Only rely on a syrup waffle’s Fairtrade claim once you know which ingredients it covers. Fairtrade International distinguishes between labels for products with several ingredients and claims covering one chosen ingredient, such as cocoa. A Fairtrade cocoa claim on a chocolate wafer does not automatically make it a Fairtrade syrup waffle. Then check the pack size and the current ingredients and allergen information if you’re sharing with guests.
You want to be able to explain what the Fairtrade claim on the biscuit actually covers when you’re having coffee with friends. So check both the label and the information about the ingredients. Fairtrade International distinguishes between claims for products with several ingredients and claims for one chosen ingredient.
You’re looking for a pack size to suit the number of guests, such as mini syrup waffles or individually wrapped ones. The serving format tells you nothing about the Fairtrade claim. Jumbo says that Fair Trade Original Mini Syrup Waffles 150 Pieces are no longer part of its online range.
You want to know which biscuits you can offer guests with an allergy or a preference for plant-based food. Check the label on the product you choose: Albert Heijn describes AH Terra Plant-Based Syrup Waffles as vegan, but also lists wheat and soya and says they may contain milk and lactose.
First decide whether you’re looking for Fairtrade ingredients in the syrup waffle or specifically Fairtrade cocoa in a chocolate wafer. Then check the label and serving format of the product you actually want to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| What the Fairtrade claim covers | Read the label and its accompanying information: does the claim cover ingredients in the syrup waffle, or only something such as cocoa? | I want to know what the claim applies to in the treat I’m serving with coffee. For around 36% of consumers, this clarity comes first. |
| Allergens and plant-based options | Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning on the current packaging. | If guests have an allergy or prefer plant-based food, I want to know whether I can offer them this biscuit. For around 29% of consumers, suitability for guests matters most. |
| Pack size for a group | Compare the number of biscuits and whether they’re individually wrapped. Also check that they’re currently available. | When I’m hosting a group, I want to have enough biscuits to put out and make them easy to hand round. Around 21% of consumers put serving format first. |
| Portion size and nutritional value | Check the portion size and nutritional information per biscuit and per 100 g for the product you choose. | I want to decide how many biscuits to serve each guest based on the size of one portion. For around 14% of consumers, portion size and nutritional value are the main considerations. |
Fairtrade International says a claim for a chosen ingredient can apply to cocoa without making the same claim about the other ingredients. What’s more, a chocolate wafer isn’t automatically a syrup waffle.
Check which ingredient the claim refers to, and separately confirm what type of wafer you’re looking at.
These labels answer different questions. For example, Albert Heijn lists wheat and soya in AH Terra Plant-Based Syrup Waffles, as well as noting that they may contain milk and lactose.
For each product, check both the Fairtrade claim and the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
Jumbo says that Fair Trade Original Mini Syrup Waffles 150 Pieces are no longer part of its online range.
Check that your preferred pack size is available shortly before buying, and that the number of biscuits will suit your group.
If you’re counting on one particular pack size, finding an alternative just before your coffee get-together could take extra time.
The label is about trading conditions; it doesn’t tell you how much sugar or fat a biscuit contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 189 kcal and 14,7 g of sugar for a 40 g extra-large syrup waffle. These figures don’t apply to every syrup waffle.
When comparing products, use the portion size and nutritional information on the packaging of the one you choose.
Jumbo has a product page for Fair Trade Original Mini Syrup Waffles 150 Pieces, a pack of individually wrapped mini syrup waffles.
Daelmans presents its syrup waffles on its own website as biscuits to enjoy with coffee or tea and share with others.
PLUS makes a ‘Fairtrade Cocoa’ claim for its chocolate wafer.
No, don’t assume that automatically. Fairtrade International sets out separate rules for products with several ingredients. For a syrup waffle, read the product-specific information to see which ingredients the claim covers.
The claim applies to the cocoa; it doesn’t prove that all the ingredients in the chocolate wafer are Fairtrade. Fairtrade International distinguishes these ingredient claims from labels for products with several ingredients. Also check whether the product is a chocolate wafer or a syrup waffle.
No, a plant-based label doesn’t rule out allergens. For AH Terra Plant-Based Syrup Waffles, Albert Heijn lists wheat and soya and says they may contain milk and lactose. Check the current label on the biscuit you choose before serving it to your guests.
No, a Fairtrade claim doesn’t specify how much sugar, fat or energy a product contains. To compare the syrup waffles you’re considering, check their nutritional information and portion sizes.
Don’t assume you can based on the existing product page: Jumbo says Fair Trade Original Mini Syrup Waffles 150 Pieces are no longer part of its online range. Check current availability before choosing this particular pack size.
