Lindt Frequently Asked Questions
ORDERS & SHIPPING
How do I cancel my order?
Lindt is unable to make changes to an order after it is submitted (i.e., add to order and subtract from order), as orders are processed subsequently to meet the shipping period agreement. For cancellations call Lindt Customer Service at +1 (877) 695-4638 within 1 hour of placing your order.
Can I create custom Pick & Mix orders online??
Can I return or exchange my online purchase at Lindt Chocolate Shop
No, we do not accept any product returns or exchanges. All sales are final.
How will chocolate be kept from melting during shipping?
All orders are packed with care to ensure your chocolate arrives fresh and in delicious condition. During warmer weather periods, based on order destination, orders are cold-packed with ice packs to avoid melting.
Do you ship internationally?
At this time, we are unable to process orders from our Lindt USA website to ship to any destination outside of the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. We do not ship to Guam, Puerto Rico, Marshall Islands, Virgin Islands or Samoa.
Can I place an order from outside the US?
At this time, we are unable to accept payment from non-US credit/debit cards.
Do you ship to post office boxes?
At this time we are unable to process orders shipping to PO Boxes, and APO/FPO addresses. We request a street name for our deliveries to ensure that our product is received within the time limits we have established for the product to arrive at your door in pristine condition. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
How is sales tax calculated for my order?
Lindt.com integrates with a third party tax service, which maintains tax rules for your state or jurisdiction, in order to determine the taxability of items in your cart at checkout. Please note that some jurisdictions also charge tax on shipping. Lindt.com does not process tax exempt purchases. If you have tax exempt status and make a purchase through this site, you will be responsible for submitting a "Right to Refund or Credit for Sales Tax" form to your respective state.
ALLERGIES, NUTRITION & DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
Is there gluten or barley malt in Lindt chocolate?
Gluten can be found in several premium chocolate products that Lindt & Sprüngli produces; either as a cereal ingredient or as a barley component. For consumers who are sensitive to gluten, we do offer certain premium chocolate products that are manufactured without cereal or barley malt, which may be suitable for consumers with such dietary restrictions. These offerings include our white chocolate products, as well as high cocoa content chocolate bars from our EXCELLENCE line - 70%, 78%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 99% and 100%.
Gluten information for products available on our website can be found listed under the Nutrition Information section. Please always refer to a product's packaging for definitive information.
We are sensitive to the fact that there are consumers who are unable to enjoy all of our chocolate at this time, and we hope that in the future we will be able to extend more product offerings to accommodate our consumers with varying dietary requirements.
Are Lindt products nut allergen safe?
Unfortunately, no Lindt product is 100% guaranteed nut allergen safe. All our Lindt production sites globally are peanut free since 2016. The "may contain tree nuts" warning informs you that the product may contain minute traces of tree nuts because they are produced on the same production lines. All Lindt manufacturing facilities process nut products, so there is a potential for cross contamination. Though Lindt incorporates the most thorough cleaning process, trace amounts may cross contact with other products within the factory. According to allergen experts, a simple nut protein trace can cause an allergic reaction and we advise you to consult your physician for a consumption recommendation. Lindt is aware of the growing prevalence of restricted diets due to nut allergies, and we are sensitive to the fact that these consumers may not be able to enjoy our chocolate at this time.
Do Lindt products contain soy lecithin?
Soy lecithin can be found in our regular dark chocolate products, as well as milk and white chocolate. The EXCELLENCE 85%, 90%, 95%, 99% and 100% bars are our only products that do not contain soy lecithin. We have an allergen control program in place and adhere to a strict Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) system in order to reduce the risk of cross contamination. However, we do label all of our products with "may contain traces of soy" as a precaution for the most sensitive consumers.
Do Lindt products contain milk or whey?
Lindt uses skim milk, whole milk powder, and other dairy ingredients in many of our chocolate products. While our white and milk chocolate products contain the most, our 70%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 99% and 100% EXCELLENCE Bars and Non-dairy Oatmilk products do not have milk products in them. All Lindt manufacturing facilities process milk, dark and white chocolate products. We have an allergen control program in place, and adhere to a strict Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) system in order to reduce the risk of cross contamination, however, we do label all of our chocolate products that do not contain milk as an ingredient with the statement "may contain milk" or “Manufactured on equipment that also processes products containing milk” as a precaution for those that are most sensitive to milk and whey.
