Who is this choice relevant to?

Holidaymaker who insists on Fairtrade

You’re looking for something sweet to take on holiday, but want to be able to check the Fairtrade label on the exact product. A general statement about cocoa across a supermarket’s range isn’t enough.

Kano pastry fan who needs to check allergens

You specifically want to take a butter kano pastry with almond paste. Before buying, read the ingredients and any allergen warnings on the packaging of the version you’ve chosen.

Traveller who’s happy with a different snack

You’re happy to swap a kano pastry for chocolate or a chocolate biscuit if the exact alternative carries an explicit Fairtrade label. Also check that you can store it as instructed on the label.

What should you look for when choosing?

Butter kano pastries

Choose these when: You specifically want a biscuit with almond paste filling, such as the kano pastries from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS that we looked at.

The trade-off: The product pages mentioned don’t carry an explicit Fairtrade claim, so don’t rely on general statements about cocoa to meet this requirement.

Chocolate or chocolate biscuits

Choose these when: Fairtrade matters more to you than the shape and filling of a kano pastry. Verkade labels Choco Wolken as ‘Fairtrade Cacao’; Albert Heijn says that the cocoa used in AH Biologisch Reep extra puur is traded and audited as Fairtrade.

The trade-off: Neither product is a kano pastry with almond paste. Check the current packaging, especially for allergens.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this most important for?
Fairtrade label Check the current packaging or product page for the exact item you’re buying. I only want to choose a holiday snack if that product carries a Fairtrade label. This confirmation is decisive for around 50% of consumers.
Allergens and snack type Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings; check whether you’re choosing a kano pastry or another type of snack. If you enjoy taking a kano pastry with almond paste but need to consider allergens, check the version you’ve chosen first. This combination of product type and allergens comes first for around 30% of consumers.
Storage while travelling Follow the storage advice on the label and check whether you can do so during your journey and stay. When I take a snack on holiday, I want to be able to store it as instructed. Practical storage is the main concern for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a promise about cocoa applies to every kano pastry

    Albert Heijn and PLUS make statements about cocoa in their own-brand products. That doesn’t automatically make a kano pastry Fairtrade if it has no product-specific Fairtrade label.

    Check the label for the exact item on its current packaging or product page.

  • Checking allergens only after buying

    The kano pastries we looked at contain various allergens. A chocolate or biscuit alternative may also contain ingredients that matter to someone in your travelling party.

    Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information on the packaging of the version you’ve chosen.

  • Ignoring the storage advice

    The storage advice for the products we looked at is worth bearing in mind when travelling in summer. Jumbo says to store its kano pastries in a cool, dry, dark place; PLUS says to store its pastries in a cool, dry place.

    Check the label before taking a supply with you, and follow the product’s instructions after opening.

Brands and shops compared

A Fairtrade label on chocolate refers to the product or cocoa mentioned; it doesn’t automatically apply to kano pastries from the same brand or shop.

Verkade

Worth considering if a chocolate biscuit would work for you instead of a kano pastry.

  • Verkade labels Choco Wolken, a snack with chocolate filling and biscuit, as ‘Fairtrade Cacao’.
  • Choco Wolken isn’t a kano pastry. According to the product information, it contains milk, wheat, soya and hazelnut, and may contain peanuts, almonds and egg.

Albert Heijn

Offers a butter kano pastry we looked at, as well as a separate chocolate alternative with a Fairtrade label.

  • AH Butter Kano Pastries are butter biscuits with almond paste filling. For AH Biologisch Reep extra puur, Albert Heijn says that the required amount of cocoa is traded and audited as Fairtrade.
  • The kano pastry page mentioned carries no explicit Fairtrade claim. Albert Heijn’s general statement about certified own-brand cocoa doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status for these pastries.

PLUS

Worth considering if you want to assess an own-brand product based on a product-specific statement about cocoa.

  • PLUS says that the cocoa in its own-brand products has been Fairtrade-certified since 2020.
  • The ingredients shown for PLUS Butter Kano Pastries don’t include cocoa, and the product page mentioned makes no Fairtrade claim for these pastries.

Jumbo

Worth considering for standard kano pastries, alongside other product categories covered by information from Fairtrade Nederland.

  • Jumbo Butter Kano Pastries are described as butter biscuits with almond paste filling.
  • The kano pastry page mentioned makes no explicit Fairtrade claim. Fairtrade Nederland’s references to other Fairtrade products at Jumbo don’t confirm anything about these pastries.

ALDI

A name to compare if chocolate would be an acceptable alternative to a kano pastry.

  • Older material from Fairtrade Nederland mentions various chocolate bars at ALDI.
  • This doesn’t confirm the current availability or Fairtrade status of ALDI kano pastries. Check the packaging of the specific product.

A chocolate alternative at Joybuy

If you’d rather take a chocolate bar than a kano pastry on your summer holiday, you can check this bar’s product label, allergens and storage advice.

Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with pecan and caramel, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with pecan and caramel, 180 g

A chocolate alternative if you don’t need a kano pastry with almond paste and are looking for an explicit Fairtrade label. Check the current packaging for that label too.

The bar weighs 180 g. Store in a cool, dry place, away from heat and direct sunlight.

If you have allergies, check the packaging for milk, soya, pecan, wheat and barley, as well as warnings for egg and peanuts.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are kano pastries from Albert Heijn, Jumbo or PLUS automatically Fairtrade?

No. The product pages mentioned for these butter kano pastries carry no explicit Fairtrade claim. General statements from Albert Heijn and PLUS about cocoa in own-brand products don’t confirm the status of a specific pastry; check the current packaging or product page.

What does the Fairtrade label on AH Biologisch Reep extra puur mean?

Albert Heijn says that the required amount for this bar is traded and audited as Fairtrade under the mass balance principle. This label applies to the bar; it doesn’t automatically make another biscuit or kano pastry Fairtrade.

Which allergens should I check in kano pastries?

For the kano pastry you’ve chosen, always check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings. The versions we looked at list ingredients including wheat, milk, soya, egg and almonds or other nuts. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on a label, but for your purchase, the current packaging of the exact product is what matters.

How should I store kano pastries and chocolate on holiday?

Follow the storage advice for the product you’re taking with you. Jumbo says to store its kano pastries in a cool, dry, dark place, while PLUS says to store its pastries in a cool, dry place. Check the label again for a chocolate bar and for any opened packaging.