Which snack is right for you?

Traveller looking for Fairtrade cocoa

You want to choose chocolate or a chocolate snack before you leave, with cocoa labelled as Fairtrade on the packaging. A sweet biscuit without cocoa won’t meet that need.

Traveller looking for a kano

You’re looking for a butter biscuit with almond paste filling to enjoy on the go. Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

A kano and a snack made with Fairtrade cocoa meet different needs. Decide which type of product you’re looking for, then check the packaging of the item you want to buy.

Butter kano biscuit

Choose this: if you want a biscuit with almond paste filling and Fairtrade cocoa isn’t a requirement.

The trade-off: the ingredient information for the Albert Heijn and Jumbo kano pastries we looked at does not list cocoa.

Chocolate snack with Fairtrade cocoa

Choose this: if a Fairtrade claim for cocoa matters more to you than having a traditional kano.

The trade-off: you’ll be choosing a different type of snack; check the claim on the packaging of the specific product.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade cocoa Look for cocoa in the ingredients and a specific Fairtrade claim for cocoa on the packaging. I want the cocoa in my snack specifically to be labelled as Fairtrade; this is the main purchasing priority for around 46% of consumers.
Type of snack Check whether you’re choosing a kano with almond paste filling or a chocolate snack. Schiphol says you can take food in your hand luggage. I want a firm butter biscuit with almond paste filling for the journey, not necessarily chocolate; around 36% of consumers prioritise this type of snack.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the product you’ve chosen. I need to be able to check whether the ingredients suit my dietary requirements; this is the most important factor for around 18% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking almond paste filling for chocolate

    The ingredient information for the Albert Heijn and Jumbo kano pastries we looked at does not list cocoa. So choosing one won’t help if you’re specifically looking for a snack made with Fairtrade cocoa.

    For a chocolate snack, check both the ingredients and the Fairtrade claim for cocoa on the packaging.

  • Assuming a brand claim applies to every product

    Verkade and PLUS make claims about the cocoa in the products they specify. These claims don’t apply to just any kano or to every ingredient in a multi-ingredient product.

    Check the packaging of the item you actually want to buy.

  • Leaving the ingredients check until just before you leave

    The ingredient information for the kano pastries we looked at includes allergens. Which ingredients are relevant depends on the product you choose.

    Read the current ingredients and allergen information before buying, and choose another snack if necessary.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn describes its AH Roomboter kano pastries as butter biscuits with 41% almond paste filling and 1% almond.

  • An option if you’re specifically looking for a kano with almond paste filling.
  • The ingredient information we looked at does not list cocoa; check the current packaging if Fairtrade cocoa is what you’re after.

Jumbo

Jumbo sells Kano's met Roomboter 275 g, a biscuit with almond paste filling.

  • A product to consider if you want to take a kano with you.
  • The ingredient information we looked at does not list cocoa, but does include wheat, milk, soya and almond, among other ingredients; check the current packaging.

Verkade

Verkade is worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate or a chocolate snack rather than a traditional kano.

  • Verkade says all the cocoa in its products is Fairtrade.
  • This brand claim doesn’t mean that all the other ingredients are Fairtrade; check the packaging of the product you choose.

PLUS

PLUS says its chocolate and other own-brand products containing cocoa are covered by its Fairtrade cocoa policy.

  • PLUS says all the cocoa in its own-brand products has been Fairtrade-certified since 2020.
  • This claim applies to cocoa in own-brand products, not every product in the shop; check the item you choose.

Chocolate snacks on Joybuy

This chocolate bar is an alternative to consider if you’d rather take chocolate than a kano with you. If Fairtrade cocoa is your main priority, check the claim on the current packaging.

Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel chocolate bar, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel chocolate bar, 180 g

A chocolate bar to consider if you’re not looking for a traditional kano. The product name specifies pecan and caramel, and a size of 180 g; check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and any Fairtrade claim for cocoa.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are the Albert Heijn and Jumbo kano pastries we looked at a Fairtrade chocolate option?

No, not for that purpose: the ingredient information we looked at for AH Roomboter kano pastries and Jumbo Kano's met Roomboter does not list cocoa. If you’re specifically looking for Fairtrade cocoa, it’s better to choose a chocolate snack and check the claim on the current packaging.

Can you take packaged kano pastries in your hand luggage from Schiphol?

Schiphol says you can take food in your hand luggage. A firm biscuit is different from spreadable products, which may be subject to liquid restrictions; check your airline’s and destination’s rules before you leave too.

What should I look for in a chocolate snack made with Fairtrade cocoa?

Check the current packaging to see whether the Fairtrade claim applies to the cocoa in the product you’ve chosen. Verkade says all the cocoa in its products is Fairtrade; PLUS has said the same about cocoa in its own-brand products since 2020. This doesn’t automatically mean that all the other ingredients are Fairtrade.

Which allergens should I check in kano pastries?

Read the allergen information for the kano you want to buy. The ingredient information we looked at for Jumbo Kano's met Roomboter lists wheat, milk, soya and almond, among other ingredients; always check the current packaging before making your choice.