Gift-givers looking for Fairtrade cocoa they can verify
You’re looking for a specific statement on the packaging or product page covering the cocoa, chocolate or other ingredients in the biscuit. A product name that sounds sustainable isn’t enough.
Who might find these options useful?
People baking Valentine’s Day biscuits at home
You want to make the gift yourself and choose chocolate or cocoa separately for your recipe. Check the other ingredients too, along with the allergen information for everything you use.
Gift-givers who need to consider allergens
You want to know whether the ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings are suitable for the recipient. Check the information for the specific product; its Fairtrade statement won’t tell you this.
What should you consider when choosing?
Ready-made chocolate biscuit
A good fit if: you want to give a biscuit without baking it yourself and can check the Fairtrade statement on the exact product.
Consider: a biscuit mentioned previously isn’t necessarily available to buy now. Jumbo says Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits are no longer in its online range.
Bake your own biscuits
A good fit if: you want to make the Valentine’s Day gift yourself. Fairtrade Nederland publishes a chocolate chip cookie recipe using chocolate made with Fairtrade cocoa, according to the recipe page.
Consider: you’ll also need a recipe, other ingredients and time to prepare them. A Fairtrade statement on the chocolate doesn’t automatically apply to the whole biscuit.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade statement | Check the packaging or current product page to see which ingredients are explicitly covered by Fairtrade terms. | If I want to give Fairtrade cocoa, I want to be able to see exactly what the claim applies to on this biscuit. Verifiable Fairtrade status is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, the allergens shown and any cross-contamination warnings for the exact product. | If the recipient needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check the label before choosing a gift. Suitability is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Gift style and availability | Decide whether you want to bake or give a gift straight away, then check current availability, packaging and the best-before date. | If I want something ready to give or would rather make it myself, that determines my choice. The gift style is therefore the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a general sustainability claim for Fairtrade proof
Albert Heijn says the cocoa in its own-brand products is certified by either Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade. That doesn’t tell you which certification applies to an individual chocolate biscuit.
Check the Fairtrade statement on the biscuit’s packaging or current product page, including which ingredients it covers.
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Treating an old product page as a current option to buy
Jumbo says Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits are no longer in its online range. Fairtrade Nederland’s references to chocolate bars at Lidl and ALDI also relate to promotions from May 2023.
Check the current product and its availability at your chosen shop shortly before buying.
An outdated listing could send you on a fruitless search.
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Confusing Fairtrade status with allergen suitability
A Fairtrade statement tells you nothing about the allergens in a biscuit. For example, Jumbo listed milk and wheat in Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits.
For every product, read the latest ingredients and allergen information, along with any cross-contamination warnings.
Brands to help guide your search
Bio+
Jumbo described Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits 140 g as chocolate biscuits containing dark chocolate and cane sugar traded under Fairtrade terms.
- The product listing named the ingredients concerned and listed milk and wheat as allergens.
- Jumbo says this product is no longer in its online range.
Tony's Chocolonely
Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate to use in biscuits you bake yourself. Tony's Chocolonely describes its own partnership with Fairtrade, and Fairtrade Nederland uses the brand’s chocolate in a cookie recipe.
- The recipe gives you a starting point for baking your own.
- Check the Fairtrade statement and allergen information for the chocolate you actually buy; a brand partnership doesn’t describe every individual product.
Albert Heijn eigen merk en Delicata
Albert Heijn says all the cocoa in its own-brand products is certified by either Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade.
- This policy could be a reason to look more closely at a specific own-brand product.
- The two certifications aren’t the same; check which statement applies to the biscuit you’re considering.
Lidl Way To Go!
Fairtrade Nederland mentioned Way To Go! chocolate bars at Lidl in information about a promotion from May 2023.
- The name could help you search for a specific chocolate product.
- This historical reference doesn’t confirm current availability and isn’t about ready-made biscuits.
ALDI chocolade-assortiment
Fairtrade Nederland mentioned chocolate bars at ALDI, including Moser Roth, Choceur Choco Changer and Bio Fairtrade chocolate, in information about May 2023.
- The product names give you a starting point for checking the current label on a specific bar.
- This reference doesn’t confirm current availability or the Fairtrade status of a chocolate biscuit.
Products for baking your own
This chocolate and cocoa powder are ingredients for anyone wanting to bake their own Valentine’s Day biscuits, not ready-made biscuits. Check the Fairtrade statement on each product’s packaging and make sure the ingredient is suitable for your recipe.
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Tony's Chocolonely Pure 70% dark chocolate, 180 g
A chocolate ingredient to consider if you want to bake biscuits yourself; you’ll also need a recipe and other ingredients.
The product name states Pure 70% and a pack size of 180 g. Check the current label for the Fairtrade statement, ingredients and allergens before using the bar for your recipient.
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Fairtrade cocoa powder, 125 g
Cocoa powder is a different baking ingredient from a chocolate bar; choose it only if your biscuit recipe calls for cocoa powder.
The product name states 125 g. Check the current packaging for the Fairtrade statement, ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is the whole biscuit Fairtrade if the chocolate is labelled that way?
No. A Fairtrade statement for chocolate doesn’t automatically apply to every ingredient in a biscuit made from several ingredients. Fairtrade International describes its cocoa standard as covering cocoa beans and processed cocoa; check the specific product to see which ingredients the statement covers. For Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits, Jumbo named dark chocolate and cane sugar.
What should I check if the recipient has an allergy?
Read the allergen information and any cross-contamination warnings on the current label for the exact product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that mandatory labelling covers 14 allergens; Jumbo’s description of the Bio+ biscuit listed milk and wheat.
Does an old Fairtrade promotion prove that a chocolate bar is available now?
No. An old promotion doesn’t confirm current availability or product information. Fairtrade Nederland’s references to Lidl and ALDI related to May 2023, so check the current bar and its label in store before choosing it for your biscuits.