Choose a biscuit with verifiably Fairtrade cocoa if you’re looking for a measured snack to take with you; chocolate can be an alternative if you don’t need a biscuit. Treat both as an addition to whatever else you eat before exercising: the Gatorade Sports Science Institute recommends 1–4 g of carbohydrate per kg of body weight in the 1–4 hours beforehand for exercise lasting more than 60 minutes. Check the Fairtrade statement, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging of each product.
You want to see a Fairtrade mark or an explicit statement that the chosen product contains Fairtrade cocoa. Fairtrade International explains that mass balance may also be used for cocoa, so check the information accompanying the mark if physical traceability is important to you.
You’re looking for a measured portion to have before you set off or while you’re on the go. Compare the carbohydrates per portion with what else you eat before training, and consider when you’ll have the snack.
For you, ingredients and allergens matter more than convenient packaging or a Fairtrade statement. Even if you know the product, check the current packaging: the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that prepacked products must display allergen information on the label.
First decide whether Fairtrade is a requirement for the specific product. Then compare the portion with when you’ll be eating before training, and finally check that the ingredients and allergens suit you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade statement | Look for the mark or an explicit statement that the product contains Fairtrade cocoa on the packaging. For cocoa, also read any information about mass balance. | If I want to make a conscious choice to buy Fairtrade cocoa, that needs to be clear for this particular product; for around 37% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Carbohydrates and timing | Check the carbohydrates per portion and when you’ll eat it, taking into account previous meals and the planned exercise. | For a longer training session, I want to know what my snack contributes without eating an uncomfortable portion just before setting off. Around 36% of consumers give this consideration top priority. |
| A portion to take with you | Check how many biscuits are in each individual pack and the weight of the portion you actually want to eat. | If I want to take something small with me, I don’t want to automatically count a whole pack as one portion; portion control matters most to around 18% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging, even if the front mentions a dietary claim. | If I need to avoid ingredients because of an allergy or dietary requirement, that takes priority over my snack choice. This need comes first for around 9% of consumers. |
A chocolate coating or a retailer’s general sustainability policy doesn’t tell you whether the biscuit you’ve chosen contains Fairtrade cocoa.
Check the Fairtrade statement on the packaging of the specific product. Also read any information accompanying the mark: according to Fairtrade International, mass balance may be used for cocoa.
A few biscuits won’t necessarily provide the amount of carbohydrates you want to plan for a longer period of exercise. For exercise lasting more than 60 minutes, the Gatorade Sports Science Institute recommends 1–4 g per kg of body weight in the 1–4 hours beforehand.
Consider the carbohydrates in your chosen portion alongside previous meals, and don’t try an unfamiliar snack for the first time on an important sports day.
Chocolate biscuits can contain various allergens. Albert Heijn lists milk, soya and cereals containing gluten among the ingredients in Verkade Lange Nekken; another biscuit may have a different composition.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re actually buying, even if you’ve eaten it before.
Lidl links its Fairtrade statement for Favorina to seasonal chocolate. That doesn’t tell you whether a particular chocolate biscuit carries the same statement on the day you buy it.
Check the specific product, current packaging and Fairtrade statement in store before choosing it as an alternative.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a biscuit that explicitly states it contains Fairtrade cocoa.
A retailer where you can compare product information for both biscuits containing Fairtrade cocoa and Fairtrade chocolate.
An option to consider if individually wrapped portions matter more than confirmed Fairtrade labelling.
Worth considering if you’re also looking at seasonal chocolate as an alternative to a biscuit.
A retailer to consider for Fairtrade chocolate if a chocolate bar also fits the kind of snack you’re looking for.
A retailer where you can browse chocolate biscuits and Fairtrade products separately.
This chocolate bar is an alternative to consider as an addition to what you eat before exercising; it isn’t a biscuit. Check the packaging to make sure the Fairtrade statement, portion and ingredients meet your requirements.
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If you’re considering chocolate instead of a biscuit as an addition to your food, compare the carbohydrates per chosen portion on the packaging and check the Fairtrade statement and allergens.
A chocolate biscuit can be an addition, but consider the carbohydrates in the portion alongside what else you eat. For exercise lasting more than 60 minutes, the Gatorade Sports Science Institute recommends 1–4 g of carbohydrate per kg of body weight in the 1–4 hours beforehand. How much is right for you within that range depends, among other things, on the exercise and your tolerance.
No, not always. Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa: Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade ingredients may be mixed during production, while the volumes of Fairtrade ingredients bought and sold are tracked. Check the mark and any accompanying information on the packaging if this distinction affects your choice.
Read the allergen information on the label of the pack you’re buying. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must appear on the label of prepacked products. Also check the ingredients list and any statement about the possible presence of other allergens.
Use online information to compare products, but check the packaging of the product you’ve chosen before eating it. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change when products are updated.