Do all EXCELLENCE bars include sesame allergen warning?
We do have a facility that produces products containing sesame. As such, we take precautions to safe-guard our consumers’ health by including the sesame allergen warning on the packaging. We also sell EXCELLENCE bars that are manufactured in a different facility which do not carry a sesame warning. Please, check the ingredient list each time to verify if a product contains sesame as an ingredient or to ensure traces as cross contamination.
Eggs or Poultry Ingredients in Lindt Products
Poultry is not used in any of Lindt products. While eggs can be an ingredient in some of our products, FDA regulations require that all egg and egg byproducts be listed out in the ingredient statement. Please always refer to the packaging for a definitive ingredient listing.
Do you sell sugar-free/reduced-sugar chocolate products?
Unfortunately, we do not make any "sugar-free" products. Sugar occurs naturally in cocoa, which we use to make our products so our products would not technically be "sugar free." We do offer products that have had no sugar added such as our Lindt No Sugar Added Milk Bars which have all the creaminess of milk chocolate with a delectably, smooth texture and sweetened with Maltitol, instead of sugar, and our No Sugar Added Dark Chocolate Bars: rich, well balanced dark chocolate with a silky, smooth texture, also sweetened with Maltitol instead of sugar.
For other low sugar choices, our line of EXCELLENCE bars are great options. Try the new 95% EXCELLENCE bar with 1 g of sugar per serving, 90% EXCELLENCE bar with only 3 g of sugar per serving, 85% bar with only 5 g of sugar per serving or the 70% bar which has 12 g of sugar per serving. We also have the EXCELLENCE 99% cocoa bar (often used for baking and also delicious). These products are available here at Lindt.com and at our Lindt Chocolate Shops.
Are Lindt chocolate products suitable for vegans?
We offer a selection of chocolates that do not contain any added animal products as an ingredient and may accommodate a vegan lifestyle. As a precaution, however, these products are also labelled with ‘may contain milk’ since they are manufactured in a facility that processes dairy. Browse our Lindt EXCELLENCE 70%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 99% and 100% Cacao bars for vegan-friendly options. See the nutritional label on our packaging for a complete list of ingredients.
Are Lindt chocolate products suitable for vegetarians?
We are happy to report that all of our chocolates – including our LINDOR and Lindt EXCELLENCE products – are suitable for vegetarians! However, some of our chocolates do use animal products but these are limited to milk, milk products, milk fat, cream, shellac and, on occasion, eggs. See the nutritional label on our packaging for a complete list of ingredients.
If you would like to know about any other products, you are welcome to contact us here.
OTHER INGREDIENTS IN LINDT PRODUCTS
Is Lindt & Sprüngli using Palm Oil and is it sourced sustainably?
Palm oil, palm kernel oil, and their fractions are used in limited amounts in certain fillings of our chocolate. Lindt & Sprüngli buys less than 0.01% of the global palm oil harvest.
While these products are important for their melting properties and for providing a neutral flavor, their production under uncontrolled conditions may be associated with environmental and social sustainability issues, including deforestation and conversion of peatlands, biodiversity loss, exploitation of workers, and adverse effects on local communities and Indigenous Peoples. However, palm oil can be produced responsibly when planted in suitable areas and with appropriate consideration for the environment and communities.
Palm oil is a high yielding vegetable oil. In comparison to soybean, rapeseed and sunflower, palm oil needs significantly less land to produce the same volume. We recognize that banning and substituting palm oil with other crops would require more land to be dedicated to vegetable oil production globally, likely at the expense of natural forest land. We believe that the best way to protect and restore the rainforest and threatened habitats is to undertake actions for a more sustainable palm oil industry. For these reasons, we only purchase palm oil certified according to the Round Table of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) sustainable standard (in Europe: RSPO’s Segregated traceability level; in US: mix of “Segregated” and “Mass Balance”), and always declare palm oil use on our product packaging. Find out more here.
