The host who wants to verify a cocoa claim
Before the get-together, you want to be able to check on the packaging whether a Fairtrade claim really applies to the cocoa in the product you’ve chosen.
Who is this choice relevant to?
The host who takes allergies into account
You check the current ingredients list, allergen information and any cross-contamination warning before offering biscuits or chocolate to your guests.
The host who wants biscuits that are easy to share
You choose between individual biscuits, individually wrapped portions and break-apart chocolate, depending on how you want to serve your treats.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a Fairtrade cocoa claim on a single speculaas chocolate product, or whether you’d prefer to serve biscuits with chocolate chosen separately. Then check the information on both packages, especially if any guests have allergies.
Speculaas chocolate with a Fairtrade cocoa claim
When to choose it: Choose this option if you want biscuits and chocolate in one shareable product and want to check the cocoa claim on that product. Jumbo lists Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Cocoa for Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate 135 g.
Things to consider: The claim describes how the cocoa was sourced using mass balance; it doesn’t mean all the ingredients have Fairtrade status. Check the allergens before sharing the chocolate, too.
Biscuits with chocolate chosen separately
When to choose it: Choose this combination if you want to serve speculaas or speculoos as biscuits and select Fairtrade chocolate separately.
Things to consider: A Fairtrade claim on the chocolate says nothing about the biscuits’ certification or ingredients. Check both labels.
| What to consider | What to check | Especially relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Check the specific product to see whether the Fairtrade claim applies to the cocoa and which sourcing method is stated. | If the cocoa claim is my main reason for buying, I want to be able to find it on the product before serving it. Around 50% of consumers put this check first. |
| Format and ease of sharing | Check the pack size and choose between individual biscuits, individually wrapped portions or break-apart chocolate. | For a sharing plate or biscuits with coffee, I want a format that suits how I’ll serve them. Ease of sharing matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any cross-contamination warning. | If a guest has an allergy, I want to be able to check the packaging before offering them anything. Around 20% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a retailer’s cocoa policy for a product claim
Albert Heijn says its own-brand cocoa is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified. That policy doesn’t confirm that a specific branded product or every speculaas variety contains Fairtrade cocoa.
Use a retailer’s policy to find products you’d like to look into, then check the Fairtrade claim on the packaging or product page for the item you’ve chosen.
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Assuming Fairtrade cocoa means all the ingredients are Fairtrade
Jumbo describes the Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Cocoa in Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate as cocoa sourced under Fairtrade terms using mass balance. This is not a claim about all the ingredients.
When explaining what you’ve bought to guests, be clear about which ingredient the claim applies to.
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Reading only the front of the packaging
The product name or a prominent claim won’t tell you which allergens it contains or how its nutritional values are made up.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. If you want to compare the nutritional values of different options, Voedingscentrum recommends checking the values per 100 g.
Brands and retailers to consider
Verkade
Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate 135 g is a specific example of speculaas chocolate for which Jumbo displays a Fairtrade cocoa claim.
- Jumbo specifies that the cocoa was sourced under Fairtrade terms using mass balance.
- The claim doesn’t automatically apply to all the ingredients. Jumbo lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat; the product may also contain almonds and hazelnuts.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff is an option if you want to serve speculoos biscuits with coffee or as a treat on their own.
- Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy, caramelised biscuit; Albert Heijn lists several pack formats.
- Check any Fairtrade cocoa claim only on the packaging of the specific variety.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers a range of speculaas and speculoos varieties, and also explains its policy on cocoa in own-brand products.
- Albert Heijn says all cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified.
- This wording doesn’t confirm that a particular own-brand product contains Fairtrade cocoa, and it doesn’t automatically apply to branded products.
Jumbo
For Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate 135 g, Jumbo specifies how the cocoa was sourced under Fairtrade terms.
- The product information lets you check the cocoa claim for this chocolate specifically.
- A Fairtrade category or a claim on one product says nothing about the status of other biscuits or speculaas products.
Lidl
Lidl may be worth considering if you want to serve chocolate separately with speculaas and are looking at a seasonal Favorina product.
- Lidl says all Favorina seasonal chocolate is Fairtrade certified.
- This doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status for Lidl speculaas in general or for chocolate from other brands. Check the product you’ve chosen.
Biscuits for your neighbourhood get-together at Joybuy
These speculaas and speculoos biscuits suit the option of serving biscuits and choosing chocolate separately. If you want to serve Fairtrade cocoa, check the claim on the specific chocolate you choose to go with them; check the allergens in both products, too.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas, 8 pieces, 200 g
An option if you want to hand out individually wrapped speculaas biscuits. The pack contains 8 pieces and weighs 200 g. Check the current allergen information on the packaging before sharing.
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De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas 450 g
A 450 g pack of bakery-style speculaas for anyone who wants to serve biscuits on a plate. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens before offering them to guests.
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g'woon Almond Speculaas 400 g
An almond speculaas option for serving with coffee or tea. The pack weighs 400 g. If any guests have allergies, check all the information on the current packaging.
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Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Cookie 250 g
Speculoos biscuits for serving on their own with coffee. This pack weighs 250 g; Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy, caramelised biscuit. If any guests have allergies, check the current label.
Frequently asked questions
Can I call speculaas Fairtrade because the supermarket uses certified cocoa?
No. A supermarket’s cocoa policy doesn’t confirm the Fairtrade status of a specific speculaas product. Albert Heijn says its own-brand cocoa is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified, so check the claim on the product you want to serve.
What does Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Cocoa mean on Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate?
According to Jumbo’s product information, it means the cocoa was sourced under Fairtrade terms using the mass balance principle. The claim applies to the cocoa; it doesn’t confirm that all the ingredients are Fairtrade.
What should I check if guests have allergies?
Check the allergens and any cross-contamination warning on the current packaging of both the biscuits and the chocolate. For Verkade Speculaas Milk Chocolate, Jumbo lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat, with possible traces of almonds and hazelnuts; don’t assume this information applies to other products.
How do I compare the nutritional value of different biscuits?
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g so that differences in stated serving sizes don’t skew the comparison. Voedingscentrum recommends using this basis when comparing products; also check the ingredients list for each variety.