Fairtrade cocoa shoppers
Choose by the claim on the individual chocolate-coated product, not the retailer’s wider Fairtrade range. Check whether milk and gelatine also fit your requirements.
Who is choosing?
Vegan or gelatine-avoiding shoppers
Look for an explicit vegan or gelatine-free label. If Fairtrade sourcing matters too, check for a separate claim on that same product.
Households ordering a sharing bag
For hot drinks, baking or sharing, compare the pack size, ingredients and sugars for the stated serving size. Check the delivered pack if the retailer substitutes your choice.
What to check before ordering
Decide whether Fairtrade cocoa, avoiding gelatine or the intended use matters most, then check the exact product against that requirement.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Read the product-specific wording and identify the certified ingredient. Asda Groceries states that Fairtrade cocoa in its Mallow & Marsh Vanilla Mallows listing may be mixed with non-certified cocoa on a mass-balance basis. | I want a stated Fairtrade cocoa claim, rather than assuming every marshmallow ingredient is certified. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check gelatine or vegan labelling, the ingredient list and any precautionary allergen advice on the exact item. Check again if a substitute arrives. | Avoiding animal-derived gelatine matters to me; I may also need to check particular allergens separately. |
| Sugars and portions | Compare sugars for the stated serving size as well as per 100g, keeping different serving sizes in view. Fairtrade wording is not a nutrition claim. | I want to compare the amount I expect to serve, not judge the product by its pack size alone. |
| Order accuracy | Review the current item and substitution settings before checkout. Check the delivered label when Fairtrade wording, ingredients or allergens are decisive. | A replacement needs to meet the same requirement as the marshmallows I selected. |
Common ordering mistakes
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Reading “Fairtrade cocoa” as a claim about every ingredient
The Fairtrade statement on the Asda Groceries listing for Mallow & Marsh Vanilla Mallows names cocoa and describes a mass-balance basis. It does not establish certification for the other ingredients.
Keep the exact cocoa wording in mind when reviewing the item or a proposed substitute.
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Assuming chocolate-coated marshmallows are vegan
The reviewed Mallow & Marsh Vanilla Mallows contain milk and beef gelatine, so their Fairtrade cocoa claim does not establish vegan suitability.
Check vegan labelling, ingredients and allergen advice separately on the pack you receive.
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Comparing packs without checking portions
A pack’s weight does not tell you the sugars in the serving you intend to eat.
Compare the stated serving sizes and sugars figures on the products’ current labels.
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Accepting a substitute without checking its label
Another marshmallow product may have different Fairtrade wording, ingredients or allergen advice.
Set substitution preferences before checkout and inspect any replacement before use.
Relevant brand and retailer references
Mallow & Marsh
The Fairtrade Foundation names Mallow & Marsh in connection with Fairtrade cocoa; Asda Groceries gives a cocoa-specific mass-balance statement for its Vanilla Mallows listing.
- The reviewed vanilla product has an identifiable Fairtrade cocoa claim.
- Its cocoa claim does not cover every ingredient, and the reviewed product contains milk, soya and beef gelatine.
Dandies
Asda Groceries lists Dandies Vegan Vanilla Flavoured Marshmallows 200g as vegan and gelatine-free.
- The reviewed product offers a labelled gelatine-free option.
- Vegan labelling does not establish Fairtrade sourcing; check the product’s own claim if that matters.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists both a Mallow & Marsh chocolate-covered vanilla bar with a Fairtrade claim and its own Pink and White Marshmallows.
- The individual listings allow shoppers to distinguish the chocolate-covered bar from a standard marshmallow bag.
- Waitrose Pink and White Marshmallows list beef gelatine; a claim on another product must not be applied to this one.
A Joybuy marshmallow option
This 200g bag is an option for a standard marshmallow order when a Fairtrade cocoa claim is not the deciding requirement. Check the current label if Fairtrade sourcing, gelatine or allergens affect your choice.
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Morrisons Marshmallows 200g
A 200g pack to consider for sharing or adding to hot drinks and baking. Check the current product label for ingredients, allergen advice and any Fairtrade claim before relying on it for those requirements.
Questions about Fairtrade marshmallows
Does Fairtrade cocoa mean the whole marshmallow is Fairtrade?
No. The Asda Groceries listing for Mallow & Marsh Vanilla Mallows identifies cocoa as Fairtrade and says it may be mixed with non-certified cocoa on a mass-balance basis. Check the claim on the exact product rather than extending it to every ingredient.
Are chocolate marshmallows with Fairtrade cocoa vegan?
Not necessarily: the reviewed Mallow & Marsh Vanilla Mallows contain milk and beef gelatine. Check vegan suitability separately; Asda Groceries labels its Dandies Vanilla marshmallows vegan and gelatine-free, but that labelling does not itself establish a Fairtrade claim.
What if an online order contains a substitute?
Check the substitute’s own Fairtrade wording, ingredients and allergen advice before accepting it for the same purpose. A similar-looking marshmallow need not meet the requirement that led you to choose the original item.
How can I compare sugars between marshmallow packs?
Compare the stated serving sizes and sugars per serving, using the per 100g figures where you need a like-for-like label comparison. Do not treat a Fairtrade cocoa claim as information about the product’s sugar content.