Choose taaitaai biscuits as a Fairtrade-certified treat only if the pack displays the FAIRTRADE mark and the accompanying claim. A certified ingredient does not automatically make the whole treat certified; baking your own with individually verified ingredients is a different option. Before handing them out, check the current label for allergens too.
You want to know whether the claim applies to the taaitaai biscuits you’re handing out, or just to a particular ingredient. According to Fairtrade Nederland, the FAIRTRADE mark and its accompanying wording should appear together on the packaging.
You’re handing out taaitaai biscuits to a group and want to know which allergens are listed on the current pack. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists milk and cereals containing gluten, among other things; warnings about the possible presence of other allergens vary by product.
You’re looking for ready-made taaitaai biscuits for a school holiday treat and comparing pack sizes, stated portions and availability. These practical details don’t, by themselves, tell you whether a product is Fairtrade-certified.
A good choice when: You want a ready-made treat and will choose Fairtrade-certified taaitaai biscuits only if the pack carries that claim.
What to consider: A supermarket listing for taaitaai biscuits or a Fairtrade category doesn’t prove that the pack you’ve chosen is certified.
A good choice when: You want to choose which individually verified Fairtrade ingredients to use.
What to consider: Preparation takes time, and certification for one ingredient doesn’t automatically apply to the whole treat.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade status | Look for the FAIRTRADE mark and accompanying claim on the pack. For a composite product, check which ingredient the claim applies to. | I want to see whether the Fairtrade claim applies to the treat I’ve chosen, rather than just to something else in the same range. Around 42% of consumers would put this check first. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current pack, even if you’ve already checked the product page. | When handing treats out to a group, I want to take known allergies into account and check for warnings about possible traces too. Around 33% of consumers would consider this their main priority. |
| Portions and availability | Compare the nutrition information per 100 g, check the stated portions and confirm availability shortly before handing the treats out. | If I’m buying for several children, I want to know how many portions the label says are in a pack and whether I can get hold of it. Around 25% of consumers would see this as the most important consideration. |
For a comparison of nutritional values, Voedingscentrum recommends comparing similar products per 100 g. Then check the portion size on the pack separately: that will help you decide how much to hand out.
A shop may stock Fairtrade products without every product in its range being certified.
Check the pack you’ve chosen for the FAIRTRADE mark and accompanying claim, as Fairtrade Nederland requires when the mark is used.
Albert Heijn’s taaitaai recipe lists ingredients including rye flour, honey and sugar, but no chocolate. So Fairtrade chocolate isn’t a requirement when choosing standard taaitaai biscuits.
Decide whether you want plain taaitaai biscuits or a version decorated with chocolate. Then check the ingredients and any claims for that particular version.
The pack you hand out may show different information from a product page you viewed earlier. This matters if anyone has a known allergy.
Read the label on the actual pack before buying and again before handing the biscuits out. If you’re unsure whether they’re suitable, check with the parents or school.
A taaitaai variety may appear on a product page even when the shop doesn’t offer it online; Jumbo says this about its 500 g pack.
Check availability with your chosen shop shortly before the school event, and be prepared to choose a different treat.
Albert Heijn lists its own 350 g pack of AH Taai taai, with ingredients, allergen and portion information on the product page.
Jumbo provides product information for De Originele Taai Taai, 500 g, including ingredients and allergens.
PLUS lists artisan taaitaai biscuits in a 250 g bag, as well as a 500 g Sinterklaas and Piet variety.
No. Certification for another product tells you nothing about the pack of taaitaai biscuits you choose. Check for the mark and accompanying claim on that pack; chocolate isn’t an ingredient in every type of taaitaai, either.
No, don’t assume that certification for one ingredient applies to the whole treat. According to Milieu Centraal, a FAIRTRADE logo on a white background may refer only to a certified ingredient; check the claim next to the mark to see what it applies to.
Check the current label before handing out taaitaai biscuits, especially if anyone in the group has a known allergy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of clear allergen information on pre-packed foods; product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists milk and cereals containing gluten, among other things, in their taaitaai biscuits.
First compare the sugar listed per 100 g for similar products, as Voedingscentrum recommends when comparing nutritional values. Then check the portion size and number of portions on each pack to work out how much to hand out.
