Who this choice matters to

Parents who want to check the Fairtrade label

You’re looking for a specific biscuit whose chosen variant is labelled as containing Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade chocolate, rather than relying on a general promise about sustainably sourced cocoa.

Organisers who need to consider the group

You want to know what the school or after-school club allows before buying, and whether allergies or other dietary restrictions in the group need to be taken into account. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking these restrictions in advance.

People packing bags who want to plan quantities in advance

You want to have enough biscuits to hand out without unnecessary leftovers. It makes a difference whether you want to put individual biscuits or sealed multipacks in each bag.

What should you look for?

First, check that your chosen biscuit meets both your Fairtrade preference and the group’s rules. Then decide how many biscuits you want to put in each bag. A label referring to the cocoa doesn’t tell you anything about allergens or portion size.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade label Look for an explicit Fairtrade label for the cocoa or chocolate on the specific variant. Don’t treat other cocoa certifications as equivalent. If Fairtrade cocoa is my main reason for choosing this biscuit, I want to see the label on the product itself. This check comes first for around 29% of consumers.
Allergens and group rules Check what the school or after-school club allows, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of your chosen variant. If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know whether this biscuit can go in the bag. Around 29% of consumers give this check top priority.
Ease of handing out Count the biscuits and check whether they’re loose or in multipacks. Being packaged in pairs doesn’t automatically mean there’s one biscuit for each bag. I want to be able to fill every child’s bag in the same way without running short while packing. For around 24% of consumers, ease of handing out is the main concern.
Portion size and leftovers Decide how many biscuits will go in each bag, then compare the quantity you need with the pack contents. For a small treat, I don’t want to pack or have more biscuits left over than necessary. This is the main consideration for around 18% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming sustainably certified cocoa is Fairtrade

    Lidl lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic as separate certification routes for its own-brand cocoa. So a general claim about sustainably sourced cocoa doesn’t confirm that a particular biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa.

    Check the Fairtrade label on the specific pack or product variant before choosing the biscuit for your party bags.

  • Relying on the brand name alone

    A Fairtrade label on one biscuit variant doesn’t automatically apply to other biscuits from the same brand. You also need to check the ingredients and allergen information for the variant you have in front of you.

    Read the label just before packing, paying particular attention to ingredients that children in the group need to avoid.

  • Checking the party rules only after you’ve bought the biscuits

    A biscuit made with Fairtrade cocoa may still not meet the school or after-school club’s rules, or a child’s dietary requirements. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking in advance whether any children avoid certain products because of an allergy or religious beliefs.

    Discuss the group’s rules before buying, and choose an alternative that’s suitable for the children concerned if necessary.

  • Confusing pack weight with the number of party bags you can fill

    The weight of a pack doesn’t tell you how many sealed multipacks or individual biscuits you can hand out. For example, Albert Heijn says that Verkade Lange Nekken are packaged in pairs.

    Count the children, decide what will go in each bag, then check the number of biscuits and how they’re packaged.

Brands and shops to consider

A brand or shop doesn’t guarantee that every biscuit is Fairtrade. Check the label and ingredients for the specific variant you want to hand out.

Verkade

At Albert Heijn, Fairtrade cocoa is listed for the specific Verkade variants Lange Nekken milk chocolate, Chocorondjes milk chocolate and Choco s'mores milk chocolate marshmallow.

  • You can check the Fairtrade label on the specific product for these variants. According to the product information, Lange Nekken are packaged in pairs.
  • Check the ingredients for your chosen variant. The biscuits listed contain, among other things, cereals containing gluten and/or milk; Choco s'mores also lists egg, hazelnut, soya and sulphites.

Lidl

Lidl lists Fairtrade certification for Favorina seasonal chocolate around Easter, Sinterklaas and Christmas. That doesn’t automatically make it a suitable chocolate biscuit for a party bag.

  • A Fairtrade label on a specific product gives you a useful point of reference when choosing it.
  • Lidl also lists Rainforest Alliance and organic certification for its own-brand cocoa. So check the Fairtrade label, product type and allergens separately for any biscuit.

ALDI

ALDI Netherlands lists Fairtrade chocolate in its range. For a party bag, you’ll still need to choose a specific biscuit that meets your requirements.

  • For a product with a clear Fairtrade label, you can check the claim on the packaging.
  • Don’t assume that any chocolate biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa just because Fairtrade chocolate is available in the range. Also check the number of biscuits and the allergen information.

Joybuy products

Matching products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I hand out chocolate biscuits as treats at any school?

First, check the rules for treats at your school or after-school club. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also advises checking whether any children avoid certain products because of an allergy or religious beliefs.

How do I check the allergens in a chocolate biscuit?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variant you want to hand out. Albert Heijn’s product information for Verkade Lange Nekken milk chocolate lists wheat, other cereals containing gluten, milk and soya, among other ingredients. Don’t assume another biscuit has the same ingredients.

Does certified sustainably sourced cocoa always mean Fairtrade?

No. Lidl lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic as separate routes for its own-brand cocoa. If Fairtrade is a must for you, look for an explicit Fairtrade label for the cocoa or chocolate on your chosen biscuit.

How do I decide how many biscuits to put in each party bag?

Count the children and decide in advance whether each bag will have one biscuit, two biscuits or a sealed multipack. Compare your plan with the actual number of biscuits in the pack. A pack of two, as listed for Verkade Lange Nekken, doesn’t automatically make one portion per child.