own Fairtrade claim and ingredients.
Brands and shops to explore
These names can help you start your search, but check the Fairtrade status and ingredients on each individual pack.
Verkade
Verkade mentions Fairtrade cocoa in connection with Choco Wolken. Albert Heijn’s product page lists Fairtrade cocoa for Verkade Chocorondjes milk chocolate.
- These are specific product claims to check when making your choice.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the variant you choose; they may differ between Verkade biscuits.
Albert Heijn
The product page for Verkade Chocorondjes milk chocolate mentions Fairtrade cocoa and describes the biscuit.
- Product-specific information helps distinguish a claim about a particular product from a general statement about a brand.
- Check the pack itself before serving too: product and allergen information can change.
Jumbo
A Jumbo product listing for Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes described dark chocolate and cane sugar traded under Fairtrade terms, together making up 47% of the product.
- That listing made clear which ingredients the Fairtrade information applied to.
- Don’t use an old listing as confirmation of current availability or of the qualities of a different biscuit.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification in its policy on own-brand cocoa.
- The policy gives you an idea of the different certifications you may come across.
- It doesn’t confirm that an individual chocolate biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa, so check the product itself.
ALDI
ALDI Netherlands includes Fairtrade chocolate in its Fairtrade range and also sells biscuits.
- The Fairtrade information can be a starting point when looking for a specific product.
- A range that includes Fairtrade chocolate doesn’t confirm that an individual chocolate biscuit is a Fairtrade option.
Lotus
Lotus describes Speculoos met Chocolade as a speculoos biscuit with Belgian chocolate.
- The chocolate version gives you a specific biscuit to compare with other options in terms of ingredients.
- If you’re looking for a Fairtrade option, don’t rely on the type of product alone: look for relevant Fairtrade information on the pack you’ve chosen.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can I spot Fairtrade chocolate biscuits?
Check the Fairtrade information on the specific pack, such as a certification mark or a mention of Fairtrade cocoa. Fairtrade International advises that if a mark has an arrow, you should read the back for an explanation of the ingredients and sourcing method.
Are all the ingredients in a biscuit made with Fairtrade cocoa Fairtrade?
No. A claim about Fairtrade cocoa doesn’t in itself tell you anything about the other ingredients. For a product made from several ingredients, check the packaging to see which ingredients the claim applies to.
Should I check for allergens in Fairtrade biscuits too?
Yes. Fairtrade status doesn’t tell you whether a biscuit is suitable for a guest with an allergy. Check the ingredients and any warnings about traces on the pack you’ll be serving.
Is the online allergen information enough when I order biscuits?
Use the online information to help you choose, but check the packaging when your order arrives too. The European Commission says that food sold online must provide the same mandatory information as food sold in a physical shop. When serving the biscuits, the information on the product you’ve received is what matters.
Does a shop’s sustainable cocoa policy make every chocolate biscuit Fairtrade?
No, check the information for the individual biscuit. Lidl Netherlands, for example, lists several possible certifications for its own-brand cocoa; that policy doesn’t assign one certification to every product.