Who is this choice for?

Hosts looking for Fairtrade cocoa

You want the chocolate or cocoa in the Dutch breakfast cake itself to carry a verifiable Fairtrade claim. So check the pack you’ve chosen, rather than relying on the shop’s general policy.

Coffee table planners

You want to serve the cake quickly. Pre-sliced cake or individually wrapped portions can save preparation time; the pack will tell you how many portions you can offer.

Hosts comparing labels

You want to check the ingredients, sugars per portion and allergen information for your guests before you buy. Look at the nutritional information and warnings on the current packaging.

What should you look for?

Chocolate Dutch breakfast cake with a Fairtrade claim

Choose this if: you want the cocoa or chocolate in the cake itself to be explicitly labelled Fairtrade.

Bear in mind: the AH Bio variety with fair trade chocolate described by Albert Heijn was listed as discontinued; check the availability and claim on the pack you actually choose.

Dutch breakfast cake with separate Fairtrade coffee or chocolate

Choose this if: you want to serve a regular cake and make your Fairtrade choice with the coffee or separate chocolate.

Bear in mind: the claim on that coffee or chocolate says nothing about the Fairtrade status of the cake.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade cocoa or chocolate Look for an explicit claim about the cocoa or chocolate on the specific, current product. I want the chocolate in the treat itself to be demonstrably Fairtrade, not just to know that the shop sells Fairtrade products. This product claim is the top priority for around 42% of consumers.
Easy to serve Check whether the cake is pre-sliced or individually wrapped, and how many portions the pack contains. If guests help themselves to coffee, I want to be able to put out slices without having to cut a cake first. Around 33% of consumers give this convenience top priority.
Nutritional information and allergens Compare sugars per portion and read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings. I want to know what’s in the cake and which allergens are listed before buying it for my guests. This is the most important consideration for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a shop’s policy for a claim on the cake

    PLUS says it uses Fairtrade cocoa in its own-brand products, but a general statement like this doesn’t tell you what’s on a specific pack of Dutch breakfast cake.

    Check the claim about cocoa or chocolate on the packaging or current product page before presenting the cake as a Fairtrade choice.

  • Relying on an old product page as a current buying option

    The AH Bio chocolate Dutch breakfast cake was described as containing fair trade chocolate, but Albert Heijn listed it as discontinued.

    Use the claim as an example of what to look for on a pack, and check separately whether the product you choose is available.

  • Assuming organic means Fairtrade

    An organic label doesn’t confirm that the cocoa or chocolate in the Dutch breakfast cake carries a Fairtrade claim.

    Check both labels separately if both matter to you.

  • Looking only at ‘less sugar’

    With a Dutch breakfast cake bar, the front of the pack doesn’t tell you everything about sugars per portion or the allergens it contains.

    Read the nutritional information per portion and the full ingredients and allergen information on the current pack.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn / AH Biologisch

The AH Bio chocolate Dutch breakfast cake is an example of a product page that explicitly mentions fair trade chocolate.

  • For this variety, Albert Heijn used the wording ‘Filled with fair trade chocolate’.
  • The variety was listed as discontinued; the page isn’t a current buying option.

PLUS

PLUS offers various types of Dutch breakfast cake and also shares information about Fairtrade cocoa in its own-brand products.

  • The Dutch breakfast cake range includes plain and wholemeal varieties.
  • General information about Fairtrade cocoa doesn’t confirm a claim for an individual Dutch breakfast cake.

Jumbo

At Jumbo, you can compare different types of Dutch breakfast cake, including bars and a Less Sugar variety.

  • The product information for the Less Sugar bar includes ingredients and nutritional details to help you compare labels.
  • The range itself doesn’t confirm a Fairtrade cocoa claim for any particular cake.

Peijnenburg

The Naturel 10-pack is worth considering if you want to offer Dutch breakfast cake in individual portions.

  • According to Peijnenburg, this pack contains ten individually wrapped slices weighing 28 g each.
  • The plain variety described doesn’t carry a Fairtrade claim for cocoa or chocolate; check the allergen information on the pack too.

Dutch breakfast cake for your coffee table on Joybuy

This cake is suited to a coffee break where you serve Fairtrade-labelled coffee or chocolate separately. Always check the specific pack for any Fairtrade claim about the cake itself.

Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g

Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g

A Dutch breakfast cake to consider if you’re serving Fairtrade-labelled coffee or chocolate separately.

250 g pack. Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per portion on the current label before serving it to your guests.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether the chocolate in Dutch breakfast cake is Fairtrade?

Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim about the cocoa or chocolate on the current pack. A general pledge from the supermarket isn’t enough; also check that the cake you’ve chosen is available.

Is organic Dutch breakfast cake automatically Fairtrade?

No. Organic and Fairtrade are different labels. Check separately for a Fairtrade claim about the cocoa or chocolate if that particular ingredient matters to you for your coffee morning.

Which allergens should I check when buying Dutch breakfast cake for guests?

Read the allergen information for the exact product, including any mentions of cereals containing gluten, milk and nuts, as well as ‘may contain’ warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be clearly stated on the label of prepacked foods; use the current pack to guide your choice.

How can I tell whether the Dutch breakfast cake contains iodised salt?

Check the ingredients list to see how the salt used in the cake is described. Don’t assume a particular type of salt just because of the product category.

Can I rely on an old product page for portion sizes and nutritional values?

Use the current packaging for the Dutch breakfast cake you’ve chosen. Compare sugars and other nutritional values per portion, paying attention to the stated portion weight, and check the ingredients and allergens again before serving the cake to guests.