For your summer holiday, choose a product whose Fairtrade claim matches what you’re looking for. Jumbo states that the cocoa in Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate is sourced under Fairtrade terms using the mass balance principle. This doesn’t mean that all the ingredients are Fairtrade or that the cocoa has been physically segregated. Also check the allergens on the current packaging and whether you can store the product in a cool, dry, dark place.
You want to be able to see whether the claim on the product refers to cocoa or to more ingredients. Milieu Centraal and Fairtrade International distinguish between a claim for a single ingredient and a broader label for composite products.
You’re looking for a speculaas-flavoured snack for the journey and can take the storage advice into account. Jumbo says Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place.
You want to know which ingredients and potential allergens are listed on the packaging before you set off. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on food labels. Check this information separately for each product you choose.
First decide which Fairtrade claim you’re looking for, then check the allergens, storage advice and how much you want to take with you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| What Fairtrade means | Check whether the claim refers to cocoa or to more ingredients, and whether it mentions mass balance. | If a Fairtrade claim is the deciding factor for me, I want to know exactly what it applies to. Around 38% of consumers put this check first. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Compare the ingredients and the statements about allergens that are present or may be present on the current packaging. | When buying for a group with different dietary requirements, I want to be able to see which allergens are listed for each product. For around 25% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
| Storage on the go | Read the storage advice and check whether you can follow it while travelling and during your stay. | If I’m taking chocolate on a hot day, I need to be able to store it as instructed. For around 25% of consumers, storage is the main consideration. |
| How much to share | Check the pack weight and, if stated, the number of portions; assess the Fairtrade claim separately. | When I’m packing for several people, I want to choose a suitable amount. For around 12% of consumers, how much there is to share comes first. |
Fairtrade International explains that a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient claim on a composite product may apply to one selected ingredient. So a cocoa claim doesn’t automatically say anything about the speculaas ingredients.
Read the exact wording on the packaging and decide whether a claim for cocoa meets your needs.
Albert Heijn describes its certification of cocoa in own-brand products, but this doesn’t establish which Fairtrade claim appears on an individual pack of speculaas.
Check the specific product and its current packaging, even if you’re already familiar with the retailer’s range.
For Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate, Jumbo lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. It also states that the product may contain nuts, almonds and hazelnuts.
Before buying, check both the ingredients and the statements about possible traces on the pack you’ll actually be taking with you.
Jumbo advises storing Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate in a cool, dry, dark place. According to the product information, Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas also comes with storage advice, so choosing a product without chocolate doesn’t make checking it any less important.
Before setting off, check whether you can follow the instructions during your journey and at your accommodation.
Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate is worth considering if you’re looking for speculaas flavour with a product-specific Fairtrade cocoa claim.
Albert Heijn is an option if you want to browse speculaas and chocolate within the same range.
Jumbo lists both Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate and its own-brand Bakkers Speculaas, giving you two different types of product to compare.
Lidl is worth considering if you’re looking at the origin or certification claim for cocoa in chocolate.
ALDI offers a way to assess Fairtrade chocolate and plain speculaas as separate products.
No, not necessarily: Fairtrade International explains that a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient claim may apply to one selected ingredient. For Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate, Jumbo specifically states that the cocoa is sourced under Fairtrade terms using the mass balance principle. Check the pack to see which claim applies to the product.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of each product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises the importance of clear allergen information on food labels; also look for statements about possible traces.
It depends on whether you can follow the storage advice while travelling. For Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate, Jumbo advises storing it in a cool, dry, dark place. Check the instructions on your pack before you put it in your bag.
No, check the Fairtrade claim on the individual pack. Albert Heijn and Lidl describe policies for cocoa in their own-brand products, but this doesn’t establish which claim appears on a specific speculaas variety.
