Who is this relevant to?

Breakfast sharers who look for certification

You’re looking for chocolate biscuits for Sunday morning and want to check whether the cocoa or chocolate carries a Fairtrade claim, rather than relying on a general sustainability message.

Families keeping an eye on allergens

You’re serving biscuits to several people, so you check the allergen information and any may contain warning on the packaging of your chosen product.

Buyers who consider portion sizes

You want to serve chocolate biscuits with Sunday breakfast, but consider portion size and nutritional information separately from the Fairtrade mark.

What should you look for?

Start by checking the exact Fairtrade wording on the biscuits you want to buy. Then see whether the ingredients, allergen information and portion size suit the people who’ll be sharing them.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters most to
What the Fairtrade claim covers Look for an explicit reference to Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade chocolate. If there’s a logo with an arrow, read the explanation on the back of the pack. If Fairtrade cocoa is my main reason for choosing these biscuits, I want to know which ingredient the claim covers. This clarity matters most to around 42% of consumers.
Allergens Read the allergen information and any may contain warning on the current packaging. When several people are sharing, I need to check whether the chosen variety is suitable for their allergies. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Portion size and nutritional information Compare sugars and saturated fat per 100 g and, if provided, per portion. Check the portion size too. When serving a biscuit with breakfast, I want to decide for myself how much to serve, without treating the certification as nutritional advice. Around 25% of consumers pay most attention to this consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Treating different certifications as interchangeable

    Albert Heijn names Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance for its own-brand cocoa. Lotus Bakeries names Rainforest Alliance for the cocoa in its Biscoff chocolate bars. Neither statement automatically means that an individual biscuit is made with Fairtrade cocoa.

    If Fairtrade is a must-have, look for the Fairtrade statement on the packaging or product page of the exact variety you’re choosing.

  • Assuming a Fairtrade logo covers every ingredient

    For composite products such as biscuits, Fairtrade International also describes the use of a logo with an arrow. The explanation on the back makes clear which ingredients the claim applies to.

    Read that explanation and check whether cocoa, chocolate or any other ingredients that matter to you are explicitly mentioned.

  • Forgetting about allergens and portion size because of the certification

    A Fairtrade claim doesn’t tell you which allergens a biscuit contains or how much sugar and saturated fat are in the portion you’ve chosen. This information varies by product.

    Check the current packaging before serving and consider the nutritional information alongside the portion you plan to offer.

Brands and retailers to consider

Verkade

Worth considering if you’re looking for a specific chocolate biscuit with an explicit Fairtrade statement. Albert Heijn describes both Verkade Lange Nekken milk chocolate and Verkade Chocorondjes milk chocolate as containing Fairtrade milk chocolate.

  • The Fairtrade statement applies to named products and their chocolate, rather than being just a general brand message.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information separately for the variety you choose.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crisp, caramelised biscuit. That’s a different product description from an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim.

  • The original Biscoff biscuit is a familiar choice if you’re looking for a biscuit to enjoy with a coffee.
  • Lotus Bakeries names Rainforest Alliance for the cocoa in Biscoff chocolate bars; don’t take this as a Fairtrade claim for Biscoff biscuits.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s product pages let you check the Fairtrade statement for the named Verkade varieties individually.

  • For its own-brand cocoa, Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance as certification options.
  • This own-brand policy doesn’t confirm which certification applies to an individual biscuit; check the relevant product information for that.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are all the ingredients Fairtrade if there’s a Fairtrade logo on a chocolate biscuit?

No, you can’t tell that from the logo alone. For composite products such as biscuits, Fairtrade International also uses a logo with an arrow. Read the explanation on the back to see which ingredients and sourcing method the claim applies to.

Which allergens should I check when several people are sharing?

Check the allergen information and any may contain warnings on the current packaging of the biscuits you’ve chosen. Different chocolate biscuits can contain different ingredients and carry different warnings, even if they’re from the same brand.

Does Fairtrade tell you anything about the nutritional value of a chocolate biscuit?

No, a Fairtrade claim isn’t a judgement on nutritional value. Compare the sugars and saturated fat in the nutritional information per 100 g, and consider the portion you plan to serve.

Is a general promise about certified cocoa enough if I want Fairtrade?

No, such a promise doesn’t necessarily tell you which certification applies to the biscuits you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn names both Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance for its own-brand cocoa, so check the claim on the individual product.