While these products are important for their melting properties and for providing a neutral flavor, their production under uncontrolled conditions may be associated with environmental and social sustainability issues, including deforestation and conversion of peatlands, biodiversity loss, exploitation of workers, and adverse effects on local communities and Indigenous Peoples. However, palm oil can be produced responsibly when planted in suitable areas and with appropriate consideration for the environment and communities.
Palm oil is a high yielding vegetable oil. In comparison to soybean, rapeseed and sunflower, palm oil needs significantly less land to produce the same volume. We recognize that banning and substituting palm oil with other crops would require more land to be dedicated to vegetable oil production globally, likely at the expense of natural forest land. We believe that the best way to protect and restore the rainforest and threatened habitats is to undertake actions for a more sustainable palm oil industry. For these reasons, we only purchase palm oil certified according to the Round Table of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) sustainable standard (in Europe: RSPO’s Segregated traceability level; in US: mix of “Segregated” and “Mass Balance”), and always declare palm oil use on our product packaging. Find out more here.
Are there flavanols in Lindt chocolate?
Lindt uses a high-quality manufacturing processes which maintains the highest level of flavanols and polyphenols possible. The higher the cocoa content of the chocolate, the higher the flavanol level. We do not publish proprietary information on the flavanol levels in our chocolate.
How much caffeine is in Lindt chocolate?
Caffeine is a natural compound derived from plant sources like kola nut and naturally found in substances like coffee and tea. However, very little caffeine is found in chocolate in comparison to the amount found in the other commonly consumed sources. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide specific data on the content of caffeine in our products. However, in general, chocolates with higher cocoa contents (i.e. Lindt Excellence 85%) contain, if at all, more caffeine than products with lower cocoa contents. White chocolate does not contain any caffeine at all.
Do Lindt products contain alcohol?
Only a very few Lindt chocolate products contain alcohol or alcoholic liqueurs as an ingredient. If alcohol is used as an added ingredient, it will be listed in the product's ingredient list located in the nutritional section of the pack or wrapper.
Are there trans-fats or hydrogenated oils in Lindt chocolate?
For the production of our solid chocolates, the only vegetable fat Lindt & Sprüngli uses is pure cocoa butter. Fillings may contain other vegetable fats. Milk fat is used in milk chocolate recipes or in selected filling masses. In this context, we would point out that none of our products contain trans-fats or hydrogenated fats.
Why can't I find any liqueur-filled Lindt products in the USA?
Due to the current federal and state regulations, Lindt Chocolate does not import any liqueur-filled products into the USA.
Do Lindt products contain alcohol?
Other than the aforementioned liqueur-filled products mentioned directly above, the majority of our premium chocolates do not use alcohol as an added ingredient. If alcohol is used as an added ingredient, it will be listed in the product's ingredient statement located in the nutritional section of the item.
Is Lindt using Palm Oil and is it sourced sustainably?
We understand the impact that the uncontrolled cultivation of palm oil can have on rainforests and biodiversity. That is why we are constantly monitoring its use in our products and are committed to only purchasing sustainable RSPO certified palm oil. Find out more here.
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCT QUESTIONS
What is the difference between bittersweet and semi-sweet, or edelbitter vs. zartbitter?
The terms bittersweet and semisweet are the same, as are zartbitter and edelbitter, which are synonyms for dark chocolate with a high content of cocoa. Zartbitter and edelbitter are expressions used mostly by Germans and Austrians to describe dark chocolate.
Where does our cocoa beans come from?
Cocoa beans are the heart of our chocolates. Knowing which of the many different origins of cocoa beans will best contribute to the distinctive taste of a product is a skill that we have perfected over time. A fundamental distinction is made between consumer and fine flavor cocoa. Consumer cocoa is cocoa with a robust flavor. It accounts for the largest share (90-95%) of total global cocoa production and is farmed mainly in West Africa. Lindt & Sprüngli uses Forastero beans (consumer cocoa) from Ghana. The remaining 5-10% of worldwide cocoa harvests are fine flavor cocoa. Fine flavor cocoa is a high-quality cocoa with nuanced, fine aroma. It is mainly farmed in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lindt & Sprüngli uses fine flavor cocoa beans (Criollo and Trinitario) from Ecuador, Madagascar, Dominican Republic, Papua New Guinea and Peru. Our own sustainability program, the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program, is in place in all countries we source cocoa beans from.
