FAQ
General
Of course you don’t want to share chocolate that’s really super delicious. But do you always have the guts to admit it? That’s why we started our brand in 2013 under the name Hands Off My Chocolate: so we could say it for you. Ain’t that nice? At the beginning of 2023 we changed course and decided to only make plant-based chocolate and thus fight for chocolate that does not melt the earth. To reinforce this choice, we changed our brand name to Hands Off. Because: not only Hands Off My Chocolate, but also Hands Off Our Planet!
Hands Off chocolate bars are available in the following supermarkets: Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Vomar, Plus, Deka, Spar, and Picnic. The offer may differ per supermarket chain and per store.
We don’t understand that either! ;-) It can help to contact the customer service at the supermarket’s head office about this by sending them a message via social media.
Ingredients
Our cocoa comes from Ghana and Ivory Coast. We work together with farmers’ cooperatives in Ghana and Ivory Coast. The cocoa farmers who are members of these cooperatives receive a premium price for their cocoa and receive impactful training and support.
Some chocolates contain or may contain traces of gluten, nuts, soy or other allergens, so it’s important to check the ingredients list. If a product contains allergens, you will find these in bold in the ingredients list on the website with the product and on the packaging. You can also find traces that the product may contain here. Even though our products are plant-based, they may contain traces of milk (lactose)!
All our products are 100% plant-based and therefore contain no milk or lactose in terms of recipe. But because our products are made in a factory where other products with milk are also produced, they may contain traces of milk/lactose!
Our chocolate bars are peanut free. Our Bites are not!
Plant-based chocolate
Plant-based chocolate is made without milk and other animal products, while conventional chocolate often contains milk powder. It is therefore a vegan option for chocolate lovers who do not want to consume animal products. For example, to reduce their impact on the environment or because of animal suffering.
Like most chocolates, our plant-based chocolate is made with cocoa butter, cocoa powder and sugar. Instead of cow’s milk, we use sunflower seed powder, which is known for its ability to mimic the creaminess of milk. To make our chocolate even more delicious, we add a secret ingredient: hazelnut praline. It adds an extra touch of creaminess, and together all the flavors make sure you won’t miss the milk at all!
Yes. We also do not add honey, beeswax or other animal products to our chocolates, so our chocolate is completely vegan.
Plant-based chocolate can be healthier than conventional chocolate if it contains less sugar and saturated fats. However, it is still a treat and should be consumed in moderation.
Our chocolates may contain traces of milk because the products are made on the same product line as cow’s milk chocolate. It would be absolutely unsustainable to clean the whole line especially for our choco. We do try to limit contamination as much as possible and all ingredients are of course vegan. This is therefore not a problem for most vegans.
In general, vegan chocolate is more sustainable than ‘regular’ chocolate because it reduces the dependence on animal products in the chocolate industry. Vegan chocolate is produced without the use of milk or other dairy products, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with raising livestock. As a result, our chocolate emits more than 40% less CO2e than cow’s milk chocolate! But as with all foods, there are also sustainability challenges in the production of vegan chocolate. For example, cocoa production can lead to deforestation, soil exhaustion and loss of biodiversity. To further improve the sustainability of our chocolate, we are committed to sustainable farming practices and cocoa traceability. We also fight deforestation together with farmers.
ChoViva is a type of chocolate, but without the cocoa. Instead of cocoa beans, it’s made from sunflower seeds that are cleverly fermented to taste almost exactly like real chocolate. The great thing is: because there’s no cocoa involved, it emits up to 80% less CO₂ than regular milk chocolate. And since we use ChoViva in the filling of three of our Soft Core bars, they’re a lot more sustainable. Without you even noticing the difference in taste.
Sustainability
“KG CO2e” stands for “Kilograms of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent”. It is a unit of measurement used to express the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted by a particular activity or process. The term “CO2e” refers to the amount of carbon dioxide equivalents released in the emission of various greenhouse gasses, such as methane and nitrous oxide. Converting the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted to an equivalent in CO2 makes it possible to express the total impact of the emissions on the climate in a single unit of measurement. In short, KG CO2e is a unit of measurement used to express the amount of greenhouse gasses released during a particular activity, such as the production and transport of goods, including the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses.
