Parents looking for Fairtrade information on the product
You’re looking for chocolate biscuits that explicitly mention Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade ingredients, rather than simply making a general sustainability claim.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Adults taking biscuits along for an outing
For a day out, a journey or a playdate, you want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take, rather than treating a whole pack as one portion.
Buyers who need to consider allergens
If you’re buying biscuits for a child or group, ingredients and warnings about milk, cereals containing gluten, soya, eggs or nuts, for example, may be important.
What should you look for when buying?
If you have a known food allergy, start by checking the current label. Also check the Fairtrade information for the specific biscuits and decide how many you want to take along.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade information | Look for an explicit mention of Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade ingredients on the packaging or product page for the biscuits you’ve chosen. | I want to see which Fairtrade claim applies to the biscuits themselves, rather than just read a general sustainability claim. For around 40% of consumers, this would be the main condition for buying. |
| Easy-to-carry portion | Check how many biscuits are in the pack and whether you can portion out the amount you want in advance. | For a day out, I want to be able to take a few biscuits separately instead of treating a whole pack as one portion. For around 30% of consumers, convenience when portioning would be the priority. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warnings such as ‘may contain’ on the current packaging. | If a child has a food allergy, I want to know which ingredients and warnings apply to these biscuits. For around 30% of consumers, checking allergens would be the first condition for buying. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a general cocoa claim for a Fairtrade claim
Albert Heijn says that the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified. This doesn’t clarify which certification applies to any individual biscuit.
Check the packaging or product page for the exact biscuits to see whether Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade ingredients are mentioned.
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Confusing Fairtrade with nutritional value
A Fairtrade claim doesn’t tell you how much sugar a biscuit contains or how large a portion is. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends offering a sweet snack at a set time.
Decide on the portion in advance and, if needed, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion.
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Relying on the brand when you have a food allergy
Ingredients and allergens can vary between biscuits, even within the same brand. A Fairtrade claim is no substitute for checking the label.
For every purchase, read the current ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings.
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Assuming previous product information means it’s currently available
Jumbo reported that Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes was no longer part of its online range. So an earlier product listing doesn’t tell you whether you can buy the biscuits now.
Check current availability with the retailer you want to order from.
Brands to consider
Verkade
Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate biscuits that explicitly mention Fairtrade cocoa.
- Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade cocoa for Verkade Choco s’mores and Fairtrade milk chocolate for Verkade Lange Nekken.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each biscuit; the Fairtrade claim doesn’t tell you about these.
Bio+
A product range to look at if both organic and Fairtrade credentials matter to you.
- Jumbo stated that the dark chocolate and cane sugar in Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes were traded under Fairtrade terms.
- Jumbo also reported that this product was no longer part of its online range, so check current availability.
Albert Heijn eigen merk
A retailer option where you’ll need to check the Fairtrade claim for each individual biscuit.
- Albert Heijn says that the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified.
- As this statement covers both certifications, it doesn’t confirm that every own-brand biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa.
Chocolate biscuits at Joybuy
These biscuits are a good choice for taking a sweet snack that you’ve portioned out in advance. Before buying, check the Fairtrade information and, if allergens are important, the current packaging.
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Verkade Lange Nekken, 10 biscuits
A sweet treat on the go: according to Joybuy, the biscuit sticks are individually wrapped in pairs, and Fairtrade ingredients are mentioned.
The pack contains 10 biscuits. If you have a food allergy, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
How can I identify chocolate biscuits made with Fairtrade cocoa?
Look for an explicit mention of Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade ingredients for those biscuits on the packaging or current product page. A general statement from a retailer about more sustainable cocoa doesn’t confirm which certification applies to an individual product.
Are Fairtrade chocolate biscuits intended as an everyday snack?
A Fairtrade claim doesn’t tell you about a biscuit’s nutritional value or portion size. If you’re offering a sweet snack, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends doing so at a set time; check the packaging to see how many biscuits make up a portion.
Which allergens should I check for in chocolate biscuits?
Check the highlighted allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging for the biscuits you’ve chosen. The Verkade examples mentioned include milk, cereals containing gluten and soya; other ingredients and warnings vary by product.