After achieving our goal to source 100% of our cocoa beans through the Farming Program in 2020, we extended the Farming Program to include cocoa butter from Côte d’Ivoire in 2021. These are major steps towards our target to source all of our cocoa products (beans, butter, powder, and chocolate mass) through sustainability programs by 2025. Learn more.
After achieving our goal to source 100% of our cocoa beans through the Farming Program in 2020, we extended the Farming Program to include cocoa butter from Côte d’Ivoire in 2021. These are major steps towards our target to source all of our cocoa products (beans, butter, powder, and chocolate mass) through sustainability programs by 2025. Learn more.
What is Lindt & Sprüngli doing with regards to sustainable sourcing of cocoa beans?
In 2008, we launched the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program in Ghana and in the subsequent years in all our other cocoa bean sourcing origins (Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea and Peru) to support cocoa farmers, their families and communities. The three main objectives are to increase the resilience of farming households, reduce the risk of child labor, and conserve biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Find out more here.
Besides cocoa beans, cocoa butter and powder are also used in the production of chocolate. How sustainable are these raw materials?
Lindt & Sprüngli has set itself the target of sourcing 100% of its cocoa (beans, butter, powder, and chocolate mass) through sustainability programs by 2025.
After achieving our goal of sourcing 100% of cocoa beans through our own Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program in 2020, the Program was extended to cocoa butter in 2021. In 2022, it was already possible to procure a small amount of cocoa powder through our Program. We are thus taking a step-by-step approach to achieving our target in 2025.
How sustainable is the packaging of our chocolate?
Lindt ↦ Sprüngli is working on numerous packaging initiatives towards five targets which consider impacts along the lifecycle of a package, from raw material sourcing to designing for recycling or reuse. For example, we aim to source 100% of pulp- and paper-based packaging from certified sustainable supply chains by 2025 and to make 100% of our packaging recyclable or reusable. In addition to innovative packaging solutions that are being implemented on an ongoing basis, we are also proactively challenging our product portfolio to reduce packaging material weight, reduce packaging waste in production, and minimize packaging destruction. Chocolate is a delicate product that must be optimally protected from environmental influences. Therefore, sustainability criteria, food safety and quality specifications must always be taken into account when new packaging solutions are developed.
How does Lindt & Sprüngli combat the deforestation of rainforests caused by cocoa cultivation?
Cocoa cultivation has a high risk of biodiversity loss through deforestation or harmful farming practices. We acknowledge our responsibility to contribute to preventing cocoa-driven deforestation. We therefore began implementing the Lindt & Sprüngli Cocoa No-Deforestation & Agroforestry Action Plan in 2019.
The primary objectives of our Action Plan for cocoa include:
– No cocoa sourcing from protected areas as per local laws
– No expansion of land for cocoa cultivation into areas defined by the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach or equivalent
– Agroforestry systems for cocoa production
– Supporting community forest protection and restoration
The Action Plan applies to all suppliers delivering cocoa from sustainability programs, and it remains integral to our Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program.
Find further information in our latest No-Deforestation & Agroforestry Progress Report.
The primary objectives of our Action Plan for cocoa include:
– No cocoa sourcing from protected areas as per local laws
– No expansion of land for cocoa cultivation into areas defined by the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach or equivalent
– Agroforestry systems for cocoa production
– Supporting community forest protection and restoration
The Action Plan applies to all suppliers delivering cocoa from sustainability programs, and it remains integral to our Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program.
Find further information in our latest No-Deforestation & Agroforestry Progress Report.
What are Lindt & Sprüngli's goals to address climate change?
