If you want verifiably Fairtrade cocoa with your speculaas snack, choose a product that makes this claim about its cocoa. Jumbo lists it for Verkade milk chocolate with speculaas pieces. This is a chocolate snack, not a pack of speculaas biscuits, so check the packaging too to see whether the Fairtrade claim applies to the cocoa alone.
If Fairtrade is a must for you, check which ingredient the claim applies to. According to Fairtrade International, the Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark refers to the ingredient specifically named, such as cocoa.
You’re mainly looking for a biscuit to enjoy in the afternoon and want to know whether a chocolate snack with speculaas pieces is the same kind of choice. Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a biscuit to enjoy with coffee and as a snack.
You check the ingredients and allergens for the specific product before choosing it. Information can vary between products, whether you’re looking at chocolate with speculaas pieces or a filled bar. Read any ‘may contain’ warnings too.
First decide whether Fairtrade cocoa is essential for you. Then choose the type of snack you want and check the current label for ingredients and allergens.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Check which ingredient the mark applies to and whether the packaging mentions mass balance. | For my afternoon snack, I want chocolate with an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim, not just a different certification. An estimated 50% of consumers prioritise this cocoa claim. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement. | If I need to take allergens into account, I only choose after reading this product’s label. This is the most important consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Type of snack | Compare a biscuit with chocolate and crumbs with a filled bar; check the portion information too. | With my afternoon coffee, I want to know whether I’m buying a biscuit or a chocolate snack. Around 20% of consumers consider the type of snack the most important factor. |
A Rainforest Alliance claim doesn’t confirm that the cocoa is Fairtrade certified. This distinction matters if Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase.
Look for FAIRTRADE, Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient or an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim on the product you choose.
According to Fairtrade International, Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient applies to the named ingredient. The black FAIRTRADE mark on a composite product means that all ingredients available as Fairtrade are Fairtrade certified.
Check which mark appears on the packaging and which ingredient it applies to. If the packaging mentions mass balance, read the accompanying explanation too.
Verkade milk chocolate with speculaas pieces is primarily chocolate; a standard speculaas biscuit and a filled bar are different types of snack.
Read the product description to see whether the speculaas is the biscuit itself, has been added as crumbs or is part of a filling.
An image may not show all the information on the pack. For the Verkade product described by Jumbo, the listed ingredients include milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat, with a warning about possible nuts.
When you buy, check the ingredients, allergens and ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging of the product you choose.
Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate with speculaas pieces and Fairtrade cocoa is one of your criteria.
A biscuit option if you’re mainly looking for something to enjoy with coffee or tea.
A retailer option where the claim on the individual product is what counts.
Worth considering if you want to enjoy Fairtrade chocolate alongside a separate speculaas biscuit.
No. According to Fairtrade International, this mark refers to the specific ingredient named, such as cocoa. The black FAIRTRADE mark on a composite product has a broader meaning: all ingredients available as Fairtrade are then Fairtrade certified. So check which mark and ingredient are shown on the packaging.
No. A Rainforest Alliance claim doesn’t confirm that the cocoa is Fairtrade. If this certification is essential to you, look for the Fairtrade claim on the packaging of a product with speculaas.
Always read the current allergen information for the specific product. For the Verkade milk chocolate with speculaas described, Jumbo lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat, among other ingredients, and gives a warning about possible nuts. Don’t assume this information applies to other snacks.
No. An old product listing doesn’t confirm that the product is currently available to buy. Albert Heijn says that AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade has been discontinued. If you’re looking for an alternative, check the current product page and the packaging of the product you actually choose.
