Who is this choice relevant to?

Office buyer prioritising Fairtrade

Wants to check exactly what the Fairtrade claim applies to on a particular chocolate biscuit, rather than relying solely on a general promise from the retailer.

Person in charge of a shared biscuit tin

Wants to keep allergen information available for colleagues and store biscuits according to the instructions on the packaging.

Buyer who also compares portions

Is looking for an office treat, but also wants to check the sugars, saturated fat and serving size of the biscuit they choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade claim Check the current packaging or product page to see which cocoa or other ingredients the claim applies to. When I’m buying for the office, I want to know exactly what the Fairtrade claim on this pack refers to. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Allergens Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack you choose. Keep this information available after filling the tin. When sharing biscuits with colleagues, I want them to be able to check the information on the original pack. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Sharing and storage Check the pack size, number of servings and storage instructions, including what to do after opening. I want to share biscuits over several coffee breaks and store them according to the instructions. This practical consideration matters most to around 21% of consumers.
Nutritional information Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per serving, paying particular attention to sugars and saturated fat. If I’m offering a treat regularly, I want to be able to compare what’s in a serving. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this comparison.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a cocoa policy for a Fairtrade claim on the biscuit

    Albert Heijn, Lidl and ALDI refer to several certification schemes for their own-brand cocoa. Their general policies therefore don’t mean that every individual chocolate biscuit carries a Fairtrade claim.

    Check the pack you’ve chosen or the current product page to see whether Fairtrade is mentioned and which ingredients the claim applies to.

  • Throwing away the packaging after filling the tin

    Colleagues will no longer be able to check the ingredients and allergens on the original label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory allergen labelling on food packaging.

    Keep the pack by the biscuit tin or make the full label information easy to access. Store any alternative clearly separately.

  • Assuming Fairtrade tells you about nutritional value

    A claim about Fairtrade ingredients doesn’t tell you how much sugar or saturated fat a serving contains.

    Check the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving for the product you’ve chosen if these values matter to your decision.

  • Relying on an old product page when choosing what to buy

    Jumbo states that Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits are no longer part of its online range.

    Check availability and the Fairtrade claim on the pack you actually choose shortly before buying.

Brands to consider

Verkade

Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade chocolate in Verkade Chocorondjes and Fairtrade-certified cocoa in the chocolate used in Verkade Lange Nekken.

  • These product examples give you a specific Fairtrade claim to check before buying.
  • For each variety, also check the current ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings.

Bio+

According to Jumbo, the dark chocolate and cane sugar in Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits are traded under Fairtrade terms.

  • The claim names the ingredients covered by the Fairtrade terms.
  • Jumbo says this product is no longer part of its online range, so check availability before choosing it for the office.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn says the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance- or Fairtrade-certified.

  • Product pages can help you check the claim, ingredients and allergens for a specific biscuit.
  • The own-brand policy alone doesn’t confirm that the biscuit you’ve chosen carries a Fairtrade claim.

Lidl

Lidl lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification as options for its own-brand cocoa.

  • This policy is a good reason to check the specific cocoa claim on an own-brand biscuit.
  • The policy doesn’t confirm that every Lidl chocolate biscuit carries a Fairtrade claim.

ALDI

ALDI Netherlands lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and the EU organic logo as certification options for cocoa in its products.

  • This information shows the different certification options that may apply to cocoa.
  • Check the packaging of the specific biscuit to see whether it carries a Fairtrade claim.

Biscuits on Joybuy

This chocolate biscuit could be an option for a shared office biscuit tin if the Fairtrade claim on the current packaging meets your buying criteria.

Verkade Long Necks, 10 pcs

Verkade Long Necks, 10 pcs

This is a chocolate biscuit to consider for a shared biscuit tin if the Fairtrade claim on the current packaging meets your requirements.

Check which ingredients the claim applies to, and keep the ingredients, allergen and storage information available for colleagues.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does a sustainable cocoa policy prove that a biscuit is Fairtrade?

No. Albert Heijn, Lidl and ALDI also list other cocoa certification schemes. Check the current packaging or product page to see whether the specific biscuit carries a Fairtrade claim and which ingredients it applies to.

What should I do with allergen information when sharing a biscuit tin?

Keep the information from the original pack available when you put the biscuits in the tin. Before sharing them, check the current ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings. Don’t rely on information for a different variety.

How should I store chocolate biscuits in an office tin?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen. For Verkade Chocorondjes, Albert Heijn says to store them in a cool, dry place and keep the pack sealed after opening. Check the instructions for any other biscuit you choose.

Does Fairtrade tell you anything about the nutritional value of biscuits?

No. A Fairtrade claim relates to the ingredients named and the terms on which they are traded, not the amount of sugars or saturated fat. If you want to compare products, use the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving for the biscuit you’ve chosen.