When choosing breakfast cake for a car journey, don’t rely on a retailer’s general Fairtrade policy: check that the claim appears on the exact product packaging. If easy-to-carry portions matter more, individually wrapped slices are a practical choice. If Fairtrade is your priority and the snack doesn’t have to be breakfast cake, you could also consider a chocolate product with an explicit product claim. In either case, check the allergen and nutritional information for the product you choose.
You want to be able to check the Fairtrade claim on the snack you choose. If breakfast cake doesn’t meet that requirement, another product category could be an option. For example, Jumbo lists Fairtrade cocoa products, but that range tells you nothing about the status of a specific breakfast cake.
You want to be able to hand out slices without cutting a cake while on the move. Peijnenburg describes its Naturel 10-pack as ten individually wrapped 28 g slices; the packaging itself says nothing about Fairtrade.
You check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the exact variety, for example to compare sugars, fibre and salt per portion. If you have an allergy, the information on the packaging you buy is particularly important.
First decide whether the Fairtrade claim or the convenience of taking individual portions is the deciding factor. Then compare the labels of the products that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade on the product | Look for the claim on the exact packaging or product page. A claim about cocoa doesn’t automatically apply to breakfast cake. | If Fairtrade is the main reason for my choice, I want to be able to find the claim on the snack itself, even if that means choosing something other than breakfast cake. Around 42% of consumers put a verifiable product claim first. |
| Portions for the journey | Check the number of slices, the weight per slice and whether they’re individually wrapped. | In the car, I want to be able to grab or hand out a slice without cutting a whole cake. For around 33% of consumers, portion convenience matters most. |
| Label and nutritional information | Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare sugars, fibre and salt per portion and per 100 g. | If I’m comparing products by their ingredients or nutritional value, I need the information for the variety I’ve chosen, not an average for breakfast cake. This is the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
PLUS says that its own-brand products containing cocoa use Fairtrade cocoa. This doesn’t mean that every breakfast cake in its range carries a Fairtrade claim.
Base your Fairtrade choice on the claim for the exact variety. If it’s missing from the breakfast cake you’re looking at, don’t choose it solely on the basis of the retailer’s policy.
What you eat on the road also depends on the size of each slice and how many you have. Peijnenburg lists its Naturel 10-pack as containing 28 g slices.
As well as the values per 100 g, check the portion size and the nutritional information per portion on the exact packaging.
The Peijnenburg varieties described contain rye. Any information about other allergens may also vary between products.
Before setting off, read the ingredients and allergen information on every pack you plan to take. Don’t assume a product is suitable based on its category alone.
These brands offer different types of breakfast cake or spiced cake. Always check for a Fairtrade claim on the product you actually choose.
Worth considering if you’re weighing up individually wrapped slices against pre-sliced breakfast cake.
A spiced cake alternative to consider if you’re looking for a snack in a multipack.
Worth considering if a larger pre-sliced breakfast cake suits your travel plans better than individual portions.
If Fairtrade matters more to you than taking breakfast cake with you, you could consider this chocolate bar as a snack from a different category. The product description mentions Fairtrade; check the claim on the current packaging before making your choice.
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A chocolate option if a Fairtrade claim matters more to you than breakfast cake. The product description says the bar is Fairtrade, but check the claim on the packaging. The bar weighs 180 g; don’t expect individually wrapped portions. If you have allergies, check the label: the product information lists milk, soya, pecan and cereals containing gluten, and possible traces of egg and peanuts. Store the chocolate in a cool, dry place away from heat, as stated in the product information.
No. A Fairtrade cocoa policy doesn’t confirm the status of every breakfast cake. PLUS says that its own-brand products containing cocoa use Fairtrade cocoa; for breakfast cake, check the claim on the exact packaging.
Individually wrapped slices are an option if you don’t want to cut anything while on the move. Peijnenburg lists its Naturel 10-pack as containing ten individually wrapped 28 g slices; check the Fairtrade claim and allergen information separately on the label.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety, especially if you need to avoid a particular type of grain or another ingredient. The Peijnenburg varieties described contain rye; check any other packaging separately.
You can’t assume that this is the case for every breakfast cake. General information about baker’s salt won’t tell you which salt was used in a specific variety; check the ingredients list for the product you choose.
