Who is this relevant to?

Cake bakers who want to identify Fairtrade claims

You want to know before buying whether the Fairtrade claim applies to a finished product or to one named ingredient. Fairtrade International distinguishes between these labels.

Bakers using biscuits as a cake base

You want to crush speculaas or speculoos biscuits for a base, layer or decoration, without baking biscuits yourself. Check the Fairtrade claim on the product you choose, rather than relying on the type of biscuit.

Bakers checking ingredients and allergens

You compare the packaging with what the people sharing the food can eat. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the Lotus Speculoos shown there contains wheat and soya, among other ingredients. Check each product variant separately.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide whether you want to use ready-made biscuits or bake from scratch with individual ingredients. If Fairtrade matters to you, pay particular attention to exactly what the claim means.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
What Fairtrade means Check which certification mark appears on the packaging and whether an ingredient, such as cocoa, is named separately. Fairtrade International distinguishes between a mark for finished products and Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient, which applies to a named ingredient. I want to know whether the claim applies to the biscuit as a finished product or just to one ingredient. An estimated 36% of consumers say the meaning of the certification is their main question when buying.
How you’ll use it in the cake Choose biscuits for a base, crumb layer or decoration, or check which individual ingredients your recipe needs if you’re baking from scratch. I’m looking for biscuits to crush, or ingredients for a batter or dough; that choice determines what I buy. For around 29% of consumers, how an ingredient is used in a recipe comes first.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging you choose. The Lotus Speculoos shown by Albert Heijn contains wheat and soya; this doesn’t necessarily apply to other variants. If I’m baking for someone who needs to avoid certain allergens, I want to know what’s in the biscuits before using them. An estimated 21% of consumers say this check is their top priority.
Availability Search for the specific product or ingredient, then check the current product page and packaging for the Fairtrade claim you’re looking for. I want to find my cake ingredients at my usual shop without mistaking a category page for proof of certification. For around 14% of consumers, being able to find the product easily is the main consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking another sustainability claim for Fairtrade

    Albert Heijn says that the palm oil in Lotus Speculoos is certified. This doesn’t tell you whether the biscuits or any other ingredients carry a Fairtrade claim.

    Look on the packaging for the specific Fairtrade mark or a claim that names the Fairtrade ingredient.

  • Assuming a Fairtrade ingredient means the whole biscuit is Fairtrade-certified

    According to Fairtrade International, a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark applies to the named ingredient; the other ingredients don’t have to be sourced under Fairtrade terms.

    Check which ingredient the mark refers to. If you require certification for the finished product, check that the biscuit carries the relevant mark.

  • Assuming a shop category proves the status of every product

    A shop stocking speculaas doesn’t confirm that every variant carries a Fairtrade claim. A previous promotion at the shop doesn’t tell you anything about the product you want to buy now, either.

    Check the individual product and read the packaging before use.

  • Skipping the allergen check because they’re only biscuits

    Ingredients vary from product to product. The Lotus Speculoos shown by Albert Heijn contains wheat and soya; don’t assume that other speculaas or speculoos biscuits contain the same ingredients without checking.

    Compare the current ingredients and allergen information on your packaging with the needs of the people sharing the food.

Brands and shops to explore

Fairtrade Original

A brand to consider if you’re looking for an individual ingredient with a Fairtrade claim for a homemade cake.

  • Albert Heijn labels Fairtrade Original Cocoa Powder as FairTrade COCOA and says it can be used in baking.
  • This information applies to this cocoa product. It doesn’t automatically apply to other products from the brand or to speculaas biscuits.

Lotus Biscoff

A ready-made speculoos option to consider when you want to use biscuits in a cake.

  • Albert Heijn describes the Lotus Speculoos shown as a crunchy biscuit and lists its ingredients.
  • The statement about certified palm oil isn’t a Fairtrade claim for the biscuits. If Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase, check the current packaging.

Albert Heijn

A shop where you can check individual product information for both speculaas biscuits and Fairtrade Original Cocoa Powder.

  • The cocoa powder product page mentions FairTrade COCOA, while the speculaas category features various types of biscuits.
  • A category page doesn’t confirm the Fairtrade status of individual biscuits. Check the product you choose and its packaging.

Jumbo

A shop where you can browse individual baking ingredients and recipes for speculaas bakes.

  • Jumbo features Fairtrade Original Cocoa Powder in its Fairtrade range and publishes recipes using speculaas.
  • A recipe or product range doesn’t tell you which specific speculaas biscuits carry a Fairtrade claim; check the product packaging for that.

Lidl en ALDI

Shops where you can look for individual ingredients labelled as Fairtrade.

  • Fairtrade Nederland has described Fairtrade products sold at both shops.
  • This shop information covers promotions from May 2023. It doesn’t tell you whether the speculaas biscuits or baking ingredients you see now carry a Fairtrade claim.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Fairtrade mark on biscuits mean every ingredient is Fairtrade?

No, it doesn’t apply to every ingredient. According to Fairtrade International, for the FAIRTRADE mark on finished products, all ingredients that are available under Fairtrade terms must be Fairtrade-certified; the minimum total Fairtrade content is 20%. With Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient, the claim applies to the named ingredient, and the other ingredients don’t have to be Fairtrade.

Are Lotus Speculoos Fairtrade speculaas biscuits?

You can’t tell from the product information Albert Heijn shows for Lotus Speculoos. The statement about certified palm oil isn’t a Fairtrade claim for the biscuits. Check the current packaging for a specific Fairtrade mark or an ingredient claim.

Which Fairtrade ingredient could I use in a chocolate cake?

Fairtrade Original Cocoa Powder is one option to consider if your recipe calls for cocoa powder. Albert Heijn labels this product as FairTrade COCOA and says it can be used in baking. Check the current packaging to see exactly what the claim applies to.

Where can I check allergens when using speculaas in a cake?

Before use, read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the biscuits you’ve chosen. The European Union requires this information on pre-packed foods. For example, the Lotus Speculoos shown by Albert Heijn contains wheat and soya, but other products may differ.