Choose chocolate biscuits if you want to serve biscuits with coffee or brunch, but only call them a Fairtrade choice if the information on the specific product confirms this. If you’re mainly looking for a familiar Easter shape, mini eggs or other Easter chocolate will fit the bill. Check the Fairtrade information, ingredients and allergens on the packaging, too.
You want to be able to see which Fairtrade information applies to the specific biscuit or chocolate product. A mini egg could be an alternative for you, as long as you don’t mistake it for a biscuit.
You’re looking for chocolate biscuits to serve and want to know whether that particular product is available before you do your shopping. A photo of Easter chocolate doesn’t tell you whether biscuits are available, too.
You’re buying for guests and check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about traces on the specific product. Fairtrade certification doesn’t replace checking the label.
First decide whether you want biscuits to serve or an Easter-shaped treat. Then check the certification and label on the product you choose.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Verified Fairtrade status | Look for Fairtrade information specific to the product. If the certification mark has an arrow, check the back of the pack for details of the ingredients and sourcing method. | If I only want to buy a verified Fairtrade option, I need to find the information on the pack I choose. For around 33% of consumers, this assurance comes first. |
| Product type | Choose between chocolate biscuits to serve with coffee or brunch, and mini eggs or other Easter chocolate. | For my Easter table, it matters whether I want to hand out biscuits or am looking for Easter-shaped chocolate instead. For around 20% of consumers, the product type matters most. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any warnings about traces. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what I’m serving before I buy anything. Around 20% of consumers prioritise checking the label. |
| Current availability | Check whether the item is available to order and compare the product information with the packaging you buy. | When I’m planning my Easter shopping, an item that is no longer available is not much use to me. For around 27% of consumers, current availability is their main concern. |
A mini egg adds a different Easter touch, but it won’t replace a biscuit you want to serve with coffee or brunch. The Easter products described by Albert Heijn and Lidl are chocolate products.
Choose the product type you want first, then check the Fairtrade information for that specific item.
According to Fairtrade International, a certification mark with an arrow points to information on the back of the packaging about the ingredients and sourcing method. Mass balance may apply to cocoa. In that case, a Fairtrade statement doesn’t mean the cocoa in every individual product has been kept physically separate.
Read the explanation on the pack if the sourcing method matters to your choice.
The Bio+ biscuit described and the AH mini egg were listed on product pages from the range. Their product descriptions don’t confirm that you can buy them now.
Check that your chosen item is available just before you shop, and read the current packaging.
If you have to find an alternative, it will take extra time to put together your Easter shopping.
A Fairtrade or organic statement doesn’t tell you whether a biscuit or chocolate product is suitable for someone who needs to avoid an allergen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the need to list allergens on food labels.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the current pack, including any warnings about traces.
Bio+ is worth considering if you’re specifically looking for chocolate biscuits: Jumbo described Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits, 140 g.
The AH Excellent product described is an organic milk chocolate mini egg, not a biscuit.
Favorina is relevant here for Easter chocolate and Easter eggs, not as an example of chocolate biscuits.
Check the current packaging or product page for Fairtrade information relating to the specific biscuits. Fairtrade International also recommends checking the back of the pack when the certification mark has an arrow, for information about the ingredients involved and the sourcing method.
No. Mass balance may be used for cocoa. Read the explanation on the packaging if you want to know which sourcing method is stated for your chosen product; Albert Heijn mentioned mass balance for the mini egg described.
Always check the current label for allergens that are relevant to your guests, including warnings about traces. The Bio+ biscuit described listed milk and wheat; the AH mini egg contained milk and soya and warned that it may contain traces of peanuts and various nuts. These details don’t automatically apply to other products.
Use the online information to check ingredients and allergens before you buy, and also read the packaging you receive. According to the European Commission, mandatory food information must be available before purchase when shopping online. The packaging remains important if product information changes.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you buy. For the mini egg described, Albert Heijn recommended a cool, dark and dry place, but this advice won’t necessarily apply to other chocolate products or biscuits.
