Who is this choice relevant to?

Buyer with a Fairtrade requirement

You need to be able to show which Fairtrade label applies to your chosen Dutch egg cake, or to the cocoa in a chocolate version. A general Fairtrade message from a shop says nothing about a specific product.

Office manager catering for a mixed group

You want to share Dutch egg cakes without colleagues having to guess what’s in them or which allergens they contain. Keep the information from the packaging you receive to hand, and choose a suitable alternative where needed.

Stock manager looking to reduce waste

You can match the number of Dutch egg cakes to how quickly the tin empties, and store any opened cakes in a sealed container in a cool, dry, dark place, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether Fairtrade cocoa is actually a requirement for your chosen Dutch egg cake. Then check the label for colleagues who’ll be sharing the cakes, and choose a pack size that suits office consumption.

What to consider What to check when buying Who does this matter to?
Fairtrade cocoa Check whether the Dutch egg cake contains cocoa or chocolate. For a chocolate version, read the FAIRTRADE label and any accompanying explanation on the exact product. If Fairtrade cocoa is a purchasing requirement, I want to know whether the label really applies to the version I’ve chosen. This check is a top priority for around 45% of consumers.
Allergens Read the allergen information on the packaging you receive, and keep it to hand when you transfer the cakes from the pack to a tin. When sharing a tin, I want to be able to check whether colleagues with food allergies should avoid the Dutch egg cakes I’ve chosen. Clear allergen information is the main concern for around 33% of consumers.
Packaging and storage Compare the number of cakes with office consumption. Follow the storage instructions on the label and seal any opened cakes well. If the tin empties slowly, I don’t want to open more than we can eat in time. Around 22% of consumers prioritise having the right amount in stock and keeping the product in good condition.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing a shop’s Fairtrade range with a claim about a specific product

    A shop selling Fairtrade products doesn’t automatically mean the Dutch egg cakes in your office snack tin are Fairtrade-certified.

    Check the packaging of the exact Dutch egg cake, or look for a specific statement from the manufacturer. For chocolate versions, check which ingredients the label applies to.

  • Confusing wholemeal or barn eggs with Fairtrade cocoa

    These labels describe different product characteristics. On their own, they say nothing about the Fairtrade status of the cocoa or sugar.

    Check any Fairtrade requirement separately, using the label and explanation for the product you’ve chosen.

  • Throwing away the packaging before colleagues can check the allergens

    For its standard Eierkoeken 4 Stuks, Jumbo lists egg, gluten, milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients. The allergens may differ in another version.

    Keep the packaging from the Dutch egg cakes you receive, or keep a legible photo of the ingredients and allergen information by the tin.

  • Opening a large pack when the tin empties slowly

    Dutch egg cakes can lose quality before you finish a large opened pack.

    Choose the number of cakes based on how many you actually get through. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing Dutch egg cakes in a cool, dry, dark place and sealing them well.

Brands to consider

Jumbo

Jumbo lists both Eierkoeken 4 Stuks and Volkoren Eierkoeken 300 g. The different versions give you various details to compare on the label.

  • For the standard version, Jumbo specifies four cakes and lists egg, gluten, milk, soya and wheat as allergens.
  • The wholemeal version contains 37.1% wholemeal wheat flour and oat fibre, but also lists several allergens. Wholemeal says nothing about Fairtrade.

Bolletje

Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel as a crunchy version made with cinnamon and free-range eggs.

  • If you’re looking for variety in the tin, a different texture and flavour from a standard soft Dutch egg cake may be just what you want.
  • The free-range egg label is not a Fairtrade cocoa claim. Check any Fairtrade requirement separately on the packaging of the product you choose.

Heerlijck Banket

ALDI Netherlands lists Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken in a pack of 12, weighing 360 g.

  • Twelve cakes could suit a tin that empties quickly.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and any Fairtrade labels on the packaging of the Dutch egg cakes you choose.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s range includes AH Eierkoeken and AH Brabantse eierkoeken, among other products.

  • The individual versions give you a starting point for comparing product information.
  • Albert Heijn warns that information about ingredients, nutritional values and allergens can change. Always read the packaging you receive.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need Fairtrade chocolate for standard Dutch egg cakes at the office?

No, not if the Dutch egg cake you’ve chosen contains no cocoa and Fairtrade cocoa isn’t a separate purchasing requirement. According to the ingredients list, Jumbo’s standard Eierkoeken 4 Stuks contains no cocoa or chocolate. If you choose a chocolate version to meet a Fairtrade requirement, check the label on that exact product.

How can you check a Fairtrade cocoa claim on a chocolate Dutch egg cake?

Read the FAIRTRADE label on the packaging of the exact version, and if it has an arrow mark, check the explanation about ingredients and origin. Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa: Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa can be mixed during processing, while the volumes bought and sold as Fairtrade are tracked. So a Fairtrade label doesn’t necessarily mean the cocoa in every individual cake has been kept physically separate.

Which allergens should you check in Dutch egg cakes for colleagues?

Check the allergen information on the packaging of the version you’ve chosen. For its standard Eierkoeken 4 Stuks, Jumbo lists egg, gluten, milk, soya and wheat; its wholemeal version also lists barley and oats. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label.

How should you store Dutch egg cakes in an office snack tin?

Store Dutch egg cakes in a sealed container in a cool, dry, dark place, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Choose a pack size that suits how quickly colleagues get through the tin, and follow the date and storage information on the packaging.

Is the allergen information on a supermarket website enough?

Use the website to compare products before buying, but check the packaging of the Dutch egg cakes you actually receive. Albert Heijn says that information about ingredients, nutritional values and allergens can change. This helps prevent colleagues from relying on information that doesn’t match the cakes in the tin.