We get a lot of questions about our plastic packaging. At the moment, plastic packaging is the most sustainable option for us, looking at the alternatives that are available now and also the packaging options in our factory. Of course we are always looking for alternatives. For example, we are often asked why we do not use bioplastic. This is foil made from wood fibers or another natural raw material and therefore, in theory, compostable. Unfortunately, waste processing is not yet equipped to compost these plastics (because they compost in a much longer time than the composters currently allow the green waste to compost), which means that the films are fished out and burned afterwards. These films are also not recyclable, so they cannot be included in the recycling process of plastic packaging. With a view to a circular economy in which you reuse materials, this is certainly not a more sustainable solution. For this, fresh wood must be used for every packaging. That is why we have decided, as long as there is no better alternative, to stick to plastic packaging for the time being. We have, however, reduced plastic by 25% by using thinner materials and our films are made from one type of plastic (polypropylene), making them 100% recyclable. So if you throw them neatly with the plastic waste, the packaging can be recycled and used for something else. But we also recognize the problem of plastic and hope that a good alternative will be found soon. Do you have a tip? Let us know! Would you like to know more about (sustainable) packaging? Check out the website of Milieu Centraal or the Knowledge Institute for Sustainable Packaging.
SUSTAINABLE COOKIES
Our Oaty cookies are a little different from what you might be used to. They contain 30% less sugar than our other chocolate chip cookies and also less than a few supermarket brands:
- Hands Off Oaty cookies: 24.5 g
- Hands Off Choco Chip cookies: 36.6 g
- Hands Off Double Choc cookies: 37.7 g
- Albert Heijn: 36 g
- PLUS: 37.8 g
To keep them sweet enough, we’ve replaced part of the sugar with maltodextrin. Sounds complex, but it’s simply a carbohydrate that naturally occurs in starches (like corn or rice). It’s absorbed a bit more slowly by your body than regular sugar, which means it causes slightly lower sugar spikes. Besides that, the oats and hint of cinnamon add a natural touch of sweetness. Less sugar, but still a lot of taste!
The Oaty cookies contain just a little more calories than our Choco Chip variant (about 5 kcal extra per cookie). That’s mainly due to the oats and the fats we use, but those also help you feel fuller for longer.
We don’t call it a healthy cookie (because hey, it’s still a treat to simply enjoy), but the Oaty is made a bit differently. Less sugar for those keeping an eye on it, a bit more protein and a litte more fibre thanks to the oats. Not a health snack, but definitely a cookie with a twist. We like to keep things clear, so you know exactly what you’re enjoying.
chocoshop
Shipments
If you order on working days before 2:00 PM, your order will be shipped the same working day. Normally it will arrive at your place a day later (could take longer for shipments outside of NL). Unless it is warmer than 20 degrees Celsius outside, then we will wait with sending the chocolate until it cools down (so that your choco doesn’t melt).
The shipping costs are €4.95. For shipping costs abroad, please refer to the shopping cart. If you select your country, you will automatically see the correct shipping costs. Shipping within the Netherlands is free from €50.
We also ship our chocolate to Belgium and Germany.
You can return your order within 14 days. For more information, see our shipping & returns page.
Orders
Creating an account is quite simple. Click on the figure at the top right, then you can create an account or log in with your existing account.
You can create a business account by pressing the figure at the top right and then pressing “business customer”. After creating a business account, your account will first be approved and a special Hands Off My Webshop price will be linked to your account.
Due to our fast service, changing your order is very difficult for us. If you want to make a change or cancel your order, it is important to contact us as soon as possible via the contact form.
Sometimes we have discounts or promotions. To stay informed about this, you can sign up for the newsletter and follow us on Instagram.
If you want to place larger orders for your company, you can create a business account. After approval of your account you can view adjusted prices.
Payments
If you log in to your account, the invoice is saved under my orders. If you want to pay without an account, you will receive the invoice via email.
That’s annoying. Contact us quickly via the contact form or send an email to hello@hands-off.com and we will solve it.
CAN’T FIND YOU QUESTION HERE?
Do you have a question, comment, love conviction, or do you just want to say hi?
