If you want to use Kano's in your Christmas baking, check the packaging of the exact product to see whether it mentions Fairtrade cocoa and whether the ingredients suit your recipe. A brand-wide statement about Fairtrade cocoa doesn’t confirm the status of an individual product. If your recipe calls for cocoa powder or a chocolate bar, choose that product form rather than using a biscuit as a substitute. Also check the allergens in the product you buy.
You want to see what the Fairtrade claim means on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen, rather than relying on a general statement about a brand or retailer. For cocoa, it’s also worth checking whether mass balance is mentioned.
Your recipe calls for powder, a bar or biscuit pieces. These forms have different ingredients and uses, so start by choosing what the recipe actually specifies.
Check the current packaging of the exact product before using it in your baking or serving it to others. Ingredients and allergens can vary from one product to another.
Start with the form your Christmas recipe calls for. Then check the Fairtrade claim and the label on the specific product, even if you’re considering using Kano's as an addition or decoration.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade and traceability | Look for the Fairtrade claim on the exact packaging and check whether it mentions mass balance for the cocoa. | If I want to use Fairtrade cocoa, I want to know what the claim applies to on the product I’ve chosen. Around 33% of consumers would consider this their main concern when buying. |
| Form required by the recipe | Check whether the recipe calls for cocoa powder, melted or chopped chocolate, or biscuit pieces. | My mixture needs powder, while biscuit pieces are only suitable if the recipe calls for them. I don’t want to swap these ingredients without checking. For around 27% of consumers, suitability for the recipe would come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label on the current product, including any warnings that it may contain allergens. | If I’m baking for others, I want to know which ingredients and allergens are listed for the product I’ve chosen. For around 20% of consumers, this would be their main concern when buying. |
| Availability | Check shortly before buying that the product you want is available, especially if it’s seasonal chocolate. | I want to be able to buy the ingredient I’ve planned for my Christmas baking when I need it. Around 20% of consumers would consider availability their main concern. |
Fairtrade International explains that, under mass balance, Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa may be mixed during processing. The quantities traded on Fairtrade terms are tracked.
If physical traceability is essential to you, look for additional information on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen. Don’t assume it from a Fairtrade claim alone.
A chocolate biscuit also contains other ingredients, so it isn’t necessarily a straightforward substitute for cocoa powder or a chocolate bar. This can affect the composition of your bake.
Use biscuit pieces only when the recipe calls for biscuits or a topping. For powder or a bar, check the specified amount and ingredients separately.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. An older product page may not describe the packaging you eventually use.
Read the packaging of the exact product before buying and again before you start baking.
The Fairtrade policies that Lidl and ALDI describe for seasonal chocolate don’t, in themselves, tell you whether a particular Christmas product will be available when you shop.
Check that the specific product is currently available before including it in your baking plans.
These options relate to specific products or product ranges described by the organisation. If you’re using Kano's, always check the packaging of the product you want to use.
An option if your recipe calls for cocoa powder: Jumbo and PLUS list Fairtrade Original Cocoa Powder, 125 g.
An option for recipes that call for a dark chocolate bar; the Verkade Dark Chocolate Bar page mentions Fairtrade cocoa and at least 52% cocoa.
The AH Organic Extra Dark Chocolate Bar is an option when a recipe calls for solid chocolate.
Jumbo lists Fairtrade Original Cocoa Powder, 125 g, among its baking products.
PLUS lists Fairtrade Original cocoa powder and also describes its policy on cocoa in own-brand products.
An option to consider if you’re thinking of using seasonal chocolate for Christmas baking.
An option to consider for Moser Roth chocolate or seasonal chocolate if your recipe calls for a bar.
No, not always. Fairtrade International explains that, under mass balance, Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade ingredients may be mixed during processing, while the quantities traded on Fairtrade terms are tracked. If physical separation matters to you, read the traceability information for the product you’ve chosen.
Yes. A Fairtrade claim says nothing about a product’s allergens. Read the label on the current packaging, including any warnings that it may contain allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on prepacked foods.
Store cocoa powder in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also follow the storage instructions and use-by date on your packaging. For chocolate, follow the instructions for the bar in question.
