Buy packaged egg cakes if you want to be able to show the ingredients and allergens for your chosen variety on the label; bake them yourself if you want to control the preparation and chocolate decoration. Check the Fairtrade mark on the specific chocolate, and don’t automatically apply it to the whole egg cake. Before packing, read the packaging of everything you’ve used and ask the school about its rules for allergens, preparation and sales.
You want to use chocolate whose Fairtrade mark you can check, without applying that claim to the whole egg cake. Fairtrade Netherlands lists cocoa as a product category and notes that Fairtrade chocolate is available in some supermarket ranges. Check the chocolate you actually buy.
When selling to a mixed school audience, you’ll want to know which allergens are in your chosen egg cakes and decorations. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between allergen information on the label of prepacked products and information provided when selling unpackaged food.
If there’s little time for portioning on the day of the sale, individually wrapped options can be practical. Jumbo lists Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek met melklaagje as individually wrapped; baking your own also takes time for preparation, cooling and any decoration.
First decide whether to buy egg cakes or bake them yourself. Then check the chocolate claim and the allergens in everything you’ll be offering together.
When: you want to keep the information on the original egg cake label and decorate the cakes with chocolate you’ve chosen separately.
Trade-off: Fairtrade chocolate doesn’t automatically make the egg cake itself Fairtrade. You’ll also need to check the allergens in both the cake and the decoration.
When: you have the time and space to prepare them and want to choose the chocolate for the decoration yourself. Jumbo describes decorating them with melted dark chocolate as an option.
Trade-off: you’ll need to keep track of the ingredients used and be able to provide information about any allergens present when selling them unpackaged.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade chocolate | Check the Fairtrade mark on the packaging of the specific chocolate. Only make claims supported by what’s stated on the packaging. | If I want to offer Fairtrade chocolate at the school fair, I need to be able to say exactly which part carries the mark. Around 34% of consumers put this check first. |
| Allergen information | Read the packaging for both the egg cakes and the decoration, and ask about the school’s allergen policy. | When selling to pupils and visitors, I want to be able to tell them which allergens are present. For around 33% of consumers, this information is the main priority. |
| Portions and display | Check the number of items per pack, whether they’re individually wrapped and the best-before date. | On a busy day of sales, I want to be able to bring the cakes, set them out and hand them out without lots of extra steps. Around 20% of consumers give this their highest priority. |
| Baking and decorating your own | Plan the preparation and make a note of the recipe ingredients and the chocolate you choose. | If I want to decide on the decoration myself, I’ll also need time to bake and keep track of the ingredients. Around 13% of consumers consider this the most important factor. |
Fairtrade Netherlands lists chocolate in some supermarket ranges, but that doesn’t mean every chocolate decoration or egg cake is certified.
Check the packaging of the chocolate you use. Only describe the product you’re selling as an egg cake with Fairtrade chocolate decoration if that specific decoration carries the mark.
Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek met melklaagje, as listed by Jumbo, includes egg, milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients. Jumbo Eierkoeken 4 Stuks includes egg, gluten, milk, soya and wheat, among others. Warnings about possible traces can also vary between varieties.
Read the label of every product you buy and keep the information available at your stall. Check the school’s rules in advance.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, consumers must be able to access information about allergens present when unpackaged food is sold. This includes the chocolate and any other decorations.
Make a list based on all the packaging for the ingredients you’ve used, and make sure the person at the stall can provide this information.
Albert Heijn notes that product information can change. Lidl refers customers to the packaging for information about the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of its food products.
Check the physical pack of the variety you’re taking, and update the information at your stall if you buy a different product.
Worth considering if you’re looking for individually wrapped egg cakes.
A supermarket option for comparing packaged egg cakes with chocolate chosen separately.
Worth considering if you’re weighing up packaged egg cakes against baking and decorating your own.
A shopping option if you can check the packaging yourself before the school fair.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, consumers must be informed about allergens present when unpackaged food is offered for sale. Keep a list of the recipe, chocolate and any other decorations, and check the school’s arrangements too.
No, not the varieties mentioned here: Jumbo’s product information lists wheat or gluten for Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek met melklaagje and Jumbo Eierkoeken 4 Stuks. Don’t assume the same applies to other varieties; always check their own packaging.
No. The mark on the chocolate you choose doesn’t automatically support a claim about the whole egg cake. Describe the chocolate decoration separately, and only after checking the Fairtrade mark on its packaging.
Use the current physical packaging for every variety you choose and for all added decorations. Albert Heijn says product information can change; Lidl refers customers to the packaging for information about food ingredients and allergens. Update your list if you switch products while shopping.
