For your train journey, choose a chocolate biscuit whose packaging clearly states what the Fairtrade claim applies to, and check that it’s easy to take with you. Albert Heijn says Verkade Lange Nekken contains Fairtrade cocoa and comes in packs of two. Before setting off, also check the allergens and any possible traces listed on the packaging; a Fairtrade cocoa claim doesn’t automatically apply to all the other ingredients.
Want to know whether the claim applies to the cocoa, the chocolate or more of the ingredients? Read the wording next to the certification mark on the packaging. Fairtrade International explains that, for composite products such as biscuits, it’s important to check what the certification covers.
Individual portions can be handy if you don’t want to open a whole pack while you’re travelling. Albert Heijn says Verkade Lange Nekken biscuits are packed in pairs.
If ingredients or possible traces matter to you, read the label on the pack you’re actually taking with you. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label.
Start by checking exactly what the Fairtrade claim applies to: a chocolate bar made with Fairtrade cocoa isn’t a chocolate biscuit. Then consider how practical the packaging is for travelling, and check the label if allergens are important to you.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| What the Fairtrade claim covers | Check whether the claim applies to the cocoa, the chocolate or the composite product. Also look for any reference to the sourcing method used. | If Fairtrade is a must for me, I want to know exactly what the claim applies to. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this clarity. |
| Packaging for travelling | Check whether the biscuit comes in a sealed individual or multi-pack portion, and what you’ll do with the packaging after eating. | On the train, I don’t want to open a whole pack just for one portion. Easy-to-carry packaging matters most to around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients list and check both the stated allergens and any warnings about possible traces on the pack. | If I have an allergy or intolerance, I need to be able to rely on the label, not a product photo I saw earlier. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Availability | Check that the variety you want is available and that the packaging still shows the Fairtrade and allergen information you expect. | If I’m buying a biscuit just before setting off, I want to be able to find the right variety. Immediate availability is the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
For a biscuit with several ingredients, a Fairtrade mark may apply to one specific ingredient. The look of the packaging doesn’t tell you which claim applies to the product.
Read the certification mark and the accompanying wording. Does it say Fairtrade cocoa, refer to individual Fairtrade ingredients or make another product claim?
Fairtrade International describes mass balance as one possible sourcing method for cocoa. For the chocolate bars described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo, Fairtrade cocoa may be mixed with non-certified cocoa during production.
If physical segregation matters to you, read the sourcing information on the specific pack rather than relying on the word Fairtrade alone.
A photo you looked at earlier is no substitute for the label on the pack you’re about to eat. Albert Heijn lists milk, cereals containing gluten and soya among the ingredients in Verkade Lange Nekken, and says it may contain traces of nuts and egg.
Before eating, check the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces on the packaging itself.
Individual portions can be more practical if you only want to eat a few biscuits while travelling. You’ll also need somewhere to put the packaging and any crumbs afterwards.
Check the portion sizes before setting off. NS asks passengers to put their rubbish in a bin.
Verkade is an example of a chocolate biscuit here; the products from AH Biologisch and Jumbo mentioned below are chocolate bars, included only to compare different Fairtrade claims.
Albert Heijn describes Verkade Lange Nekken as biscuit sticks coated in Fairtrade milk chocolate, made with Fairtrade cocoa, and says they come in packs of two.
The AH Biologisch extra dark chocolate bar shows how product information can explain Fairtrade ingredients and mass balance.
For its Creamy S'mores chocolate bar, Jumbo describes a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient claim for the cocoa.
Read the certification mark and accompanying wording on the current packaging. Fairtrade International explains that, for composite products such as biscuits, the certification may apply to ingredients available under Fairtrade terms. Follow any reference on the packaging to check exactly what the claim covers and which sourcing method is used.
No, the Fairtrade cocoa label doesn’t automatically mean this. Fairtrade International describes mass balance as one possible method for cocoa; the product information for the AH and Jumbo chocolate bars mentioned above says that the cocoa may be mixed during production. So if physical segregation matters to you, check the information for the specific product.
Check the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces on the packaging of the biscuit you’re actually taking with you. For Verkade Lange Nekken, Albert Heijn lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya, wheat, oats and barley, and says it may contain traces of nuts and egg.
A sealed multi-pack portion can be handy if you don’t want to open the whole pack while travelling. Albert Heijn says Verkade Lange Nekken biscuits are packed in pairs. Remember to dispose of the empty packaging too: NS asks passengers to put their rubbish in a bin.
