If you’re looking for a chocolate countdown to Christmas, choose an Advent calendar whose format and Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification are shown on the specific product: an ice lolly on its own won’t do the job. Check the back of the pack to see which ingredients the certification applies to, then check the recipe and allergen information. An organic or Rainforest Alliance claim is not proof of Fairtrade certification.
You want to see certification on the product itself, rather than infer it from an organic claim or the brand’s general commitments. Max Havelaar France recommends checking the information on the back when the mark includes an arrow.
You’re choosing a calendar for your household or as a gift, so you need to check the exact recipe. Whether it contains milk, soya, peanuts or tree nuts depends on the labelling of the product you choose, regardless of its fair trade certification.
You may be looking for ice lollies, but also want to open a door every day in the run-up to Christmas. A Magnum ice lolly and a chocolate Advent calendar serve different purposes; Magnum’s Rainforest Alliance initiative does not prove that a calendar carries the Fairtrade mark.
First decide whether you want ice lollies or a chocolate calendar to open day by day. If Fairtrade certification is essential, check the mark on the specific product. Max Havelaar France explains that an arrow on the mark means you should look on the back for information about the ingredients and their traceability.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade proof | Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the specific product and, if it includes an arrow, read the details on the back. | I want to see recognised certification, not just a promise of responsible sourcing; around 40% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Format and availability | Check that it contains the advertised 24 doors or portions, then confirm it’s available from your chosen shop or service. | If I want to open a door every day in the run-up to Christmas, I need a calendar I can actually buy; around 30% of consumers would put this first. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging of the product you choose. | If the calendar is for someone with an allergy, its recipe needs to guide my choice; around 20% of consumers would check this before anything else. |
| Taste and ingredients | Compare the type of chocolate, ingredients and nutritional information of the products you’re considering. | Once I’ve chosen the format, I want a recipe that suits my preferences; this would be the main criterion for around 10% of consumers. |
These claims refer to different initiatives. Neither one, on its own, means an Advent calendar carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark.
If this mark is important to you, look for it on the specific calendar and check the details about which ingredients are certified.
Advent calendars are seasonal, so a listing that’s still visible doesn’t guarantee that the product is available to buy. For example, the Carrefour Bio calendar listing says it’s unavailable for Drive collection.
Check availability at the shop or for the delivery option you plan to use.
Fairtrade certification doesn’t tell you everything about the recipe. Depending on their ingredients, chocolate calendars may contain milk or soya, and may carry warnings about traces of other allergens.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the specific calendar you’re buying.
Magnum sells ice lollies and says it sources its cocoa and vanilla from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. This doesn’t mean they’re in an Advent calendar format or that the ice lollies carry Fairtrade certification.
Choose according to what you’re looking for: a chocolate calendar for a countdown to Christmas, or an ice lolly if you’re after a frozen dessert.
Action’s listing for a chocolate Advent calendar mentions ‘Fairtrade chocolate’ and fair trade certification.
The listing for Carrefour Bio’s 240 g organic chocolate Advent calendar lets you check its ingredients, but doesn’t confirm that it carries the Fairtrade mark.
Lidl France outlines certification schemes for some own-brand products, including Fairtrade/Max Havelaar.
Magnum is an ice cream brand, included here to help distinguish an ice lolly from a chocolate Advent calendar.
Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the calendar itself. Max Havelaar France explains that if the mark includes an arrow, the information on the back tells you more about the ingredients covered and the type of traceability used.
No. Organic and Fairtrade refer to different initiatives. If you want to choose a calendar on fair trade grounds, check that the specific product is Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certified rather than relying on its organic claim alone.
Read the labelling on the specific calendar, including the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings. The DGCCRF reminds food businesses that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted. Whether the product contains milk, soya or other allergens will then depend on the recipe you choose.
A Magnum ice lolly on its own can’t take the place of a chocolate Advent calendar. Magnum describes a Rainforest Alliance initiative for its cocoa and vanilla, which doesn’t prove Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification. If you want a fair trade countdown to Christmas, check the format and certification mark on a specific calendar.