Fairtrade Chocolate Biscuits for New Year's Eve Sharing

Who is this guide for?

Shoppers who put Fairtrade first

For New Year’s Eve, you want to see a Fairtrade claim for the chocolate or cocoa in the specific biscuit, not just a retailer’s general promise.

Hosts planning to share treats

Choose between chocolate-filled biscuits to serve on a platter and biscuit sticks packed in pairs, depending on how you want to serve them.

Hosts catering for guests with allergies

You’re buying for people with different allergies and want to check the ingredients and warnings on the pack before serving the biscuits.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check the Fairtrade claim for the specific biscuit. Then compare the biscuit shape and packaging, and read the allergen information before buying if it’s relevant to your guests.

What to consider	What to check when buying	Who it matters to
Fairtrade claim	Look on the packaging or product page for a Fairtrade claim covering the chocolate or cocoa in this biscuit.	I only want to consider biscuits whose Fairtrade claim for the chocolate or cocoa I can verify. For around 50% of consumers, this product-specific claim comes first.
Portions and presentation	Compare biscuits for serving on a platter with sticks packed in pairs.	For a party platter, I want a different kind of biscuit from one I can hand out as individual portions. For around 30% of consumers, how the biscuits are shared is the deciding factor.
Allergens	Check the ingredients and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens on the pack you buy.	If guests have allergies, I need to know what the biscuit contains before serving it. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

Mistaking a general cocoa policy for a product-specific claim

A statement about a retailer’s cocoa sourcing doesn’t make every chocolate biscuit it sells a Fairtrade product.

Check the Fairtrade claim for the specific biscuit and see which ingredient it applies to.
Checking only the chocolate, not the allergens

The Verkade Lange Nekken and Chocorondjes described by Albert Heijn contain milk and cereals containing gluten; the listed allergens and warnings vary by product.

If your guests have allergies, check the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging you actually buy.
Mistaking a product listing for current availability

A product page on its own doesn’t tell you whether you can get the biscuits in time for New Year’s Eve.

Just before buying, check availability and delivery options as well as the packaging and Fairtrade claim.

Brands and retailers to consider

Verkade

Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade milk chocolate in Verkade Lange Nekken and Chocorondjes.

You can check the Fairtrade claim and ingredients for each of these two biscuits.
Both products list allergens; don’t assume their Fairtrade claims apply to every other Verkade biscuit.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn provides product information for the Verkade biscuits mentioned above and also outlines its own cocoa policy.

The product pages for Lange Nekken and Chocorondjes list Fairtrade milk chocolate.
Albert Heijn says that cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance- or Fairtrade-certified. This doesn’t automatically mean that a particular AH biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa.

Lidl

Lidl describes Fairtrade certification for Favorina seasonal chocolate for Easter, Sinterklaas and Christmas.

This policy gives you a starting point for checking the claims on a specific product.
A claim about seasonal chocolate doesn’t confirm that a particular chocolate biscuit for New Year’s Eve contains Fairtrade cocoa.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries describes the original Biscoff biscuit as a caramelised biscuit.

It’s a different type of biscuit to consider if you prefer a caramelised flavour to chocolate.
This description isn’t a Fairtrade chocolate claim for the original Biscoff biscuit.

Related products on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are all chocolate biscuits Fairtrade if the supermarket buys certified cocoa?

No. A general cocoa policy doesn’t tell you which Fairtrade claim applies to an individual biscuit. Check the product page or packaging to see whether the claim applies to the chocolate or cocoa.

Should I check the label on pre-packed biscuits for allergens?

Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for pre-packed products must appear on the label. If you have an allergy, check the information on the pack you buy, including any warnings about possible presence.

How can I find out about allergens in loose biscuits?

Ask the retailer which allergens the loose biscuits contain before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must be available before you buy unpackaged food.

Does a product page mean I can order the biscuits for New Year’s Eve?

No. Just before buying, check with the retailer that the product is available and can be delivered in time. Also check the packaging and Fairtrade claim for the biscuit you choose.