Who is this choice relevant to?

Shoppers looking for both organic and Fairtrade

You want to be able to check both claims for the same chocolate biscuit. A general sustainability claim isn’t a substitute for an organic label and a specific Fairtrade claim.

Shoppers who prioritise Fairtrade cocoa

You want to know whether the cocoa in or on the biscuit was sourced under Fairtrade terms. Organic is a bonus, but it isn’t your first priority.

Shoppers with specific dietary requirements

You’re looking for an organic chocolate biscuit that also suits your dietary requirements, perhaps with a vegan or gluten-free label. You check Fairtrade separately.

What should you look for?

Start by checking the organic label and the Fairtrade claim for cocoa or other relevant ingredients on the exact biscuit. Then check that the same variant is available and that its ingredients and allergen information meet your needs.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Both organic and Fairtrade Look for the EU organic logo or an organic control code on the same product, as well as the FAIRTRADE Mark or a specific Fairtrade ingredient claim. If I want both, I need to be able to find both claims on my chocolate biscuit. Around 36% of consumers make checking for both their top priority.
Availability and variant Check the current range and compare the product name, weight and packaging before relying on claims from a product page. A biscuit that meets my requirements is no help if I can only find an old product listing. For around 29% of consumers, finding an available, recognisable variant is the first concern.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information. Only rely on a vegan or gluten-free label for the exact product. If I need to consider ingredients or allergens, checking these comes before choosing a certification. Around 21% of consumers prioritise these product features.
What the Fairtrade cocoa claim covers Check which ingredients the Fairtrade claim applies to and look for any packaging information about traceability. I want to know exactly what the cocoa claim means, especially if physical traceability matters to me. This is the main consideration for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a sustainability claim for Fairtrade

    Rainforest Alliance certification, organic production and a general reference to fair trade don’t mean the same as a Fairtrade claim for the biscuit or one of its ingredients.

    Check the packaging for the FAIRTRADE Mark or a specific claim for ingredients such as cocoa or sugar.

  • Mistaking Fairtrade cocoa for an organic biscuit

    A claim about how cocoa was sourced doesn’t, by itself, say anything about the organic status of the whole chocolate biscuit.

    For that second requirement, look separately for an organic product label, the EU logo or a control code on the exact product.

  • Relying on an old product page as a current buying option

    Jumbo says that Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes is no longer in its online range. Its label information doesn’t make it a current buying option.

    Check availability with the retailer and, if you choose another variant, check its claims and ingredients again.

  • Confusing Fairtrade with full physical traceability

    According to Fairtrade International, mass balance is allowed for cocoa. Certified and non-certified volumes may be mixed during processing, while Fairtrade volumes are tracked.

    If physical separation is essential to you, look for more information about the traceability of the cocoa in the specific product.

Brands to consider

Bio+

An example of a product where you can compare an organic label with a specific Fairtrade ingredient claim.

  • For Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes 140 g, Jumbo lists an organic origin, code NL-BIO-01, and dark chocolate and cane sugar traded under Fairtrade terms.
  • Jumbo also says that this specific product is no longer in its online range.

Verkade

Worth considering if the Fairtrade status of the cocoa in the chocolate on or in biscuits is your priority.

  • Verkade’s product information for Lange Nekken Milk Chocolate lists Fairtrade cocoa. Verkade says it uses Fairtrade-certified cocoa for the chocolate on and in its biscuits.
  • Check the organic claim separately on the biscuit you want to buy.

BioToday

A starting point if you’re looking for an organic chocolate biscuit that also meets specific dietary requirements.

  • BioToday describes its biscuits as organic and vegan. The listing for Chocolate Chip Cookies also says they’re gluten-free.
  • Check the packaging of this chocolate variant separately for Fairtrade cocoa.

Albert Heijn

Its own-brand cocoa policy can be a useful starting point, but it doesn’t replace checking an individual biscuit.

  • Albert Heijn says that the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified.
  • Check which certification applies to the biscuit you’ve chosen and whether the product is organic.

Lotus Biscoff

A reminder to check which specific product range and certification scheme a cocoa claim applies to.

  • Lotus Bakeries says that the cocoa ingredients in its Lotus Biscoff chocolate bars are Rainforest Alliance certified.
  • That statement doesn’t prove that a Lotus Biscoff biscuit is Fairtrade or organic.

Joybuy products for this choice

Matching products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is an organic chocolate biscuit automatically Fairtrade?

No. Organic production and Fairtrade have different requirements. Check the exact biscuit for both an organic label and the FAIRTRADE Mark or a specific Fairtrade claim for relevant ingredients.

Is the word ‘fair’ in a product name enough?

No. Check which claim is made for the specific product or ingredient, and look for the FAIRTRADE Mark or a specific statement that an ingredient such as cocoa or sugar was traded under Fairtrade terms.

Is Fairtrade cocoa always physically kept separate from other cocoa?

No. Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa: volumes may be mixed during processing while Fairtrade volumes are tracked. Look for more traceability information if physical separation matters to your choice.

How should I use a product page for a biscuit that’s no longer available online?

Use it to see how organic and Fairtrade claims can appear on one product, not as a current buying option. For an available alternative, check the exact packaging, ingredients and allergen information again.