Only choose a speculaas bar or small portion of biscuits after checking the ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings against the allergens you need to avoid. A pack of two biscuits or individually wrapped bars can be handy for a single snack, but the portion format doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for your allergy.
If you need to avoid wheat, soya, milk, egg, peanuts or nuts, check the exact variant against the information on the current packaging. The product name alone won’t tell you whether the ingredients meet your requirements.
Warnings such as ‘may contain’ matter to you as well as the ingredients. Pay particular attention to these warnings on the almond speculaas bars mentioned here.
You’d rather have two biscuits or an individually wrapped bar than a large pack. Compare these formats only after confirming that the allergen information for the variant is suitable for you.
When choosing speculaas for yourself, start with the allergens you need to avoid, then check for any cross-contamination warnings. Portion size and other preferences only become deciding factors once you know the product may be suitable for you.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and allergens | Compare the allergens you need to avoid with the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | If an ingredient is off limits for me, I need to be able to check this before choosing a bar or biscuit. Around 42% of consumers put this exact match first. |
| Possible cross-contamination | Also read warnings such as ‘may contain’ and assess each allergen listed individually. | Even when the ingredients are suitable, a warning about possible traces could be decisive for me. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| A single-serving portion | Check the number of pieces, the weight of each bar and whether portions are individually wrapped. | Once I’ve checked the allergens, I want to be able to take a small portion with me rather than choose a large pack. This is the main consideration for around 17% of consumers. |
| Taste or nutritional information | Compare the exact product format and, if relevant to you, the nutritional values listed for that same variant. | Once I’m happy with the allergen information, I choose mainly based on taste, texture or nutritional information. Around 8% of consumers give this preference top priority. |
According to Jumbo’s product information, the Upfront Vegan Speculaas Protein Bar contains almonds and may contain egg, gluten, milk and peanuts, among other allergens. So a vegan label doesn’t answer your allergen question.
For the exact variant, check both the allergens it contains and any warnings about possible traces.
According to product information from Albert Heijn and Joybuy, the Holie’s almond speculaas bars mentioned here contain almonds and cereals containing gluten, among other allergens. A preference for a particular nutritional profile doesn’t change that.
Check the allergen information first, then compare the nutritional details.
A listing may differ from the packaging of the variant you buy, for example if the product has changed.
Read the current packaging before eating the product. If you’re unsure about the exact variant, ask the manufacturer or retailer for clarification.
Two Lotus Biscoff biscuits or a Holie’s bar make a smaller portion, but the ingredients and any warnings about traces still matter.
Choose your preferred format only after checking the allergen information for that product.
Classic speculoos, including packs of two biscuits, for anyone looking for a small biscuit portion rather than a bar.
Almond speculaas bars in portion-sized formats, including crunchy and soft bars.
Baker’s speculaas in a larger pack, as an alternative if an individually wrapped bar or small portion to take with you isn’t essential.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging for the exact variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens which must be declared should be listed in the ingredients; also check for any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
No. Don’t dismiss a warning like this without considering your individual circumstances: it indicates possible cross-contamination with the allergen named. Whether the product may be suitable for you depends on the allergen you need to avoid and the advice that applies to your situation.
No. According to Jumbo, the Upfront Vegan Speculaas Protein Bar contains almonds and may contain egg, gluten, milk, peanuts and sesame, among other allergens. So check the allergen information rather than relying on the vegan label.
Use online information for an initial comparison, but check the current packaging before eating the product. Albert Heijn points out that ingredients and allergy information can change when products are updated.
Check the packaging for the exact variant, or ask the retailer or manufacturer for product information. Lidl Netherlands refers customers to the packaging for ingredients and allergens in its food products and doesn’t provide a general online list.
