Only consider breakfast cake Fairtrade-related if the packaging or current product page confirms the claim for the exact variant. If you’re on a tight student budget, also look for a pack size you can finish, and assess sugar, fibre and portion size separately from the Fairtrade claim.
If Fairtrade is the deciding factor for you, check that the claim applies to the exact breakfast cake. PLUS says that the cocoa in its own-brand products has been Fairtrade-certified since 2020. For a particular breakfast cake, check whether it contains cocoa and what the packaging says about it.
A large unsliced cake and individually portioned packs suit different occasions. Check the weight and choose an amount you’ll actually finish.
You’ll want to know what a slice adds to your snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives average breakfast cake values of 11,2 g of sugar per 30 g slice, compared with an average of 7,3 g for lower-sugar breakfast cake. Check the nutritional information for the variant you choose.
First decide whether a verifiable Fairtrade claim is essential. Then consider which pack size you’ll finish and compare the nutritional information for the remaining options.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check whether the certification mark or claim appears on the exact packaging or product page, and whether it applies to the product as a whole or specifically to the cocoa. | If Fairtrade is my main reason for choosing this breakfast cake, I want to know exactly what the claim refers to. Around 50% of consumers put this check first. |
| Pack size | Check the weight and whether the breakfast cake is sliced, unsliced or individually portioned. | I don’t want to be left with a large cake if I only have a slice now and then. For around 30% of consumers, choosing a suitable pack size matters most. |
| Sugar, fibre and portions | Compare sugar and fibre per 100 g and per portion; if you’re choosing a wholemeal variety, check the ingredients too. | When I’m having a sweet snack, I want to see what my usual portion contains. This nutritional information is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
PLUS says that the cocoa in its own-brand products is Fairtrade-certified. For the breakfast cake you choose, it’s also important to check whether it contains cocoa and whether the claim applies to that particular variant.
Check the ingredients and Fairtrade information on the exact packaging or current product page.
A Fairtrade claim doesn’t tell you how much sugar or fibre a slice contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 11,2 g of sugar per 30 g slice of breakfast cake; the variant you choose may differ.
Check the Fairtrade claim and nutritional information separately.
A large unsliced cake and individual portions require different planning if you only eat breakfast cake occasionally.
Choose a pack size that matches how much you expect to finish.
Worth considering if you want to check what a Fairtrade claim refers to on an own-brand variety containing cocoa.
A brand to consider when comparing different breakfast cake varieties and pack sizes.
Worth considering when comparing own-brand breakfast cake varieties.
Worth considering when comparing standard breakfast cake varieties and products specifically labelled Fairtrade.
This sliced wholemeal breakfast cake could suit you if you’re looking for a standard variety. If Fairtrade is essential for you, check the claim on the exact packaging or current product page before choosing.
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An option if you’re looking for sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and Fairtrade isn’t an essential requirement.
According to the Joybuy product information, this variety contains 43% wholemeal rye flour. Compare sugar and fibre using the label’s figures per 100 g and per portion.
Not on the basis of that general promise alone. PLUS says the cocoa in its own-brand products is Fairtrade-certified, but check whether the breakfast cake you choose contains cocoa and what the packaging or current product page says about that variant.
Not necessarily. For a Fairtrade chocolate bar, Albert Heijn explains that raw materials may be mixed with non-certified ingredients during production, while the total volume matches the amount purchased as Fairtrade. For breakfast cake, read the information provided for the exact variant.
A lower-sugar claim doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 7,3 g of sugar per 30 g slice for lower-sugar breakfast cake, compared with 11,2 g for average breakfast cake. Check the variant you choose for both characteristics.
No, don’t assume that. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses iodised baker’s salt in bread and says its use in bread isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients of the breakfast cake variety rather than assuming that something true of bread also applies to breakfast cake.
