If you want to make a Fairtrade choice for a biscuit to serve alongside rusks with aniseed sprinkles, look for a claim that applies specifically to that spiced biscuit or speculoos variety. Vermeiren Princeps lists Fairtrade ingredients for its organic spelt speculoos. Rusks and aniseed sprinkles remain the basis of the traditional treat; if you’re adding an extra biscuit, check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging too.
A general sustainability message isn’t enough for you. You want to see which product or ingredients a Fairtrade claim applies to. According to its own product information, Vermeiren Princeps makes organic spelt speculoos with Fairtrade ingredients.
You want to keep the familiar combination for a new baby celebration. Albert Heijn lists rusks as a serving suggestion for De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles; you can offer spiced biscuits separately as an extra treat.
If you have a food allergy, a biscuit’s name is no substitute for checking the label on the variety you’ve chosen. For spelt speculoos, look out for spelt being listed as a type of wheat, and check whether the product contains soya.
First decide whether you’re looking for a verifiable Fairtrade claim, want to put together the traditional treat, or mainly need to check the ingredients in an extra biscuit.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check whether the claim applies to the variety you’ve chosen and whether it covers the product or specific ingredients. | I want to know whether Fairtrade really applies to the biscuit I’m buying, not just another product from the same brand. Around 42% of consumers put this kind of verifiable Fairtrade choice first. |
| Occasion | Choose rusks and aniseed sprinkles for the traditional combination; consider spiced biscuits as a separate treat. | For a visit to meet the new baby, I want to serve rusks with aniseed sprinkles and offer spiced biscuits only as an extra. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this serving occasion. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label on the variety you’ve chosen, paying particular attention to cereals containing gluten and soya where relevant. | If I’m choosing biscuits for someone with a food allergy, I want to be able to check the ingredients on that specific pack. For around 25% of consumers, ingredients and allergens are the top priority. |
According to Lotus Bakeries, cocoa in certain other product ranges is Rainforest Alliance certified. That is not a Fairtrade claim for a standard Biscoff biscuit.
Check the pack or product page for the item you’ve chosen to see which claim applies and exactly what it covers.
Spelt is a type of wheat. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says spelt must be clearly identified as wheat on the label; soya is also something to watch for in the Vermeiren spelt speculoos described here.
If you have a food allergy, don’t rely on the product name. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.
Spiced biscuits are different from the rusks that aniseed sprinkles are usually served on. Adding an extra biscuit won’t preserve the traditional combination if the rusks are missing.
If you’re serving rusks with aniseed sprinkles, buy those two items first, then choose a separate biscuit if you wish.
Availability can change. Albert Heijn also points out that product ingredients and allergen information may change.
Check which variety is available shortly before you buy. When it arrives, read the label again if the Fairtrade claim or ingredients are important to your choice.
Makes a range of products, including organic spelt speculoos for which the brand lists Fairtrade ingredients.
Hellema’s range includes coffee biscuits, spiced biscuit chunks and windmill-shaped spiced biscuits.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crisp, caramelised speculoos biscuit.
No. A claim for cocoa doesn’t automatically apply to the whole biscuit. Fairtrade International has a standard for cocoa; check exactly what the product claim applies to for the spiced biscuit or speculoos variety you’ve chosen.
You can serve spiced biscuits, but they aren’t the traditional combination of rusks with aniseed sprinkles. To keep the traditional pairing, use rusks as the base and offer spiced biscuits separately if you like.
Don’t assume it is: spelt is a type of wheat. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says spelt must be clearly linked to wheat on the label; check the current allergen information for every variety.
Check the information for the exact variety you’re buying, and read the label on the pack you receive too. This is especially important if an ingredient or allergen affects your choice, as recipes and online product information can change.
