If you want to offer chocolate biscuits as a Fairtrade option at your garden party, choose a variety that explicitly states it contains Fairtrade or Fairtrade cocoa. A general sustainability claim or organic label isn’t enough. Verkade says the chocolate on and in its biscuits contains Fairtrade-certified cocoa, while Albert Heijn and Lidl also mention other certification schemes for their own-brand cocoa. So check the packaging of the variety you choose, and keep the ingredients and allergen information handy when you unwrap the biscuits.
You want to present chocolate biscuits as a Fairtrade option only if the claim applies to the biscuits you’ve chosen. Verkade says the chocolate on and in its biscuits contains Fairtrade-certified cocoa. Check the packaging of the variety you buy too.
You want to compare biscuits without treating different certification marks as interchangeable. Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certification for its own-brand cocoa; Lidl also mentions organic and UTZ as possible schemes for its own-brand cocoa. The certification mark on the specific product will tell you which applies.
You’re taking the biscuits out of their packaging, but still want guests to be able to see the ingredients and allergen information. Keep the label by the platter: according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for pre-packed products must be shown on the packaging.
First decide what matters most for your garden party: an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim, easy serving, clear label information or a choice of other named cocoa certifications.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for an explicit Fairtrade or Fairtrade cocoa claim that applies to the biscuit variety you’ve chosen. | I only want to serve biscuits as Fairtrade if the claim applies to that variety. This is a priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Serving and sharing | Compare the number of biscuits and the portion packaging. ALDI lists 20 Biscotto chocolate biscuits per pack, individually wrapped in pairs. | If I’m serving biscuits outdoors, I want to be able to serve them without cutting them up. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label on the packaging you’ve chosen, and keep it when you put the biscuits on a platter. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must appear on pre-packed products. | When I’m hosting a mixed group, I want to be able to show what’s in the biscuits even after they’ve been unwrapped. This information is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Other cocoa certifications | Check which certification mark is on the product. Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance for its own-brand cocoa; Lidl also mentions organic and UTZ. | I’m open to another named certification, as long as I don’t wrongly call the product Fairtrade. This freedom of choice is the deciding factor for around 14% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn and Lidl mention several certification schemes for their own-brand cocoa. So a general claim about certified cocoa won’t tell you which certification applies to the chocolate biscuit you’re holding.
Check the Fairtrade claim on the packaging or in the product information for the exact variety you want to serve.
Jumbo’s product information for Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits states that the product is organic. The words in the product name alone don’t confirm Fairtrade certification.
Assess an organic label and a Fairtrade claim separately. For the latter, look for an explicit claim on the product.
When biscuits are served on a shared platter, the label information is no longer immediately visible. Guests can’t check the ingredients and allergens on the original packaging.
Keep the packaging by the platter so guests can check the information themselves.
Use these brands and shops as a starting point, but check the Fairtrade claim, ingredients and allergens for the product you actually choose.
A ready-made chocolate biscuit option if Fairtrade cocoa in the chocolate is your main priority.
A shop where you can compare own-brand cocoa biscuits by checking each product’s label.
A shop where you need to check which certification scheme applies to the own-brand cocoa product you choose.
Worth considering if you want to compare Fairtrade chocolate as a separate ingredient with ready-made chocolate biscuits.
A biscuit to judge by its flavour and how you plan to serve it, separately from the question of Fairtrade cocoa.
No, not if the certification could be for a different scheme. Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance for its own-brand cocoa, while Lidl also mentions organic and UTZ. So check the Fairtrade claim on the specific biscuit.
Verkade chocolate biscuits are a good place to start: according to Verkade, the chocolate on and in its biscuits contains Fairtrade-certified cocoa. Check the current packaging of the variety you choose before presenting it as a Fairtrade option.
Keep the packaging by the platter so guests can read the information for the product you’ve chosen. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for pre-packed products must appear on the label.
No, organic and Fairtrade are separate claims. Jumbo’s product information for Bio+ Fair Chocolate Biscuits states that the product is organic. If Fairtrade matters to your choice, look for an explicit Fairtrade claim as well.
