Choose a chocolate biscuit whose current packaging explicitly states that it contains Fairtrade cocoa or displays the Fairtrade mark. For a Valentine’s Day treat, the individual wrapping and number of biscuits will then determine how easy it is to give or share. Also check the ingredients and allergen information for the person who will be eating them. According to Fairtrade, a Fairtrade cocoa claim does not always mean that the cocoa remained physically separate during processing.
You’re looking for a small Valentine’s Day gesture and want to check whether the cocoa is Fairtrade. Look for the claim on the packaging. According to Fairtrade, where a mark has an arrow, further information about the ingredients and sourcing can be found on the back.
You want to take biscuits with you or give them to several people. In that case, the number of biscuits and the packaging format both matter. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information says that Verkade Lange Nekken biscuits are individually wrapped in pairs.
You’re buying for someone with a food allergy or a specific dietary preference. Check the ingredients and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens on the packaging of the exact variant you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim or the Fairtrade mark on the variant you’ve chosen. If the mark has an arrow, check the back of the packaging too. | If I’m giving someone a biscuit because it contains Fairtrade cocoa, I want to be able to verify that choice on the packaging. Around 42% of consumers prioritise a Fairtrade choice they can check. |
| Giving or sharing | Compare the number of biscuits and check whether they’re individually wrapped. | For a small gesture or something to share, I want to know how many people one pack will cater for. This matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. Check the nutritional information per 100 g if you’re comparing products by their ingredients. | If I’m buying for someone with a food allergy or a particular dietary preference, whether the exact variant is suitable matters more than its gift-friendly format. Around 25% of consumers prioritise checking the label. |
Lotus Bakeries Netherlands states that its chocolate products with Biscoff contain Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa. This is not a Fairtrade claim, nor does it make those chocolate products Fairtrade chocolate biscuits.
If Fairtrade is a must for you, look for the Fairtrade mark or an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim on the biscuit packaging you’ve chosen.
According to Fairtrade, cocoa can be subject to mass balance: certified and non-certified volumes may be mixed during processing.
If physical traceability matters to you, read the additional information alongside the mark and on the packaging.
The Verkade variants mentioned have different ingredients and allergen information. A handy individual pack doesn’t tell you whether the biscuits are suitable for someone with a food allergy.
If needed, ask which allergens the recipient needs to avoid and check both the ingredients list and any warnings on the packaging you’ve chosen.
Information about a brand or own-label range doesn’t automatically tell you which ingredients and allergens are listed on the pack in your hand.
Use brand information to find a product, but make your final choice based on the label of that specific variant.
A relevant choice if you’re looking for chocolate biscuits with a Fairtrade cocoa claim for the specific product. Albert Heijn product pages mention this claim for products including Lange Nekken, Crunchy oat biscuits, Nobo sprits and Choco S’mores.
PLUS says that, since 2020, all the cocoa in its own-label products has been Fairtrade certified, including cocoa in biscuits.
Lotus Bakeries’ Dutch product information states that chocolate products with Biscoff contain Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa. These products are not the same as chocolate biscuits confirmed to contain Fairtrade cocoa.
Check the current packaging for the Fairtrade mark or an explicit statement that the product contains Fairtrade cocoa. According to Fairtrade, if the mark has an arrow, you’ll find further information on the back about the certified ingredients and sourcing.
No, a Fairtrade cocoa claim doesn’t automatically mean this. Fairtrade allows mass balance for cocoa, where certified and non-certified volumes may be mixed during processing. Check the packaging if physical traceability matters to you.
Yes, especially if you’re buying for someone with a food allergy. Check the ingredients and any warnings on the variant you receive. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, any regulated allergens present must be clearly indicated in the ingredients list.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn’s product information says to store the Verkade variants mentioned in a cool, dry place. For Nobo sprits, it also says to keep the pack closed after opening.
