Who is this relevant to?

Shoppers looking to identify Fairtrade cocoa

You want to know whether the cocoa in this particular taaitaai is Fairtrade. So don’t rely on a general sustainability claim alone: check the certification mark and the information on the packaging.

Shoppers choosing a morning portion

You’re looking for taaitaai as a snack and want to choose an amount based on the nutritional information. Compare the values per 100 g with the portion you plan to have.

Shoppers who need to check allergens

Your choice depends on the ingredients in the specific variety. Product information for standard taaitaai from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists wheat, rye and milk; the Consenza variety labelled gluten-free contains oats and almonds.

What should you look for when buying?

For this Fairtrade requirement, start by checking the taaitaai packaging itself. Fairtrade International explains that the white Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark relates to the ingredient named alongside it, so check whether that ingredient is cocoa or chocolate.

What to check What to look for when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade cocoa Read the FAIRTRADE mark and product information. If you see a white Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark, check that cocoa or chocolate is named explicitly. I want to know whether the cocoa in my taaitaai is Fairtrade, rather than relying on a claim about the shop. For around 50% of shoppers, verified Fairtrade cocoa is the most important requirement.
Portion and nutritional value Compare the nutritional values per 100 g with the stated portion, then decide how much taaitaai you want to have. If I have taaitaai in the morning, I want to choose my portion mindfully rather than treating the whole bag as one portion. For around 30% of shoppers, portion size and nutritional value come first.
Allergens Check the current ingredients and allergen information, even for a variety advertised as gluten-free. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to choose a variety that suits my needs. For around 20% of shoppers, allergens are their main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a retailer’s claim for certification on the taaitaai itself

    Lidl states that its Favorina seasonal chocolate is Fairtrade-certified. That doesn’t automatically mean a separate taaitaai product contains Fairtrade cocoa.

    Look on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen for the FAIRTRADE mark or a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient statement naming cocoa or chocolate.

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens

    According to the product information, the Consenza taaitaai labelled gluten-free contains oats and almonds. So a gluten-free label doesn’t answer every question about allergens.

    Check both the listed allergens and any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens on the specific packaging.

  • Treating the whole bag as one portion

    A pack may contain more than you want to have as a morning snack. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the size of a pack or portion can affect how much someone eats.

    Decide on your portion in advance, and use the nutritional information per 100 g and per stated portion to compare products.

Brands to help you compare

These product ranges can help you compare taaitaai, but a brand being mentioned here doesn’t prove that its taaitaai contains Fairtrade chocolate.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists several standard taaitaai products, as well as a separate milk chocolate variety.

  • For Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes, Jumbo lists the ingredients, allergens and a 14 g portion.
  • The ingredients listed for the standard variety reviewed don’t include chocolate or cocoa. For a chocolate variety, check the ingredients and Fairtrade mark separately.

PLUS

PLUS lists its own-brand taaitaai in 250 g and 500 g packs.

  • For the artisan taaitaai reviewed, PLUS lists wheat, rye and milk among the allergens.
  • The ingredients shown for this standard taaitaai don’t include chocolate or cocoa, so check each specific product against your Fairtrade requirement.

Albert Heijn en Consenza

Albert Heijn lists standard AH taaitaai and a Consenza variety labelled gluten-free and organic.

  • The Consenza product information lists oats and almonds, so you can take these ingredients into account when choosing.
  • The ingredients shown for the AH and Consenza varieties reviewed don’t include chocolate or cocoa. The gluten-free Consenza variety is therefore not a substitute for taaitaai with Fairtrade chocolate.

ALDI

ALDI lists an anise-flavoured taai-taai in a 500 g pack.

  • The product listing clearly states the type of taaitaai and the pack size.
  • For Fairtrade chocolate, check the ingredients and any product-specific certification mark on the packaging.

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Frequently asked questions

How can I identify Fairtrade cocoa in taaitaai with chocolate?

Check the mark and information on the packaging of the specific taaitaai product. Fairtrade International explains that the white Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark names the ingredient it relates to, so check whether it says cocoa or chocolate. When a composite product displays the standard FAIRTRADE mark, Fairtrade terms apply to the ingredients that are available under those terms.

Is a supermarket’s sustainability claim enough?

No. A general claim about cocoa or seasonal chocolate doesn’t mean that a specific taaitaai product contains Fairtrade cocoa. Check the mark and ingredients on the product you want to buy.

Should I still read the label when ordering online?

Yes. When your order arrives, check the allergen information on the packaging of the taaitaai you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products. So the current packaging is important if you need to avoid certain ingredients.

What should I look for if I have taaitaai as a morning snack?

Think about the portion you want to have, then compare the nutritional values of your chosen product per 100 g and per portion. This helps you assess how much you’re having, without automatically treating the whole bag as one portion.