For a school fair, choose only chocolate biscuits whose Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade ingredient claim you can verify on the exact product. Then check the allergens against the school’s policy and decide whether the packaging suits the way you plan to sell them. A Fairtrade claim does not automatically make a biscuit suitable for every school.
You want to be able to point out exactly what is Fairtrade when you sell the biscuits. For a composite product such as a chocolate biscuit, check whether the claim applies to the cocoa, chocolate or other ingredients.
You’re selling to children and parents, and want to know what the school allows before you pack anything. If you take biscuits out of their original packaging, the allergen information must still be available at the point of sale.
You’re looking for a pack with a useful weight, number of portions or multipack size. This helps you plan quantities without assuming that every biscuit is individually wrapped.
First, check the exact Fairtrade claim and the school’s policy. Then compare the packaging with how you plan to sell the biscuits, and check whether your chosen product is available.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check the exact product to see which cocoa or ingredients are described as Fairtrade. Don’t assume the claim applies based on a retailer’s general policy. | I want to show what the cocoa claim is based on at the stall, without suggesting that all the ingredients are Fairtrade. Around 37% of consumers prioritise a claim they can verify. |
| Allergens and school policy | Check the current ingredients and allergen information against the school’s rules. If selling unpackaged biscuits, make sure the allergen information is available before purchase. | If the school restricts certain allergens, I want to know whether these biscuits can be sold before packing them. Allergens and school policy are top priorities for around 36% of consumers. |
| Packaging and portions | Check the weight, the stated number of portions and whether the inner packaging suits how you plan to hand out the biscuits. | For a stall where I’ll be handing out portions, I want to be able to plan quantities without assuming that each biscuit is individually wrapped. Portioning is the main consideration for around 18% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check current availability shortly before buying, and check the packaging again if you choose an alternative. | For a fair taking place on a set date, I don’t want to rely on a product I may not be able to get. Current availability is the main concern for around 9% of consumers. |
A retailer’s Fairtrade range or sustainable cocoa policy does not mean that every chocolate biscuit it sells carries a Fairtrade claim.
Check the claim on the current packaging or product page for the biscuits you plan to buy. When selling them, only refer to the ingredients covered by that claim.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about any allergens present must be available before purchase when food is sold unpackaged. For cereals containing gluten, the type of cereal must also be specified.
Keep the original packaging to hand and make the allergen information clearly available at the point of sale if you’re selling biscuits loose. Make sure your chosen way of selling them also complies with the school’s policy.
Jumbo lists Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes as no longer part of its online range. Ingredients and allergen information can also change, as Albert Heijn notes in its product information.
Check availability shortly before buying and read the physical packaging again, even if you switch to an alternative.
The product information for Chocorondjes melkchocolade and Choco Wolken states that they contain Fairtrade cocoa. Check the packaging and allergen information for the product you choose.
Jumbo states that the dark chocolate and cane sugar in Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes were traded under Fairtrade terms.
The product page for Verkade Chocorondjes melkchocolade mentions Fairtrade cocoa and provides information about the packaging, ingredients and allergens.
ALDI lists Biscotto Chocoladekoekjes as a 250 g pack containing 20 biscuits, and also has a separate Fairtrade range.
Lidl describes its cocoa policy for own-brand products and lists Fairtrade-certified Favorina seasonal chocolate.
No. A Fairtrade cocoa claim does not, by itself, tell you anything about the other ingredients. Fairtrade International explains that, for composite products, a claim may apply to specific ingredients. Check the exact claim on the packaging.
You’ll need to choose a way of selling them that complies with the school’s policy, and make allergen information available before purchase. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about any allergens present must be available for unpackaged food, and the type of cereal must be specified for cereals containing gluten. Keep the product packaging to hand and make the information clearly available at the stall.
If so, don’t choose Verkade Chocorondjes without checking the school’s policy first. Albert Heijn’s product information lists wheat and cereals containing gluten, as well as milk and several possible allergens. Check the current packaging too before deciding whether to sell this product at the fair.