Lindt & Sprüngli’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions management and reporting have historically focused on emissions from the production of chocolate within our factories (Scopes 1 and 2). This was a logical first step given our direct leverage. We are now fundamentally evolving our approach to align with the best available science on tackling climate change and consider our complete carbon footprint, including emissions from our entire value chain (Scope 3). As a result, in 2021 Lindt & Sprüngli committed to defining science-based targets (SBT), including a near term reduction target and a goal of reaching net-zero emissions in the long term. This year we submitted our targets to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and we will announce them in the second half of 2023.
In the interim, we are committed to achieving a 2% reduction of GHG emissions in our production process per year from 2020 levels, per ton produced. In 2022, we achieved an overall reduction of 21% compared to our 2020 levels.
In the interim, we are committed to achieving a 2% reduction of GHG emissions in our production process per year from 2020 levels, per ton produced. In 2022, we achieved an overall reduction of 21% compared to our 2020 levels.
Is Lindt & Sprüngli committed to sustainable business practices?
Yes. You can find all information about our sustainability commitment on our website. Lindt & Sprüngli annually publishes a sustainability report about its progress towards its commitments. For further information, please visit our corporate website.
What does 70% Cocoa (or any other percentage of cocoa) mean?
The percentage (%) quantifies the amount of cocoa solids contained in the chocolate. This includes cocoa liquor, cocoa butter and cocoa powder. For example:
- EXCELLENCE 70% cocoa bar contains 70% cocoa solids
- EXCELLENCE 85% cocoa bar contains 85% cocoa solids
What is the Cocoa Content of Lindt chocolate?
Min. Cocoa Content | Products |
---|---|
30% | Milk Chocolate Truffles, Milk Chocolate Based Bars |
50% | Dark Chocolate Truffles, Dark Chocolate Truffle Bars |
47% | EXCELLENCE Bars such as Intense Orange, Mint, Chili and Sea Salt |
49% | Surfin Bittersweet Bar (also called Semi-Sweet.) |
60% | Extra Dark Truffles (Shell is 60%.) |
64% | EXCELLENCE 64% Cocoa Satin Bar |
70% | EXCELLENCE 70% Bar, 70% Extra Dark Truffle (Shell is 70%.) |
78% | EXCELLENCE 78% Bar |
85% | EXCELLENCE 85% Bar |
90% | EXCELLENCE 90% Bar |
95% | EXCELLENCE 95% Bar |
99% | EXCELLENCE 99% Bar |
Are Lindt products Kosher?
All of Lindt USA's LINDOR truffles are now certified Kosher (dairy) by Kof-K. There are some flavors that are always imported and these are not Kosher certified:
- Almond
- Blood Orange
- Mangoes and Cream
- Matcha
- Milk Chocolate Hazelnut
- Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel
- Milk Chocolate Mint
- Milk Chocolate Orange
- Pistachio
- Raspberries and Cream
CARING FOR LINDT CHOCOLATE
What could happen if chocolates are not stored as required?
Lindt chocolates are very sensitive to any excessive condition, whether too hot or too cold. Chocolates can be adversely affected if exposed to unfavorable conditions after manufacture which results in bloom.
Bloom is a greyish coating on the surface of chocolates and is more visible on dark chocolate. There are two kinds of bloom, fat bloom, which is caused by fat migration and sugar bloom caused by humidity.
Both these types of blooms happen during improper storage of chocolates. Chocolates should ideally be stored at around 57° to 68°F and the relative humidity should not exceed 65%. We take every care in the handling of our products within our own distribution system, however once the product leaves our care we have little control over such things as the storage conditions for example, the temperature and humidity the chocolate is kept in.
What are the grey streaks that can appear on chocolate? / What is fat bloom? / What is heat affected chocolate?
Fat bloom is recognized as a greyish-white sheen on the surface and is predominantly triggered by the exposure of chocolates to excessive temperatures for prolonged periods. The optimum temperature for chocolate to be stored is between 57-61°F. If chocolate is exposed to high temperatures, the delicate and low melting point of the cocoa butter triggers it to melt and rise to the surface and then re-solidifies where it sets as grey streaks, which we refer to as fat bloom. While visually undesirable, products are still edible but the flavor and texture is compromised. It is perfectly fine to use for baking.
