When shopping for vegan biscuits, don’t rely on a dark coating or the word ‘plain’: check the vegan label and the ingredients of the specific chocolate-coated biscuit. Look out for ingredients such as milk powder, butter oil and egg. If you have a milk allergy, also check the allergen information and any warnings about possible traces separately.
You want to avoid animal-derived ingredients, even when a biscuit has a dark chocolate coating. For the chocolate varieties from Lotus Biscoff and Verkade that we looked at, the ingredients of the specific variety make all the difference.
You need to check not only whether a product is vegan, but also its separate allergen information and any warnings about possible traces of milk.
You’re after a ready-made biscuit and want to know whether it has a chocolate coating. A vegan cookie mix with chocolate chips needs to be prepared at home and results in a different kind of product.
Start by checking the ingredients of the specific variety, then consider whether the product type, allergen information and availability suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan ingredients | Look for a vegan label and read the ingredients for the specific variety, including those in the coating. Look out for milk powder, butter oil and egg. | I want a chocolate-coated biscuit without animal-derived ingredients, so I won’t rely on the word ‘plain’ alone. For around 42% of shoppers, the vegan ingredients would be the first thing to consider. |
| Allergens | Check the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statements separately from the vegan label. | If I have a milk allergy, I also need to take possible traces into account. For around 25% of shoppers, checking allergens would be the top priority. |
| Type of biscuit | Check whether the chocolate is a coating or comes in separate pieces, and whether the biscuit is ready to eat or needs baking. | I’m specifically looking for a biscuit with a chocolate coating; a baking mix with chocolate chips isn’t the same product. For around 17% of shoppers, the type of biscuit they want would be the main consideration. |
| Availability | Check current availability and read the packaging again when you buy. | I want to be able to buy a product rather than rely on an old product page. For around 16% of shoppers, current availability would be the main consideration. |
According to Lotus Bakeries, the Lotus Biscoff chocolate variety contains ingredients including skimmed milk powder and butter oil. So the type of chocolate alone doesn’t tell you enough about the whole biscuit.
Read the ingredients for the specific variety before choosing it.
A vegan label and information about possible traces answer different questions. A warning about traces may matter to someone with a milk allergy.
Check the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement separately.
These terms describe different properties. Jumbo states that its gluten-free and lactose-free Céréal chocolate biscuits may contain egg and milk proteins.
Check each property you need separately on the packaging.
A product page doesn’t guarantee that a snack is still available to order. Jumbo says its vegan chocolate, cranberry and oat biscuit is no longer part of its online range.
Check current availability before searching for a specific product or ordering it.
A brand having chocolate biscuits or vegan products in its range doesn’t mean that every chocolate-coated variety is vegan. Always check the specific product.
Albert Heijn sells chocolate biscuits as well as a mix labelled as vegan for chocolate chip cookies.
Jumbo has a chocolate biscuit category and product information for a range of chocolate snacks.
Lidl also lists vegan biscuits in its Sondey range.
Verkade Bites biscuit balls with milk chocolate are biscuit pieces with a chocolate coating.
Lotus Biscoff has a chocolate-coated speculoos biscuit.
ALDI lists chocolate biscuits under its Biscotto own-brand range.
No. For its chocolate Biscoff variety, Lotus Bakeries lists ingredients including skimmed milk powder and butter oil. So check the ingredients of the specific biscuit, not just the type of chocolate.
No. A vegan label doesn’t replace checking allergens and possible traces. Check the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the specific packaging.
No. ‘Gluten-free’ and ‘lactose-free’ don’t, on their own, tell you whether a chocolate biscuit is vegan. For example, Jumbo says its gluten-free and lactose-free Céréal chocolate biscuits may contain egg and milk proteins. Check the ingredients and allergen information separately.
Product information can change. Albert Heijn recommends checking the packaging for the latest ingredients, nutritional information and dietary or allergen information for the product you’re buying.
