If certified Fairtrade cocoa is a must for afternoon coffee, check the mark and the information about the cocoa on the packaging before choosing a chocolate breakfast cake. The words ‘fair trade chocolate’ alone don’t make it clear which certification applies. Also compare the nutritional information per slice and check the allergens for the exact variety you plan to serve.
If you’re serving breakfast cake with coffee for older people and certified cocoa matters to you, check which mark is on the packaging and read the information alongside the ingredients. Fairtrade International points out that, when a mark includes an arrow, the back of the packaging gives more information about the ingredients involved.
Pre-sliced cake can make serving easier, but compare the sugar and salt in your chosen variety per portion. For reference, the Voedingscentrum lists 11.2 g of sugars and 0.17 g of salt for a 30 g slice of standard breakfast cake; the nutritional values of a particular cake may differ.
Check the packaging of the variety you plan to serve. For Peijnenburg Overheerlijk chocolade, Albert Heijn lists allergens including rye gluten, soya and nuts; this does not tell you anything about the ingredients in other breakfast cakes.
If Fairtrade cocoa is essential, start by checking the mark and the information about the ingredients. Then make sure the portion and allergen information are suitable for your guests.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark or Fairtrade ingredient mark, then read the information on the back to see which ingredients it applies to, as advised by Fairtrade International. | If certified cocoa is the deciding factor for me, I want to be able to see exactly what the claim applies to. For around 40% of consumers, being able to verify this comes first. |
| Sugars, salt and portion size | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and check the size of each slice. | When serving coffee, I want to offer a portion that suits my guests. Around 30% of consumers give portion size and nutritional value the highest priority. |
| Allergens and serving | Read the allergen information for the exact variety and check whether the cake is pre-sliced. | If guests have different allergy or gluten requirements, I need to know what I can safely offer and how to portion it. This matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
General product wording doesn’t automatically tell you which Fairtrade mark applies or which ingredients the claim relates to.
For a cake made with several ingredients, check the mark on the packaging as well as the information about the cocoa on the back.
This wording doesn’t prove Fairtrade status or describe the full nutritional value. For its generic reference for breakfast cake with no added sugar, the Voedingscentrum lists 0.8 g of sugars per 30 g slice; your chosen variety may differ.
Compare the nutritional information for the specific cake per portion and check the Fairtrade claim separately.
For Peijnenburg Overheerlijk chocolade, Albert Heijn lists allergens including rye gluten, soya and nuts. Other varieties may have different ingredients.
Ask about any relevant dietary requirements in advance and check the label on the packaging you’ll be using just before serving.
Albert Heijn’s product information for AH Biologisch chocolate breakfast cake uses the words ‘fair trade chocolate’.
Peijnenburg makes a chocolate breakfast cake that may be worth considering if you’re checking allergens for coffee guests.
Jumbo lists several types of breakfast cake and also has a separate category for Fairtrade products.
PLUS lists breakfast cake in formats including sliced cakes and bars, which may be useful when serving it with coffee.
Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark or Fairtrade ingredient mark on the packaging, then read which ingredients it applies to. For a mark with an arrow, Fairtrade International advises checking the information on the back; a Fairtrade ingredient mark for cocoa doesn’t mean that all the ingredients are Fairtrade.
No, those words alone don’t make the certification clear. Albert Heijn uses them for an AH Biologisch chocolate breakfast cake, but if you’re choosing based on certification, you’ll need to check the mark and the information on the packaging.
Compare the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g, and check the size of the slices in the cake you’ve chosen. For a generic 30 g slice of standard breakfast cake, the Voedingscentrum lists 92 kcal, 11.2 g of sugars and 0.17 g of salt; use the values on the product’s own packaging when serving, and take individual dietary requirements into account.
Don’t assume so. The Voedingscentrum discusses iodised baker’s salt in relation to bread and notes that its use in bread isn’t compulsory. So don’t base your choice of breakfast cake on an assumed iodine content.
