Choose a ready-made chocolate Dutch egg cake for your wedding buffet only if the current packaging or product information confirms the Fairtrade claim for the relevant product or ingredient. Alternatively, serve a plain Dutch egg cake with separately sourced chocolate that is labelled Fairtrade, although this takes extra preparation. In either case, check the allergens in everything you serve together; UTZ-certified cocoa is not a Fairtrade claim.
If you mention Fairtrade on a buffet menu or in a proposal, you’ll want the claim to match the chocolate or cocoa actually being served. Check the latest product information: a different cocoa certification does not support the same claim.
If you’re serving Dutch egg cakes without their packaging, you’ll want to be able to tell guests which allergens are in the cake and any topping. Albert Heijn lists egg, milk, cereals containing gluten and soya among the allergens in AH Eierkoeken.
If you want to work out the number of portions in advance, clear serving information on the packaging can help. Adding the chocolate yourself gives you a separate choice of ingredient, but also takes time to finish and present.
Choosing between a ready-made chocolate Dutch egg cake and decorating one yourself starts with the claim you want to make on your buffet menu. Check it for each product rather than relying on a general statement about cocoa.
A good choice when: the current packaging confirms the intended Fairtrade claim for the product or its cocoa.
The trade-off: you don’t have to decorate it yourself, but a UTZ label or general sustainability claim does not substantiate a Fairtrade claim.
A good choice when: you can check the Fairtrade label on the chocolate or cocoa ingredient separately.
The trade-off: decorating the cakes yourself takes time, and you’ll need to provide the allergen information for both components together.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check the current packaging for the Fairtrade label and confirm whether the claim applies to the product or the chocolate or cocoa ingredient used. Fairtrade describes a mark with an arrow for products made with multiple ingredients. | If you want to mention Fairtrade on the buffet menu, the description must match what you’re serving. Around 42% of consumers prioritise having evidence to support the claim. |
| Allergens | Read the allergen information for both the Dutch egg cake and the topping, and note the combination before removing the products from their packaging. | If guests need to avoid allergens, you’ll want to be able to clearly state what’s in each platter. This information matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Portions and preparation | Check the number of portions per pack and current availability. If you’re decorating the cakes yourself, allow time for preparation too. | When you’re catering for lots of guests, you’ll want to know how many portions you can serve and how much work it will take to finish them. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
Jumbo listed UTZ Certified cocoa for two chocolate Dutch egg cakes. That is not a Fairtrade label, so the name on your buffet menu should match the label on the product you choose.
Only use the Fairtrade claim if the current packaging or product information confirms it for the relevant product or ingredient.
If you add a topping, the ingredients in both components count. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that anyone offering unpackaged food to consumers must inform them about any allergens present.
Note the allergens for each product combination and make sure guests can check the information at the buffet.
Jumbo says that two varieties of chocolate Dutch egg cake are no longer in its online range. Their product information therefore doesn’t confirm that you can order them for your buffet.
Check the current range with your chosen retailer or supplier shortly before buying.
According to Albert Heijn, the AH Eierkoeken described here contain no cocoa. Adding Fairtrade chocolate separately does not make the plain Dutch egg cake itself a Fairtrade-certified product.
Describe each item separately, for example, a Dutch egg cake with a Fairtrade chocolate topping—but only if the topping actually carries that label.
AH Eierkoeken are a plain base for anyone who wants to choose the chocolate separately.
The chocolate Dutch egg cakes described here show why you should check cocoa labelling and current availability separately.
Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel is another Dutch egg cake variety to consider if the flavour of the base matters to you.
Fairtrade Original cocoa could be a separately assessed ingredient to serve alongside a Dutch egg cake.
If the current packaging or product information confirms the Fairtrade claim for the chocolate or cocoa used, you can describe that ingredient as Fairtrade. A UTZ label is not a Fairtrade label; Fairtrade describes a mark with an arrow for products made with multiple ingredients.
Guests must be able to check the allergens in the Dutch egg cake and any topping being served. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that anyone offering unpackaged food to consumers must inform them about any allergens present. Check the latest information for every product you use.
Don’t assume so without checking again: Jumbo says that the two varieties described are no longer in its online range. Ask your chosen retailer or supplier what’s available when you place your order.
Yes, you can serve a Dutch egg cake with chocolate you’ve chosen separately. Check the Fairtrade label on that ingredient, try out the decoration in advance and provide the allergen information for the complete combination.
