If Fairtrade is a must for your picnic, choose breakfast cake with a Fairtrade mark or a clear certification statement that specifically applies to the cocoa or chocolate used. Then check that the portions are easy to take with you and that the nutritional information and allergens are suitable for everyone eating. A convenient pack of individual portions without that product-specific Fairtrade statement won’t automatically meet your first requirement.
You want to know whether the cocoa or chocolate in the exact breakfast cake you’ve chosen carries a Fairtrade statement. A supermarket’s Fairtrade range on its own tells you nothing about that particular cake.
You want to hand out breakfast cake easily in the park. For example, Peijnenburg describes a Naturel 10-pack containing ten individually wrapped slices weighing 28 g each.
You compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the variant you’ve chosen. For Tussendoor+ Choco without added sugars, Peijnenburg lists polyols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
If Fairtrade is your priority, first check the statement on the specific breakfast cake. Then compare the packaging and label with the needs of everyone who’ll be eating it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa or chocolate | Look on the current packaging for a mark or clear certification statement covering the cocoa or chocolate used. Also check that it applies to the variant you’re buying. | I want clear Fairtrade information on my breakfast cake, not just other Fairtrade products in the shop; this is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Taking it along and handing it out | Check whether the slices are individually wrapped and how many portions are in the pack. | If I don’t want to slice a cake in the park or leave a large one open, I look for individual portions. This convenience matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information and allergens | Compare the sugars per portion and read the ingredients and allergen information, including any warnings about polyols. | I want to know which ingredients and how much sugar the chosen variant contains before handing it out; label checks are the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn describes an AH Bio breakfast cake with fair trade chocolate, but marks it as no longer in the range. Jumbo’s Fair trade category for breakfast and baking products features other items; that says nothing about the certification of a particular breakfast cake.
Check the current packaging of the exact variant you’re buying to see which mark or certification statement applies to its cocoa or chocolate.
Peijnenburg lists 1.8 g of sugars per 36.7 g portion of Tussendoor+ Choco without added sugars. The manufacturer also lists polyols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the sugars per portion, ingredients and any usage warnings for the variant you’ve chosen.
According to information from NBC, there is no legal requirement to use iodised baker’s salt. The 2008 agreement published on Overheid.nl describes efforts to encourage its use, not a guarantee that it is in every product.
If iodine is relevant to your choice, check the ingredients list of the specific breakfast cake.
Packaging that shows individual portions doesn’t tell you how much sugar the variant contains or which allergens are listed. According to Voedingscentrum, a 30 g slice of breakfast cake contains an average of 11.2 g of sugar; the figures for the cake you choose may differ.
Compare the portion size, nutritional values per portion and allergen information before taking breakfast cake along for the group.
Peijnenburg describes both larger breakfast cakes and individually wrapped slices, as well as Tussendoor+ bars.
Albert Heijn’s breakfast cake range includes a variety of brands and pack formats.
Jumbo lists breakfast cake variants, including a 300 g Lekker Vrij van Gluten uncut breakfast cake.
Look on the current packaging for a mark or clear certification statement that specifically applies to the cocoa or chocolate used. Other Fairtrade products in the shop aren’t proof of this; the breakfast cake with ‘fair trade chocolate’ described by Albert Heijn is also listed as no longer in the range.
No. Peijnenburg lists 1.8 g of sugars per 36.7 g portion of Tussendoor+ Choco without added sugars. The manufacturer also lists polyols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Individually wrapped slices are useful if you don’t want to slice the cake while you’re there. According to the manufacturer, the Peijnenburg Naturel 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped slices weighing 28 g each; also check the label of the variant you’re taking with you.
No. Iodised baker’s salt isn’t a general legal requirement for every Dutch breakfast cake. The 2008 agreement published on Overheid.nl describes efforts to encourage its use, while NBC explains that it isn’t legally required. Check the ingredients list if iodine is relevant to your choice.
