Who is this choice relevant to?

Shoppers who want to check for Fairtrade

If Fairtrade is a must-have for you, check the claim for the specific chocolate egg cake or the chocolate you choose separately. A shop’s general cocoa policy doesn’t automatically confirm this.

Gamers who want to compare snack portions

You want to decide in advance how much egg cake and any chocolate to have ready while you game. Compare the portion sizes and nutritional information of the products you actually choose.

Shoppers checking allergens

Ingredients and allergens can differ between egg cakes with and without chocolate. Check the current packaging for each variety you choose, even if you know a similar product from the same brand.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether the chocolate egg cake itself needs to carry a Fairtrade label, or whether a plain egg cake with Fairtrade chocolate chosen separately would also suit your plans. Then compare the labels on the products you want to eat together.

What to consider What to check when buying Most relevant for
Fairtrade claim Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim for the cocoa or chocolate in the variety you choose; don’t treat UTZ and Rainforest Alliance as the same certification. I want to be sure the chocolate in my gaming snack meets my Fairtrade requirement. For around 42% of consumers, having a claim they can check is the top priority.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warning about the possible presence of allergens. If I need to avoid certain ingredients or allergens, the label determines which egg cake I can choose. Around 33% of consumers give this check top priority.
Portion and sugars Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and, where provided, per item or portion; include any chocolate you add separately. For a gaming session, I want to decide in advance how much egg cake and chocolate to have ready, and how much sugar that portion contains. Around 25% of consumers put this consideration first.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking UTZ for Fairtrade

    A UTZ-certified cocoa label doesn’t confirm a Fairtrade claim. According to Rainforest Alliance, the UTZ programme has become part of Rainforest Alliance.

    If Fairtrade is essential for you, look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the packaging of the variety you choose.

  • Taking a shop’s policy as proof for a particular egg cake

    Albert Heijn, Lidl and ALDI each describe a policy on certified cocoa, but refer to different certifications. This doesn’t tell you which certification applies to a specific chocolate egg cake.

    Check the claim on the product itself before deciding it meets your Fairtrade requirement.

  • Assuming allergens and sugar content based on the product type

    Ingredients, potential allergens, item size and nutritional values can vary between varieties. Extra chocolate also changes the nutritional information for the snack you put together.

    Read the current labels on both the egg cake and any separate chocolate, and compare the portions you plan to eat.

Relevant brands and shops to help you explore

Albert Heijn

A useful place to look at plain egg cakes and the shop’s separate cocoa policy.

  • Albert Heijn’s ingredient information for AH Egg Cakes lists wheat, egg, milk and soya, among other ingredients.
  • Albert Heijn says that cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance- or Fairtrade-certified. This doesn’t make plain AH Egg Cakes a product with Fairtrade chocolate.

Jumbo

Useful for understanding the difference between cocoa certification and a Fairtrade claim on a chocolate egg cake.

  • The product page for Jumbo Chocolate Egg Cakes 8 Pieces states that the cocoa is UTZ-certified.
  • UTZ isn’t a Fairtrade certification. The same product page also says that this product is no longer part of the online range.

Lidl

A shop to compare its cocoa policy with a specific product claim.

  • Lidl Netherlands says that its own-brand cocoa comes from certified farming through Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or organic certification.
  • This policy doesn’t confirm that the chocolate on a specific egg cake is Fairtrade-certified.

ALDI

Relevant if you’re considering a plain egg cake and want to choose chocolate separately.

  • ALDI lists free-range egg cakes from Heerlijck Banket and also describes a cocoa policy covering Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and the EU organic label.
  • The information about the plain egg cakes and the general cocoa policy doesn’t confirm that those egg cakes have Fairtrade chocolate.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is UTZ-certified cocoa the same as Fairtrade chocolate?

No. According to Rainforest Alliance, the UTZ programme has become part of Rainforest Alliance; a UTZ label doesn’t prove Fairtrade certification. If Fairtrade certification is a must-have for you, look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the packaging you choose.

Is a supermarket’s cocoa policy enough to choose a chocolate egg cake?

Not if you want to check the Fairtrade status of that specific egg cake. Albert Heijn, Lidl and ALDI refer to different certifications in their cocoa policies, so check which claim appears on the packaging of the variety you choose.

Which allergens should I check in a chocolate egg cake?

Check the full allergen information for the variety you choose, paying particular attention to ingredients you need to avoid, such as egg, milk, soya and wheat. Look for any warnings about the possible presence of allergens too; don’t rely on information for another egg cake from the same brand.

How do I compare the sugar in egg cakes and extra chocolate?

Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per item or portion, if provided, and include any chocolate you choose separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 28,6 g of sugar for one extra-large egg cake weighing 75 g; you can’t automatically apply that amount to a different item size or variety.