A snack shopper who puts Fairtrade first
You want to be able to identify Fairtrade cocoa on the product you buy. A general Fairtrade statement from a retailer isn’t enough; check the current packaging.
Who is this choice for?
A fan of traditional kano pastries
You’re looking for a kano pastry filled with almond paste to enjoy with coffee or as a late-morning snack. A chocolate biscuit might meet your Fairtrade preference, but it won’t give you that filling.
A shopper comparing ingredients and portions
You want to know which allergens a product contains and how much you’ll eat at a time. So check the ingredients and nutritional information for the kano pastry, biscuit or bar you choose.
What should you consider?
Traditional kano pastry
Choose this if: Almond paste matters more to you than chocolate.
The trade-off: Don’t assume a Fairtrade claim applies just because the retailer sells other Fairtrade products; check the kano pastry you’ve chosen.
Chocolate biscuit
Choose this if: You want a biscuit with an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim and don’t mind going without almond paste.
The trade-off: A chocolate biscuit doesn’t have the filling of a kano pastry. Check the allergens for your chosen variant, too.
Chocolate bar
Choose this if: Chocolate matters more to you than a biscuit or almond paste filling.
The trade-off: A bar is a different kind of snack, so use the packaging to guide your portion size.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the product you’ve chosen. If the certification mark includes an arrow, also read the back of the packaging, as Fairtrade International advises. | I want the Fairtrade claim to apply to my own snack, not just the shop where I buy it. This product-specific evidence is the priority for around 45% of consumers. |
| Kano pastry or chocolate | If you’re looking for a kano pastry, check that the description mentions almond paste; a chocolate biscuit or bar is a different product. | With my coffee, I mainly want a kano pastry with almond paste, not a chocolate snack in another form. This preference matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and portion | Read the allergens on the current packaging and compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per portion. | I need to consider the ingredients when choosing a snack, and I want to know what counts as one portion. Around 22% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming a Fairtrade range means a Fairtrade kano pastry
A shop selling Fairtrade chocolate doesn’t tell you anything about the certification or cocoa used in an individual kano pastry.
Check the Fairtrade claim on the current packaging or product page for that specific variant.
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Assuming every kano pastry has the same recipe
Kano pastries from different brands may list different ingredients and allergens. So an ingredients label you read previously is no substitute for checking the one on your chosen variant.
Read the current ingredients list and allergen information every time you buy, even if you already know the product.
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Forgetting to compare portions
A Fairtrade cocoa claim doesn’t tell you about a snack’s nutritional value. The amount in each piece can vary, too.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and think about how many pieces you plan to eat.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells its own-brand kano pastries and also sells Verkade Lange Nekken as a separate chocolate biscuit.
- With AH Roomboter kano's, you can compare ingredients, allergens and portion information.
- A Fairtrade claim on a different biscuit doesn’t automatically apply to the kano pastries.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells butter kano pastries with almond paste, as well as a separate Fairtrade range.
- Jumbo Kano's met Roomboter product information helps you compare ingredients and portions.
- The Fairtrade range doesn’t confirm that these kano pastries contain Fairtrade cocoa; check the product itself.
ALDI
ALDI describes Heerlijck Banket Kano's as pastries shaped like canoes and lists Fairtrade chocolate separately.
- The product description makes it clear that these are pastries.
- A general reference to Fairtrade chocolate doesn’t confirm a Fairtrade claim for these kano pastries.
PLUS
PLUS sells butter kano pastries and makes a separate general statement about Fairtrade cocoa in its own-brand products.
- If you’re looking for a kano pastry, you can check the current product information for your chosen PLUS variant.
- Check the packaging to see whether the product contains cocoa and what Fairtrade claim applies to it.
Verkade
According to Albert Heijn’s product listing, Verkade Lange Nekken is a chocolate biscuit containing Fairtrade milk chocolate.
- It’s worth considering if you’re looking for a biscuit with an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim.
- It isn’t a kano pastry filled with almond paste; check the allergens on the packaging you choose, too.
Products on Joybuy
These biscuit sticks and chocolate bar are options if you’re considering chocolate as an alternative to a kano pastry. If you specifically want Fairtrade cocoa, check the claim on the current packaging for the product you choose.
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Verkade Long Necks, 10 pieces
A biscuit to consider if you don’t need a kano pastry with almond paste for your late-morning snack. Check the current packaging for the Fairtrade claim, ingredients and allergens.
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Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel, 180 g
A chocolate bar to consider if you’d rather have chocolate than a kano pastry or biscuit. Before you choose, check the product-specific Fairtrade claim, allergens and portion size you want.
Frequently asked questions
Are kano pastries Fairtrade if the supermarket also sells Fairtrade products?
No. A supermarket’s range doesn’t confirm that an individual kano pastry is Fairtrade. Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the current packaging or product page for the variant you’ve chosen.
How do I read the Fairtrade mark on a biscuit?
Check which claim applies to the biscuit and its ingredients. If the FAIRTRADE mark has an arrow, Fairtrade International also advises checking the information on the back of the packaging.
What should I look for in the allergen information for kano pastries and chocolate biscuits?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging for the variant you’re buying. A kano pastry and a chocolate biscuit may contain different ingredients, so don’t assume they have the same composition as another brand or product.
Does Fairtrade cocoa tell me anything about the nutritional value of my snack?
No. A Fairtrade cocoa claim doesn’t replace the nutritional information. For a kano pastry, biscuit or bar, compare the values per 100 g and per portion on the packaging of the product you choose.
How should I store kano pastries after opening?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information says to store them in a cool, dry place; Albert Heijn also advises keeping its butter kano pastries in a sealed tin after opening.