Who is this choice relevant to?

If you want to check the Fairtrade claim

You want to serve a biscuit with your coffee whose current packaging or product page tells you whether the Fairtrade claim applies to the cocoa, the chocolate or the whole product.

If you want to share biscuits with friends

You’re looking for a chocolate biscuit in a pack suited to the number of guests. Pack size, number of portions and any individual wrappers can help you choose between products that carry the claim you want.

If you need to consider allergens

If a guest has an allergy or intolerance, check the ingredients, allergens and any may-contain warnings on the current packaging before you buy or serve the biscuits.

What should you look for when choosing?

Check both the Fairtrade statement and the allergen information for the specific biscuit. Then compare the pack options to find one that works for the number of guests.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade claim Check whether the statement applies to the cocoa, the chocolate or the whole product. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo with a white background may identify just one certified ingredient. If I want to explain my choice to my guests, I want to know exactly what the claim applies to. For around 42% of consumers, having a verifiable Fairtrade claim is the top priority.
Easy to share Compare the net weight, number of portions and any individual wrappers on biscuits carrying the claim you want. When having coffee with several friends, I want to serve enough biscuits and divide them up easily. For around 33% of consumers, how easy they are to share is the main consideration.
Allergens Check the current ingredients list, allergen information and any may-contain warnings on the packaging of the chosen variety. If a guest has an allergy, I want to check the label before serving the biscuits. For around 25% of consumers, checking allergens is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing another certification with Fairtrade

    Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade are different certifications. Even when Fairtrade is mentioned, the claim may apply to just one ingredient rather than the whole biscuit.

    If Fairtrade is a requirement for you, check the packaging of the exact product to see what the statement applies to.

  • Assuming one product represents the whole range

    The Fairtrade cocoa statement on an ALDI winter biscuit says nothing about all the other biscuits sold by that retailer. Likewise, Lidl’s Fairtrade statement for Favorina seasonal chocolate does not apply to its regular biscuits.

    Check the variety you’ve chosen individually, and make sure seasonal products are available when you plan to buy them.

  • Overlooking allergens

    A Fairtrade claim says nothing about allergens. The Verkade examples mentioned contain milk and wheat or gluten, and carry additional may-contain warnings.

    Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests and check the current packaging before serving the biscuits.

  • Assuming an old product page reflects current stock

    A page for a specific biscuit may provide useful product information, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you whether the biscuit is available to buy now.

    Check what’s currently available before settling on a particular biscuit for your coffee get-together.

Brands and retailers to explore

The examples below can help you check specific biscuits and claims. A mention here says nothing about a brand’s or retailer’s entire range.

Verkade

Worth considering if you’re looking for a chocolate biscuit with an explicit Fairtrade statement for its cocoa or chocolate.

  • Albert Heijn states that the specific Lange Nekken and Chocorondjes products contain Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade milk chocolate.
  • Check the variety you’ve chosen individually: these examples contain milk and wheat or gluten, and carry may-contain warnings.

Albert Heijn

The product pages for the Verkade biscuits mentioned above give you a starting point for comparing Fairtrade statements and packaging.

  • For Chocorondjes milk chocolate, Albert Heijn lists a 150 g pack containing nine portions.
  • Check the current packaging of the product you buy for its ingredients and allergen information too.

Jumbo

A retailer where you can check specific Fairtrade statements on biscuits, rather than assuming a product is certified based on the retailer’s name.

  • For Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes, Jumbo states that the dark chocolate and cane sugar are traded under Fairtrade terms.
  • Check the current product page or in-store availability before relying on this specific biscuit being available.

Lidl

Worth exploring if you’re also considering seasonal chocolate with a Fairtrade statement.

  • Lidl Netherlands states that Favorina seasonal chocolate is Fairtrade-certified.
  • This statement does not confirm that regular Lidl biscuits contain Fairtrade cocoa or chocolate.

ALDI

An option to explore if you’re looking for a specific winter biscuit made with Fairtrade cocoa.

  • ALDI Netherlands states that its Winter Kransen met chocoladesmaak contain Fairtrade cocoa.
  • The statement for this winter product does not automatically apply to other biscuits or mean it will be available outside the season.

Lotus Biscoff

A familiar choice with coffee, but the brand name alone does not support a Fairtrade choice.

  • Lotus Bakeries states that cocoa ingredients in specific product ranges, including Lotus Biscoff chocolate bars, are Rainforest Alliance-certified.
  • This Rainforest Alliance statement does not prove that Lotus Biscoff biscuits are Fairtrade. If Fairtrade is a requirement for you, check the claim on the exact product.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Fairtrade logo mean the whole biscuit is Fairtrade?

No, not necessarily. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo with a white background may indicate that only one ingredient is certified. Check the packaging or product page to see whether the claim applies to the cocoa, the chocolate or the whole biscuit.

Which pack works well for coffee with friends?

Once you’ve checked for the Fairtrade claim you want, choose a pack that suits the number of guests. Albert Heijn lists Verkade Chocorondjes milk chocolate as a 150 g pack with nine portions; Verkade Lange Nekken biscuit sticks come in packs of two. Compare these options based on how you’d like to serve the biscuits.

Do I need to check allergens if a biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa?

Yes. Fairtrade says nothing about the allergens in a biscuit. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that prepacked products must show allergen information on the label, so check the current packaging of the variety you’ve chosen.

Is a Rainforest Alliance statement the same as Fairtrade?

No, they are different certifications. Lotus Bakeries states that cocoa ingredients in certain product ranges are Rainforest Alliance-certified, but this does not establish that Lotus Biscoff biscuits carry a Fairtrade claim. Check the exact biscuit product to find out.