Choose chocolate or cocoa powder with a Fairtrade claim covering it as a separate ingredient for your Dutch taaitaai biscuits or cake; taaitaai does not contain chocolate by default. Check what the Fairtrade claim applies to on the product you choose, and match the type of chocolate to your recipe, taste preferences and the allergen information on the current label.
You want to use chocolate as a topping or decoration and check whether the Fairtrade claim appears on that specific product. The taaitaai recipes from Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo do not include chocolate as a standard ingredient.
You’re looking for a dark chocolate bar for a rich chocolate flavour, or milk chocolate for a sweeter finish. Check the ingredients and the product’s shape too if you want to chop, melt or use it as decoration.
You want to know which allergens are in your chosen chocolate before using it, and what warnings about possible cross-contamination appear on the packaging. Check the other ingredients in your recipe separately too.
First, check whether your recipe calls for a chocolate bar or cocoa powder. Then choose the flavour you want and check the Fairtrade claim and allergen information on the specific product.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check the certification mark and read whether the claim applies to the cocoa, another ingredient or the product as a whole. If the label mentions mass balance, read the accompanying explanation too. | I want to understand exactly what the claim on my chosen chocolate means. This is the most important check for around 33% of consumers. |
| Flavour and use | Choose between cocoa powder and a chocolate bar based on your recipe. For bars, compare the type of chocolate, ingredients and intended use. | If I’m using chocolate as a finishing touch, I want the flavour and form to suit my cake or taaitaai; around 27% of consumers put this first. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients list for the exact variant and check the current label for any warnings about possible cross-contamination. | If someone eating with me needs to avoid an allergen, I want to be able to check the label before using the product. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Shop and packaging | Check the specific product rather than relying on a claim about the shop or its own-label range. If you’re decorating, consider the product’s shape and pack size too. | I want to find a pack that suits what I’m baking, without assuming it is certified because of the shop’s name; this takes priority for around 20% of consumers. |
The taaitaai recipes from Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo include ingredients such as flour, honey and spices, but no chocolate. So a claim on chocolate you add says nothing about the other ingredients in the taaitaai.
Treat chocolate as a separately chosen topping, decoration or ingredient in an adapted recipe, and check the claim on that product’s packaging.
According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo on a white background may apply to one certified ingredient. Fairtrade International also explains that mass balance can be used for cocoa: certified and non-certified quantities may be mixed during processing, while Fairtrade sales volumes are tracked and checked.
Read the text alongside the certification mark to find out what the claim applies to and whether physical separation matters for your choice.
A vegan label does not rule out a warning about the possible presence of milk or nuts. Milk chocolate may also contain milk ingredients.
For every variant you choose, read the current ingredients list and any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
A shop’s name can help you search, but it’s the Fairtrade claim on the specific chocolate product that tells you what you can check.
PLUS says the cocoa in its own-label products has been Fairtrade-certified since 2020.
An AH Biologisch dark chocolate and hazelnut bar provides product-specific information about Fairtrade ingredients and mass balance.
Jumbo publishes a taaitaai recipe; Fairtrade Nederland also gives chocolate as an example of a product in the Jumbo Biologisch range.
Lidl uses Fairglobe as the brand name for products bearing a Fairtrade certification mark.
Fairtrade Nederland lists chocolate bars in its information about Fairtrade products at ALDI.
Here you’ll find cocoa powder and chocolate bars to consider as separate ingredients for a suitable recipe or as finishing touches. Check the Fairtrade claim on each product’s packaging; a chocolate bar and cocoa powder are not interchangeable without adapting your recipe.
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An option for recipes that call for cocoa powder, rather than chocolate figures or a chocolate bar for decoration. Check the Fairtrade claim on the current packaging.
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A milk chocolate bar to consider as a separate addition or finishing touch if you want to use caramel and sea salt. Before using it in your recipe, check the ingredients, allergens, Fairtrade claim and suitability for your intended use on the packaging.
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A dark chocolate bar to consider if you want to add chocolate to a recipe or use it as decoration. Check the cocoa percentage on the current packaging before basing your flavour choice on it, and read the Fairtrade claim and allergen information too.
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A milk chocolate bar with pecan and caramel for anyone who wants to use those flavours in a finishing touch. Check the ingredients and allergens carefully, and read the packaging to see whether the bar suits your intended use and the Fairtrade claim you’re looking for.
No, chocolate is not an ingredient in the taaitaai recipes from Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo. If you want to use chocolate, choose it separately as an addition or decoration and check the claim on that product.
The claim draws attention to the cocoa; it does not automatically mean that every ingredient is Fairtrade-certified. Milieu Centraal points out that a Fairtrade logo on a white background may apply to a certified ingredient. Read the additional information on the packaging of the bar you choose.
No. According to Fairtrade International, mass balance can be used for cocoa. This means quantities may be mixed during processing, while Fairtrade sales volumes are tracked and checked along the supply chain. Read the traceability information if physical separation matters for your choice.
Check the ingredients list for the exact chocolate variant and any warnings about possible cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens in pre-packed foods must be clearly listed in the ingredients list; check the other ingredients in the recipe too.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the chocolate you choose. PLUS recommends storing the chocolate bars covered in its guidance in a cool, dry, dark place; check the label again before use too.
