Who should look for each claim?

If you want both claims

You want to be able to check both the organic claim and the Fairtrade claim on a chocolate biscuit. You’ll also check which ingredients the Fairtrade statement applies to.

If organic comes first

You’re mainly looking for a demonstrably organic biscuit, so check the EU organic logo, control code and origin statement on the pack.

If Fairtrade cocoa comes first

You want an explicit Fairtrade statement for the cocoa or chocolate in or on the biscuit. Check separately whether the biscuit is also organic.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want both claims on one biscuit, or whether organic production or Fairtrade cocoa matters more to you. Then check the ingredients of the product you’re actually buying.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Both claims Look for the EU organic logo with a control code and a Fairtrade statement on the same pack. Check which ingredients the latter applies to. I want to be able to assess both organic production and the Fairtrade requirements for relevant ingredients in one chocolate biscuit. For around 36% of consumers, this combination is the priority.
Organic production Check the EU organic logo, the control body’s code and the origin statement for agricultural ingredients, as described by the European Commission for the logo. If organic production is my main criterion, I want to be able to identify the claim on the biscuit itself. Around 29% of consumers make this their priority.
Fairtrade cocoa Check whether Fairtrade applies to the cocoa, chocolate or other ingredients. Fairtrade International also allows mass balance for cocoa, so read the explanation of traceability. I’m mainly looking for cocoa sourced under Fairtrade terms, even if the biscuit isn’t labelled organic. This is the priority for around 21% of consumers.
Ingredients Compare similar biscuits using nutrition information per 100 g and per serving. Read the current ingredients list and allergen declaration. If serving size, nutrition information or allergens are decisive for me, a certification label alone isn’t enough to make a choice. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this product information.

Common mistakes

  • Treating organic and Fairtrade as the same certification

    The EU organic logo relates to organic certification; a Fairtrade statement may apply to specified ingredients. One claim doesn’t prove the other.

    Decide which claim you’re looking for and check that it appears on the pack of the exact biscuit. Look for both statements if both matter to you.

  • Relying on retailer policy instead of the label

    Lidl and ALDI refer to different cocoa certification options in their policies. That doesn’t mean every individual biscuit is both organic and Fairtrade.

    Check the claims, ingredients and allergens on the product packaging itself.

  • Assuming Fairtrade means complete physical separation

    Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa. Fairtrade volumes are tracked, but the cocoa may be physically mixed with other cocoa during processing.

    If physical traceability is essential to you, check what level of traceability the statement confirms for the product in question.

  • Checking a certification label instead of the nutrition information

    An organic or Fairtrade claim doesn’t tell you about a biscuit’s nutritional value, serving size or allergens.

    When comparing similar biscuits, check the nutrition information per 100 g and per serving, and read the allergen declaration on the current packaging.

Brands and retailers to consider

BIO+

An example product for anyone wanting to assess both claims on a chocolate biscuit.

  • For Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes, Jumbo listed the EU organic logo, control code NL-BIO-01 and Fairtrade requirements for dark chocolate and cane sugar.
  • Jumbo also stated on that product page that the item was no longer available online. Use the listing as an example of what to look for on a label, and check what’s currently available.

Verkade

Relevant if you’re mainly looking for a Fairtrade statement covering the cocoa in chocolate on or in biscuits.

  • According to the product information at Albert Heijn, Verkade says it chooses Fairtrade-certified cocoa for the chocolate on and in its biscuits.
  • A statement about Fairtrade cocoa doesn’t confirm that the biscuit in question is organic; check the packaging separately for that claim.

Albert Heijn

A retailer whose cocoa policy makes it worth checking the claims on each own-brand product.

  • Albert Heijn says the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified.
  • That general policy doesn’t automatically make a particular biscuit organic or Fairtrade; the claims on the packaging are what count.

Lidl

A retailer that lists several possible certification routes for its own-brand cocoa.

  • Lidl Netherlands lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification as possible routes under its own-brand cocoa policy.
  • These routes aren’t interchangeable. For a particular biscuit, check which statement actually appears on the packaging.

ALDI

A retailer where you should distinguish between the general cocoa policy and product claims.

  • ALDI Netherlands says the cocoa in its products is certified under Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or the EU organic label.
  • These alternatives don’t confirm that an individual chocolate biscuit carries both claims you’re looking for; check the exact label.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a biscuit is organic?

Check for the EU organic logo, the relevant control body code and the origin statement. The European Commission describes these details as part of the labelling accompanying the organic logo; green packaging alone doesn’t tell you anything about them.

Is Fairtrade cocoa always physically separated from other cocoa?

No, not always. Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa, where volumes are tracked but the cocoa may be physically mixed during processing. Read the traceability information if this distinction matters to your choice.

Does Fairtrade cocoa make the whole biscuit organic?

No. A Fairtrade statement for cocoa doesn’t confirm that the whole biscuit is organic. To check for an organic claim, look separately for the EU organic logo and the accompanying label information.

How can I compare chocolate biscuits beyond their certification labels?

Compare similar products using the nutrition information per 100 g and per serving, and read the ingredients and allergen declaration. A sustainability certification doesn’t replace this product information.