Choose a syrup waffle for Friday afternoon drinks as a Fairtrade option only if the packaging or product page for that specific product clearly explains what the claim applies to. Then check the number of waffles, the packaging and the allergens. A waffle made with Fairtrade cocoa is not automatically a traditional syrup waffle, nor does it mean that all its ingredients are Fairtrade certified.
You want to know before buying whether a Fairtrade claim applies to the syrup waffle or to a named ingredient. Fairtrade International and Milieu Centraal explain why the wording alongside the certification mark matters.
You’re looking for a format that’s easy to hand out, such as individually wrapped mini syrup waffles. Jumbo lists a pack of these from Fair Trade Original, but says it’s no longer part of its online range.
Check the ingredients and allergens on each pack before buying for a group. Product information from Jumbo and Albert Heijn shows that syrup waffles made to different recipes can contain wheat or soya.
First decide what Fairtrade should mean for your get-together. Then compare the serving size and check the ingredients on the pack you’re planning to buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| What Fairtrade means | Read the certification mark and accompanying text on the specific product. Check whether the claim applies to the finished product or to an ingredient such as sugar or cocoa. | If Fairtrade is my main reason for buying, I want to know exactly what the claim on this pack covers. For around 44% of consumers, this clarity matters most. |
| Sharing with a group | Compare the number of waffles, their size and how they’re packaged; also check that the pack you want is available. | For drinks with lots of colleagues, I want to be able to put out enough syrup waffles without having to divide them into portions. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this practical ease of sharing. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the ingredients, allergens and any warnings such as ‘may contain’ on the current packaging. | When guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely on a general label such as vegan. Around 23% of consumers prioritise these dietary requirements. |
A supermarket can sell Fairtrade products without the syrup waffle you’ve chosen carrying that claim. The claim may also apply to an ingredient only.
Read the certification mark and accompanying wording on the exact pack.
Jumbo says that its box of Fair Trade Original Mini Stroopwafels is no longer part of its online range, even though the mini waffles are individually wrapped.
Before finalising your drinks shopping, check whether the product you want is available from your chosen shop.
According to Albert Heijn, its vegan AH Stroopwafels contain wheat and soya and may contain milk or lactose.
Check vegan labelling and allergens separately on the pack you’re buying.
The total weight doesn’t tell you how many waffles you can hand out or whether they’re individually wrapped.
When choosing for a group, compare the number of waffles and how they’re packaged, not just the weight in grams.
For Fair Trade Original Mini Stroopwafels, Jumbo says that the cane sugar and invert sugar syrup have been traded under Fairtrade terms.
The own-brand range includes, among other options, butter syrup waffles. Check the Fairtrade status of each product rather than assuming it applies to everything sold by the retailer.
Albert Heijn’s syrup waffle range includes different types of product; features of one pack don’t automatically apply to another.
PLUS lists both regular Daelmans syrup waffles and chocolate varieties in its range.
PLUS outlines its Fairtrade policy for own-brand products and also lists a waffle product made with Fairtrade cocoa.
Lidl lists Sondey butter syrup waffles as an in-store product.
ALDI lists both butter syrup waffles and mini syrup waffles from Heerlijck Banket.
Not necessarily: check which product or ingredient the certification mark refers to. Fairtrade International explains that, for a certification mark with an arrow on a composite product, all ingredients available on Fairtrade terms must have been sourced on those terms. According to Milieu Centraal, a logo on a white background may refer only to a Fairtrade-certified ingredient.
Jumbo says on its listing for the box of 150 mini syrup waffles that the product is no longer part of its online range. Check availability at the shop where you plan to buy before making arrangements for your get-together.
Check the allergens on the specific pack, as they vary by recipe. Jumbo lists gluten, milk, soya and wheat for its butter syrup waffles. According to Albert Heijn, its vegan AH Stroopwafels contain wheat and soya and may contain milk or lactose.
Only if Fairtrade cocoa matters more to you than the type of product. PLUS lists Fairtrade cocoa in Wafels Choco Fairtrade, but this is a different kind of waffle. Read the claim on the packaging before choosing it for your get-together.
