Anyone looking for a Fairtrade claim on spritz biscuits
You want to buy a ready-made biscuit and check that Fairtrade is specifically stated for the cocoa or chocolate coating. A different sustainability claim is not the same thing.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone baking their own spritz biscuits
You’re looking for dough ingredients and want to choose any cocoa or chocolate separately. A packaged spritz biscuit won’t replace the ingredients in a baking recipe.
Anyone checking ingredients and allergens
Read the current packaging before you choose. For Verkade spritz biscuits, Albert Heijn’s product information lists milk, wheat and soya, among other ingredients. It’s also worth checking for information about possible traces.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide whether you want to serve spritz biscuits or make your own dough. Then check the selected product for its cocoa claim and ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for an explicit Fairtrade or Fairtrade Cocoa claim for the cocoa. Rainforest Alliance is a different claim. | If Fairtrade is essential to me, I want to see the claim for the cocoa rather than relying on a different certification. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Biscuit or baking ingredient | Check whether you’re buying a ready-to-eat spritz biscuit or cocoa or chocolate to use separately in your recipe. | If you want to make your own dough, a packaged biscuit won’t give you the ingredients you need. The right type of product is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and details of possible traces on the packaging. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check the packaging before choosing a chocolate spritz biscuit. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Mistaking Rainforest Alliance for Fairtrade
Jumbo states that its dark chocolate spritz biscuits contain Rainforest Alliance cocoa. That doesn’t confirm that the biscuits contain Fairtrade cocoa.
If Fairtrade is a must, look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the product you choose.
-
Buying a ready-to-eat spritz biscuit for a baking recipe
A ready-made biscuit won’t give you dough. Albert Heijn’s spritz biscuit recipe uses butter, sugar, egg and wheat flour, among other ingredients.
If you’re baking your own, buy the ingredients for the recipe and choose any Fairtrade cocoa or chocolate separately.
-
Relying on an old ingredients list
The ingredients and possible traces listed for a chocolate spritz biscuit may affect your choice.
Before eating, read the information on the packaging of the product you’ve actually bought.
-
Assuming Fairtrade means all cocoa is physically separated
Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa. So a Fairtrade claim doesn’t automatically mean that every batch of cocoa in the biscuit has been kept physically separate.
If physical separation matters to you, check what traceability information the product provides.
Relevant brands and retailer information
Verkade
A relevant choice if you’re looking for ready-made spritz biscuits with an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim.
- For its 150 g Verkade Nobo Milk Chocolate Spritz Biscuits, Albert Heijn states that the milk chocolate is Fairtrade and includes the Fairtrade Cocoa claim.
- The claim applies to the cocoa in the chocolate coating, not necessarily to every ingredient in the biscuit.
Jumbo
An alternative to consider if you’re looking at spritz biscuits with a different cocoa claim.
- Jumbo lists a 200 g spritz biscuit with dark chocolate.
- The product information states that the cocoa is Rainforest Alliance certified. This won’t meet a requirement specifically for Fairtrade.
Albert Heijn
A retailer with product information about Verkade spritz biscuits and a separate recipe for baking your own.
- The product information helps you check the chocolate coating and ingredients in the Verkade version, while the recipe shows what you need to make the dough.
- Check the Fairtrade claim for each product you choose: the retailer’s name says nothing about the cocoa claim on a different spritz biscuit.
Products for serving or baking your own
These products serve two different purposes: a ready-made chocolate spritz biscuit to serve, and separate cocoa or chocolate to consider if you’re baking your own. Check that the additions in the chocolate bar and how you plan to use it are suitable for your recipe.
Image unavailable
Verkade Nobo Milk Chocolate Spritz Biscuits 150 g
A ready-made spritz biscuit for anyone looking for a biscuit with an explicit Fairtrade claim for its chocolate coating—not for anyone who wants to make their own dough.
Albert Heijn states that this version contains 15% milk chocolate. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens, including information about nuts and sesame.
Image unavailable
Fairtrade cocoa powder 125 g
Cocoa powder for anyone baking their own spritz biscuits and wanting to choose a Fairtrade cocoa ingredient separately. You’ll still need the other ingredients for the dough.
Image unavailable
Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate caramel sea salt 90 g
A separate chocolate bar for anyone who wants to choose the chocolate component of their spritz biscuits, rather than buying a ready-made biscuit or plain cocoa powder.
Check that the caramel and sea salt suit your recipe and that the bar is suitable for the way you plan to use it. Remember to check for milk and soya in the ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
Do Verkade Nobo Milk Chocolate Spritz Biscuits carry a Fairtrade claim?
Yes, for the cocoa in the chocolate coating: Albert Heijn describes the chocolate as Fairtrade milk chocolate and includes the Fairtrade Cocoa claim for these biscuits. Check the packaging of the product you buy too.
Can I use ready-made spritz biscuits instead of ingredients to bake my own?
No, a ready-to-eat spritz biscuit won’t replace the dough. Albert Heijn’s recipe uses butter, sugar, egg and wheat flour, among other ingredients, to make the dough. Choose any Fairtrade cocoa or chocolate separately.
Can the cocoa in a Fairtrade spritz biscuit always be traced physically to separate batches?
No, not necessarily. Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa, so a Fairtrade claim doesn’t guarantee that every batch has been kept completely physically separate.
Which allergens should I check in Verkade Nobo Milk Chocolate Spritz Biscuits?
Check the information for milk, wheat and soya, and read the current packaging for details about nuts and sesame. A Fairtrade claim doesn’t change the ingredients or allergens in the biscuits.