Those who want to give Fairtrade chocolate
You want to be clear about what the Fairtrade claim applies to. You can do this by pairing an egg cake with chocolate chosen separately, checking the certification mark on its packaging.
Who is this choice for?
Those giving a small Valentine’s Day treat
You’re looking for something that’s easy to share or serve. The number of egg cakes, the packaging and the storage advice can help you decide what suits your plans.
Anyone who needs to check allergens
You need to know which ingredients are in both the egg cakes and the chocolate. If an allergy is relevant, check the latest labels on both products before giving or serving them.
What should you look for when buying?
First, decide whether the egg cake is essential. If what matters most is a ready-made Fairtrade chocolate product, a chocolate bar is a different option from putting together your own treat with egg cakes.
Egg cake with separate chocolate
Choose this if: you want to give egg cakes and the Fairtrade requirement applies to the chocolate separately.
Bear in mind: you’re combining two products, so the egg cake itself doesn’t become Fairtrade-certified.
Ready-made chocolate
Choose this if: a chocolate treat will do and you want to check the Fairtrade mark on the finished product.
Bear in mind: a chocolate bar won’t meet a specific wish to give egg cakes.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade status of the chocolate | Check the relevant Fairtrade mark and product claim on the chocolate packaging. A brand’s cocoa policy is not a claim that applies to every individual product. | I want to be able to say exactly which part of the treat is Fairtrade-certified. Around 42% of consumers rank this check as their main purchasing need. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on both packs. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo egg cakes described here contain egg and wheat, among other ingredients; Jumbo also lists soya. | If I need to take an allergy into account, I don’t want to rely on the name or appearance of the treat. For around 33% of consumers, checking ingredients and allergens comes first. |
| Convenience, portions and storage | Compare the number of items with the number of recipients, and check the best-before date and storage instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping egg cakes in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container. | For a small Valentine’s Day treat, I want something I can share without having to assemble more or being left with too much. Convenience and presentation are the main purchasing needs for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming chocolate means Fairtrade certification
The fact that a product contains chocolate says nothing about its certification. Fairtrade sets conditions for using its marks, including on products made with multiple ingredients.
Check the claim on the chocolate you buy. Describe an egg cake with Fairtrade chocolate added separately as a combined treat, not automatically as a Fairtrade-certified egg cake.
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Assuming plain egg cakes contain chocolate
The standard Albert Heijn and Jumbo egg cakes described here contain no cocoa. Without separate chocolate, an egg cake like this won’t meet the wish to give Fairtrade chocolate.
Read the ingredients of the egg cake you choose, and check the certification mark on the chocolate separately.
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Checking allergens only when it’s time to serve
The egg cakes described here contain egg and cereals containing gluten; other ingredients may also be relevant. Any chocolate you add has its own ingredients and allergen information.
Ask in advance which allergens are relevant to the recipient, then read the latest labels on both products.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
AH Egg Cakes are a plain egg cake option that you could pair with chocolate chosen separately.
- Albert Heijn lists the ingredients and allergens for this product, which comes in a pack of 12 egg cakes weighing 360 g in total.
- These egg cakes contain no cocoa. Albert Heijn’s policy on certified cocoa in own-brand products doesn’t prove that these egg cakes contain Fairtrade chocolate.
Jumbo
Jumbo Egg Cakes, 4 Pack are another egg cake option to combine with other products; they are not chocolate egg cakes.
- Jumbo lists the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and storage advice for the 300 g pack.
- The egg cakes described here contain no cocoa; check for a Fairtrade claim on any chocolate you choose to serve with them.
ALDI
ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Free-Range Egg Cakes and also mentions Fairtrade chocolate in its range.
- The listing for the free-range egg cakes states that the pack contains 12 cakes and weighs 360 g.
- The egg cake listing makes no claim about Fairtrade chocolate. For a separate chocolate product, check which certification mark is shown on the packaging.
Lidl
Lidl’s Way To Go chocolate bars are an option if you’d like to give chocolate instead of egg cakes.
- Lidl says that Way To Go bars are fully Fairtrade-certified; check the mark on the pack you choose.
- A chocolate bar isn’t an egg cake, so it won’t meet that specific product preference.
Bolletje
Bolletje describes a Light and Crisp Cinnamon Egg Cake for anyone mainly looking for a different type of egg cake.
- Bolletje lists free-range eggs, cinnamon and a milk coating for this variety.
- This isn’t a chocolate egg cake, and Bolletje makes no Fairtrade claim for it. Bolletje says this variety isn’t a regular part of its range.
Chocolate as an alternative to egg cakes
This chocolate bar is a good fit if you’d rather give a ready-made chocolate treat and egg cakes aren’t essential. If certification is the deciding factor, check the Fairtrade mark on the current packaging.
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Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel Chocolate Bar, 180 g
A chocolate bar to give if the egg cake isn’t essential; check the packaging before making a Fairtrade claim about this variety.
Milk chocolate with pecan and caramel, 180 g. If you have allergies, read the latest ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Fairtrade mark need to be on the egg cake itself?
Yes, if you want to present the egg cake as a Fairtrade-certified finished product, the claim must apply to that product. If you pair a plain egg cake with Fairtrade chocolate bought separately, the certification applies to the chocolate; check the relevant mark on its packaging.
Are plain egg cakes suitable for someone with an egg or gluten allergy?
Don’t assume they are: the Albert Heijn and Jumbo egg cakes described here contain egg and wheat. If an allergy is relevant, always check the latest ingredients and allergen information for the egg cakes you choose and any chocolate you plan to add.
How should I store egg cakes until Valentine’s Day?
Store egg cakes in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also follow the best-before date and storage instructions on the packaging you buy.
Can I rely on a product page alone for ingredients and allergen information?
Use a product page to help you make your choice, but also read the latest packaging before giving or serving the product. Ingredients can change; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, relevant allergens must be clearly listed on the label of pre-packed foods.