When buying biscuits for your weekly shop, look for the FAIRTRADE mark or an explicit mention of Fairtrade cocoa on the specific product. For biscuits with several ingredients, check which ingredients the claim refers to: certified cocoa does not mean every ingredient is Fairtrade. Then check the current ingredients, allergens, pack size and availability.
You want to be able to tell from the pack or product page whether the cocoa is Fairtrade, rather than relying on a general sustainability claim. For biscuits with several ingredients, also read the explanation accompanying the mark.
You buy several packs at once and are looking for a size that suits how you use them at home. Check the Fairtrade claim for each variety, and whether you can get the biscuits as part of your usual shop.
First check whether the ingredients and allergens meet your requirements, then look at the cocoa claim. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that allergens must be clearly stated on the label; check the packaging of the pack you buy.
First check the ingredients and allergens if they affect your choice. Then compare the Fairtrade claim on the exact biscuit you’re considering and choose a pack size that suits your weekly stock-up.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for the FAIRTRADE mark or the words Fairtrade cocoa on the specific pack. If there’s a mark with an arrow, read the explanation on the back. | I want to be able to identify which cocoa in my biscuits is Fairtrade, without mistaking a general sustainability claim for this. Around 36% of shoppers put this check first. |
| Weekly stock-up | Check the pack size and whether the variety you’ve chosen is available when you do your shopping. | When I buy biscuits for the whole week, I want to know whether the pack suits how we use them and whether I can count on finding it when I shop. This planning is the most important factor for around 29% of shoppers. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current ingredients list, the allergens stated and any warnings about possible cross-contamination. | I first need to establish whether a biscuit meets my requirements for ingredients and allergens; the mark doesn’t change that. This check is the top priority for around 21% of shoppers. |
| Taste and nutritional information | Compare the flavour, portion size and nutritional values per 100 g of varieties that otherwise meet your requirements. | For the biscuit tin, I’m mainly looking for a flavour and portion size that suit how we use the pack. Around 14% of shoppers prioritise this. |
According to their own cocoa policies, Albert Heijn and ALDI use different certifications for their products, including Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance. These policies don’t tell you which mark appears on an individual pack of biscuits.
Use the policy to find products you’d like to look at, then check the claim on the variety you choose.
For a biscuit with several ingredients, a Fairtrade claim may apply to specific ingredients. Fairtrade International states that products carrying a mark with an arrow must contain at least 20% Fairtrade ingredients overall.
If you want to know more than whether the cocoa is Fairtrade, check the back of the pack to see which ingredients and sourcing method the claim covers.
A Fairtrade claim says nothing about whether the ingredients are suitable for someone who needs to avoid allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be clearly stated on the label.
Check the current packaging before you choose, including any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
ALDI showed a variety of winter biscuits with Fairtrade cocoa that was unavailable. That means a seasonal variety isn’t necessarily a reliable choice for every weekly shop.
Check availability when you shop, and keep another variety with a verifiable Fairtrade cocoa claim in mind.
A good starting point if you’re looking for a specific biscuit made with Fairtrade cocoa. Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade cocoa for Verkade Chocorondjes melkchocolade and Verkade Crunchy haverkoek melkchocolade.
Worth considering if you want to look at own-brand biscuits containing cocoa as part of your usual shop.
Jumbo has separate categories for biscuits and Fairtrade products, which you can use as a starting point for your search.
A starting point for biscuits containing cocoa, provided you check the mark on the specific variety you choose.
A speculoos option to consider for its flavour and packaging, rather than as evidence that it meets a Fairtrade cocoa requirement.
No. For biscuits with several ingredients, the claim may apply to specific ingredients. Fairtrade International states that products carrying a mark with an arrow must contain at least 20% Fairtrade ingredients overall. Read the explanation on the pack to see which ingredients and sourcing method are covered.
No. Albert Heijn and ALDI mention both Fairtrade and other certifications in their own cocoa policies. Only the claim on the individual biscuit shows which certification applies to that variety.
Read the ingredients and the clearly stated allergens on the packaging, along with any warnings about possible cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists 14 allergens covered by labelling rules; for cereals containing gluten, the specific type of cereal also matters.
Use an online list to help you shortlist biscuits, but check the current packaging before eating them. Ingredients and warnings can vary between product varieties or change over time.
Check whether your chosen variety is available when you shop and whether the pack size suits how you use it. If you’re considering a seasonal biscuit, bear in mind that availability can vary and look for another variety with a clear Fairtrade cocoa claim.
