If you want to offer speculaas as Fairtrade at a school fair, check the packaging of the exact product to see what the FAIRTRADE mark applies to. A Fairtrade brand or shop doesn’t automatically make a biscuit Fairtrade. If your main priority is Fairtrade chocolate, you can use it in homemade or decorated speculaas. However, don’t describe the whole biscuit as Fairtrade without checking, and make sure you have the allergen information ready before selling.
If cocoa or chocolate is part of the story at your stall, you’ll want to know exactly which ingredient the certification applies to. Fairtrade International advises checking the explanation on the back of the packaging when the mark includes an arrow.
Individually wrapped biscuits can make handing them out at a busy stall easier. Albert Heijn lists a pack of Lotus Speculoos containing 300 individually wrapped biscuits; this alone says nothing about Fairtrade certification.
Check in advance which allergies, dietary requirements and rules about treats you need to consider. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking whether children are unable or not allowed to eat certain products. Allergen information also needs attention when selling unwrapped food.
First decide whether the whole speculaas needs to be Fairtrade, or whether using chocolate that is demonstrably Fairtrade-certified as an ingredient is enough. Then choose a serving option that lets you manage portions and allergen information.
Choose this if: you want to hand out biscuits with minimal preparation.
Bear in mind: individual wrapping doesn’t prove Fairtrade status; check the certification of the biscuit you choose.
Choose this if: your main priority is being able to verify the origin of the chocolate you use.
Bear in mind: homemade biscuits require preparation and an approach to allergens; the chocolate’s certification doesn’t automatically apply to the whole biscuit.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade status | Check the FAIRTRADE mark on the biscuit or chocolate. If it has an arrow, read the explanation about ingredients and sourcing methods. | If I want to describe the chocolate as Fairtrade, I want to see on the packaging exactly what that claim refers to. For around 36% of consumers, verifiable Fairtrade status comes first. |
| Allergens and school requirements | Read the current ingredient and allergen information, and ask the school which rules apply to the fair. | If children need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what I can offer them before selling. Allergens and school requirements are the main concern for an estimated 29% of consumers. |
| Serving and portions | Choose between individually wrapped biscuits and portions you divide yourself; check the pack contents. | At a busy stall, I want to hand out biscuits without having to portion them on the spot. Quick serving comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Quantity and availability | Check the pack size and whether the exact product is available shortly before buying. | If I need to arrange enough portions in good time, I want to know whether I can get the pack I’ve chosen. Availability and quantity matter most to an estimated 14% of consumers. |
A certification mark may apply to a specific product or ingredient, not everything sold by a brand or supermarket. For products with several ingredients, the packaging may explain which ingredients and sourcing methods the mark covers.
At your stall, make only Fairtrade claims that match the label on the exact biscuit or chocolate you’re using.
The speculoos products reviewed show why these two labels aren’t interchangeable: Albert Heijn lists wheat in AH Speculoos biscuits, while the product specification for Lotus Speculoos lists wheat and soya, among other ingredients.
Check the current allergen information on the packaging of the product you choose, and discuss any relevant allergies and dietary requirements with the school in advance.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, sellers covered by the rules for unpackaged food must inform customers about any allergens present before purchase. Additional requirements apply when giving this information verbally.
Check with the organiser which rules apply to the stall. Where necessary, provide written or electronic allergen information, or meet the requirements for giving information verbally, including displaying a clearly visible notice.
A previous offer or listing in a product range doesn’t tell you which product will be available on the day you shop.
Check the exact product, pack size and certification again before deciding how many portions you need.
These brands offer options to explore for biscuits or chocolate, but that doesn’t mean their entire range is classed as Fairtrade speculaas. Always check the packaging of the product you choose.
An option to consider if individually wrapped speculoos would make handing out biscuits easier.
A place to compare standard speculoos with individual chocolate products.
Chocolate to consider if you want a verifiable Fairtrade element in a homemade or decorated biscuit.
A supermarket to explore for chocolate carrying a suitable certification mark.
A possible place to look for chocolate for a school fair product.
Check the FAIRTRADE mark on the chocolate’s current packaging. Fairtrade International explains that an arrow next to the mark points to information on the back. For products with several ingredients, read which ingredients and sourcing methods it applies to.
If the rules for offering or selling unpackaged food apply to the stall, information about any allergens present must be available before purchase. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority allows you to provide this information verbally, subject to certain conditions: it must be immediately available, remain available to staff and inspectors in written or electronic form, and a clearly visible notice must tell customers they can ask for it. Agree the approach for this school fair with the organiser.
No, a vegan label is no substitute for allergen information. The AH Speculoos biscuits reviewed list wheat and may contain barley, oats and rye; the Lotus Speculoos reviewed lists wheat and soya, among other ingredients. Always check the label on the pack you’re actually using.
They can be useful if volunteers need to hand out lots of biscuits quickly without portioning them themselves. Albert Heijn lists a pack of Lotus Speculoos containing 300 individually wrapped biscuits. Discuss how you’ll serve them with the school, and check allergens and any Fairtrade claim separately.
