Start by deciding which Fairtrade claim you want to make on your wedding buffet: a biscuit containing Fairtrade cocoa is not automatically Fairtrade-certified as a finished product. To make it easier to plan quantities, choose a pack that tells you how many biscuits or portions it contains and lists the allergens. If you’re baking biscuits yourself, keep this information for every recipe and ingredient.
You want to be able to tell guests exactly what the claim on the biscuit pack means. Fairtrade International distinguishes between the certification mark for composite products and a claim about a specific Fairtrade ingredient.
You need the ingredients and allergen information for every type of biscuit, even after you’ve opened the pack and arranged the biscuits on serving plates.
You want to know how many biscuits or portions are in each pack, so you can plan the buffet without relying on the pack weight alone.
First, decide which Fairtrade claim is right for your buffet. Then check the allergen information and serving quantity for each biscuit you choose.
A good fit if: you want a ready-made biscuit and are happy for the claim on your buffet to refer specifically to the cocoa.
Keep in mind: this ingredient claim alone does not mean the whole biscuit is Fairtrade-certified.
A good fit if: you want to be able to substantiate a broader Fairtrade claim about the composite product.
Keep in mind: check the mark on the pack. Fairtrade International explains that an arrow next to the mark points to further information about ingredients and sourcing on the back.
A good fit if: you want to choose the size or presentation yourself and can check the ingredients in each recipe.
Keep in mind: you’ll need to keep track of the ingredients you use and any allergens. Using a Fairtrade cocoa ingredient does not automatically make the finished product fully Fairtrade-certified.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of the Fairtrade claim | Check whether the pack shows a mark for the composite product or a claim about a specific ingredient. If there’s an arrow next to the mark, check the back of the pack too. | I don’t want to promise anything on the buffet label that isn’t confirmed by the packaging. For around 37% of consumers, the exact Fairtrade claim is the most important factor. |
| Allergens when serving | Read the label for every variety you choose, including warnings about the possible presence of other allergens. Keep the information available when serving biscuits loose. | If I’m putting different biscuits on serving plates, I want to be able to tell guests which allergens each type contains. Clear allergen information is a priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Quantity and presentation | Check the number of biscuits or portions in each pack and the storage instructions after opening, not just the net weight. | I want to know in advance how many portions I can serve without opening all the packs straight away. This is the most important consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
For a composite product, the claim may refer to just one ingredient. A broader description on a buffet label could therefore go further than the packaging supports.
Use the claim that actually appears on the pack you’ve chosen. If you want to make a claim about the composite product, check the mark and any information on the back of the pack.
When biscuits are served loose, you can no longer tell from the serving plate which ingredients, allergens or cross-contamination warnings apply to each variety.
Keep the labels or note down the information for each type of biscuit before filling the serving plates. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that food businesses must also provide consumers with allergen information for food sold unpackaged.
The weight doesn’t always tell you how many individual portions you can serve. For example, Albert Heijn lists Verkade Nizza coconut milk chocolate biscuits as 177 g and 15 portions of 11.8 g.
Use the stated number of biscuits or portions for the variety you’re actually buying, and keep unopened packs in reserve until you need them.
Albert Heijn product pages list Fairtrade cocoa or Fairtrade chocolate for some specific Verkade chocolate biscuits. Check the claim on the variety you’re buying.
An option if you’re baking biscuits yourself with a Fairtrade cocoa ingredient, rather than looking for ready-made biscuits.
A chocolate option for a buffet where you’d like to serve chocolate as well as biscuits. Lidl Netherlands describes Way To Go products as Fairtrade-certified.
Not automatically. Fairtrade International distinguishes between a claim about a specific Fairtrade ingredient and the FAIRTRADE Mark for composite products. Check the claim on the pack and, if there’s an arrow next to the mark, read the additional information on the back.
Keep the allergen information and any warnings on the current packaging to hand for each type of biscuit. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information appears on the label of prepacked products, and that food businesses must provide consumers with this information in another way when selling food unpackaged.
Decide how many portions you want to serve, then use the number of biscuits or portions listed for the pack you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn lists 15 portions for 177 g of Verkade Nizza coconut milk chocolate biscuits. Use this figure only for that variety, and check other packs individually.