See ‘How do I best store chocolate’ to ensure the chocolate remains in the best condition.
What is sugar bloom on chocolate?
Looking similar to fat bloom, chocolate can develop sugar bloom when exposed to moisture, at humidity above 68% RH. Although sugar bloom is most often the result of overly humid storage, it can happen when the chocolate has been stored at a relatively cool temperature, like for example in the fridge, and is then moved too quickly into much warmer surroundings, like room temperature. This creates condensation, where moisture collects on the surface of the chocolate and dissolves some of the sugar. The water vapor evaporates, the sugar crystals remain on the surface, thus giving the premium chocolate a dull, tannish-white color and a gritty taste profile. While visually undesirable, products with slight bloom are safe to eat.
See 'How do I best store chocolate' to ensure the chocolate remains in the best condition.
How should I best store my chocolate?
If stored under proper conditions, our products will retain their freshness for many months. The most favorable storage temperature for our chocolate products is between 60° and 68° Fahrenheit, and this should be occurring in a cool dry place.
Can I store Lindt Chocolate in the fridge?
The optimum temperature for chocolate to be stored at is between 57-61°F.
Fridges are very high humidity environments, which is not suitable for chocolate due to the high moisture, which can result in sugar bloom.
When you do, it is best to place the chocolate in an airtight container or double wrap in plastic and place in the bottom section of the fridge. Bring the chocolate to room temperature slowly before unpacking, several hours before consuming.
What is the shelf life of Lindt Chocolate products?
Please refer to the “Best Before” date printed on the packaging. The “Best Before” date on our chocolate products is a quality tool. It assures that the quality of a product consumed at the end of the shelf life still lives up to the Lindt quality expectation when stored at the right conditions. Best Before dating is designed as a consumer friendly method to help the customer understand the freshness of the item.
REQUESTS
Does Lindt offer wedding and event favors?
We offer both favor boxes and personalized gifts and ribbon through our Business Gifts Services. Please call our team at +1 877 MY LINDT (1-877-695-4638) to create the perfect gift for your special occasion.
School Research Information
All available information related to Lindt & Sprüngli can be found in the Story of Lindt, The Lindt Difference and World of Lindt sections of the Lindt website. Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to provide supplies or props.
Do Lindt products contain alcohol?
Only a very few Lindt chocolate products contain alcohol or alcoholic liqueurs as an ingredient. If alcohol is used as an added ingredient, it will be listed in the product's ingredient list located in the nutritional section of the pack or wrapper.
Does Lindt donate products or sponsor events?
Please visit our Donations page for our policy.
Does Lindt offer free samples?
Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming number of requests for samples, Lindt & Sprüngli USA is unable to fulfill free sample requests. However, please visit a local Lindt chocolate shop to sample a truffle recipe and for information on coupons, promotions, special offers, or to sign up for our mailing list.
JOBS, TOURS, STORES, & PROMOTIONS
Are you hiring?
We have a variety of job opportunities that provide dynamic individuals the opportunity to work in a professional environment and realize their career growth potential. Please visit the Careers page for information on employment opportunities and the application process for starting your career at Lindt and Sprüngli.
Can I tour the factory?
Unfortunately, due to company policies and for liability reasons, we do not offer tours to the public in the United States.
What's on sale?
If you are using a promotion/discount code that is not advertised on this website on the Offers Details page or via a Lindt email communication sent directly to you, please be aware this may not be a valid Lindt offer code. Some deals/savings sites will disseminate unauthorized or expired savings codes. Lindt will not honor promo codes or discounts not listed on the Lindt.com website and reserves the right to cancel any order using unauthorized/unadvertised via Lindt.com promo/discount codes. If you have received a special offer email with a promo code not listed on the Lindt.com site and it is not working for you in checkout, please call our consumer services team.
Does Lindt have stores in Canada?
For more information about Lindt Outlets and Boutiques located in Canada, please visit their website? or call 1-866-374-1914.