Who is this choice relevant to?

Fairtrade-conscious commuter

You want to take a chocolate biscuit with you, but will only choose one when the Fairtrade claim is clear for that exact variety.

Lunchbox user who likes individual portions

You’re looking for a biscuit you can pack as a separate portion. Albert Heijn describes Verkade Lange Nekken as packed two to a pack.

Label-conscious snack chooser

You check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information before deciding whether a biscuit fits into your lunch.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, choose a variety with the Fairtrade claim you want. Then decide whether the packaging is practical for taking on the go, and read the label to weigh up the other factors.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this important to?
Fairtrade claim Look for Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade chocolate on the packaging or product page for the exact variety. If I specifically want Fairtrade cocoa, that claim needs to appear on the biscuit I’m buying. This would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Portion packaging Check how many biscuits are packed together and what you’ll be taking with you once the pack is opened. For my lunchbox, I want to take a portion with me without opening a large pack; portion convenience would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen. If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for me, what’s in the biscuit matters more than its size or flavour. This would be the main consideration for around 20% of consumers.
Nutritional information Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, including sugars, saturated fat and fibre. I want to know what the portion I take with me adds to the rest of my lunch; around 20% of consumers would focus mainly on this.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing another certification with Fairtrade

    Lotus Bakeries lists Rainforest Alliance Certified for its Biscoff Chocolade. This isn’t the same product claim as Fairtrade.

    Is Fairtrade a condition of your purchase? Check that the exact pack lists Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade chocolate.

  • Not checking allergens once you’ve seen the certification

    A claim about cocoa says nothing about the other ingredients in a biscuit. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergens are listed in the ingredients list of pre-packed foods.

    Read the allergen information on the pack you’re actually buying.

  • Treating a chocolate biscuit as a complete lunch

    Fairtrade tells you about the cocoa, not the nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that many products sold as snacks contain a lot of sugars or saturated fat.

    Check the portion size and nutritional information, and consider the biscuit alongside the rest of your lunch.

Brands and retailer to consider

Verkade

Worth considering if you’re looking for a Fairtrade claim on a specific chocolate biscuit. Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade cocoa and packs of two for Verkade Lange Nekken.

  • For the Lange Nekken variety mentioned, both the cocoa claim and portion packaging are specified.
  • Check each variety individually; information about one Verkade product doesn’t automatically apply to every biscuit from the brand.

Lotus Biscoff

A brand to consider if you’re also looking at chocolate products with a different cocoa certification.

  • Lotus Bakeries lists Rainforest Alliance Certified for Biscoff Chocolade.
  • That claim doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status. The Biscoff 6-grain variety is also a separate speculoos product; its features don’t automatically apply to Biscoff Chocolade.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn is a retailer and source of product information here, not the manufacturer of the Verkade biscuits mentioned.

  • The product page for Verkade Choco S’mores milk chocolate marshmallow lists a 66 g pack and chocolate made with Fairtrade cocoa.
  • A product listing doesn’t confirm that other chocolate biscuits sold by the same retailer also contain Fairtrade cocoa.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I recognise Fairtrade cocoa in a chocolate biscuit?

Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim for the cocoa or chocolate on the packaging or product page for the exact variety. Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade cocoa for the Verkade varieties mentioned; Lotus Bakeries lists a different certification for Biscoff Chocolade: Rainforest Alliance Certified.

Should I check the allergens in a Fairtrade biscuit too?

Yes. The Fairtrade claim doesn’t tell you which allergens the biscuit contains. Read the ingredients list on the pack you’ve chosen; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed.

Is a Fairtrade chocolate biscuit enough for lunch?

The Fairtrade claim doesn’t mean that a chocolate biscuit is a complete lunch. Consider the portion and nutritional information alongside whatever else you’re taking with you; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the ingredients of snacks.

How should I take chocolate biscuits with me after buying them?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen and check how the biscuits are packaged inside. A pack of two, such as the one Albert Heijn describes for Verkade Lange Nekken, can be handy if you don’t want to take the whole pack with you.