If Fairtrade cocoa is a must for your child’s school lunch, choose only a chocolate spritz biscuit whose packaging or product information explicitly makes that claim; Albert Heijn does so for Verkade Nobo Milk Chocolate Spritz Biscuits. Before packing it, check the allergens and the school’s rules, and treat the spritz biscuit as a snack alongside lunch, not a replacement for it. Fairtrade International explains that mass balance may be used for cocoa. This means a Fairtrade claim does not necessarily mean that the cocoa in every individual pack has been kept physically separate.
If an explicit Fairtrade claim about the cocoa matters more to you than a product name that simply sounds sustainable, check the details. Also look at what any mention of mass balance means for traceability.
If you need to compare the ingredients and warnings on the packaging with what your child can eat and what the school allows, this is for you.
If you’re thinking of including a spritz biscuit as a treat, consider the portion size, nutritional information and the rest of the lunch.
First, check that the Fairtrade claim relates to the cocoa. Then make sure the spritz biscuit you choose is suitable for any allergies and complies with the school’s rules. Finally, decide how it fits alongside lunch.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim about the cocoa on the current packaging or product page. Read any explanation of mass balance. | If I pack chocolate spritz biscuits, I want to know whether the cocoa meets my Fairtrade requirement. For around 45% of consumers, this confirmation comes first. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the current allergen information, including any warnings about possible traces, and check what your child’s school allows. | When packing lunch, I need to be able to judge whether the biscuit is suitable for my child and complies with the school’s rules. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Its place alongside lunch | Check the portion size and nutritional information per 100 g or per serving, and consider the rest of the lunch. | I want to include a biscuit as a small treat without making it the whole lunch. Around 22% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
The name of PLUS Chocolate Spritz Biscuits Fairtrade includes the term, but the ingredients information refers to Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. That statement alone does not confirm the cocoa is Fairtrade.
If Fairtrade cocoa is a must for you, check the current packaging to see which certification is listed for the cocoa.
Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa. This means Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa may be mixed during processing, while the Fairtrade volumes are tracked.
If keeping the cocoa physically separate is essential to you, look for a suitable explanation of how it is traced.
The product information for Verkade Nobo Milk Chocolate Spritz Biscuits lists wheat and gluten, milk and soya, and warns that nuts and sesame may be present.
Check the packaging again when you buy the biscuits and before packing them. Don’t rely solely on online information you looked at earlier.
A chocolate spritz biscuit is still a biscuit, even when the cocoa carries a Fairtrade claim. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also advises parents to check their secondary school’s food policy.
If you wish, pack a spritz biscuit as a small extra and make sure the rest of the lunch fits the school’s rules.
Albert Heijn states that the chocolate coating on Verkade Nobo Milk Chocolate Spritz Biscuits contains Fairtrade cocoa. Check the claim for each variant; it doesn’t automatically apply to other Verkade spritz biscuits.
PLUS Chocolate Spritz Biscuits Fairtrade shows why you need to read the product name and the cocoa information separately.
AH Butter Spritz Biscuits are an alternative to consider if you’re looking for a traditional butter spritz biscuit and chocolate with Fairtrade cocoa isn’t a requirement.
Yes, Albert Heijn states that the chocolate coating on this variant contains Fairtrade cocoa. Check the packaging when you buy it. Fairtrade International explains that mass balance may be used for cocoa, so the claim does not guarantee that the cocoa in every pack has been kept physically separate.
Yes, the product information lists wheat and cereals containing gluten. It also lists milk and soya, and warns that nuts and sesame may be present. Always check the current packaging before packing the biscuits.
Read the allergen information and warnings on the current packaging, and check the school’s rules. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
