Party organiser who looks for the certification mark
Wants a treat with Fairtrade status that can be verified for the specific product. An organic label or a general sustainability claim is not a substitute.
Who is this choice important to?
Organiser serving a group
Needs a format that’s easy to hand out: pre-sliced pieces, individual bars and an unsliced cake each require different preparation.
Organiser who checks labels
Wants to check the ingredients and allergens in the chosen variety before the party, especially if any guests have a food allergy or intolerance.
What should you look for when choosing?
Fairtrade breakfast cake
When: choose this option if the mark or a clear certification statement applies to the exact breakfast cake variety.
Consider: without a product-specific claim, you can’t describe the breakfast cake as Fairtrade.
Breakfast cake with a separate Fairtrade product
When: choose this option if you want to serve breakfast cake but can’t confirm a product-specific Fairtrade claim for it.
Consider: only the separate product can be called Fairtrade, if the claim applies to it; this doesn’t make the breakfast cake certified.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Look for the mark or certification statement on the packaging or current product page. Check that it applies to the exact breakfast cake variety. | I only want to call the breakfast cake Fairtrade if the claim applies to that pack; around 40% of consumers prioritise this product-specific assurance. |
| Portions and serving | Compare sliced, unsliced and individually wrapped options. Check the net weight and the number of slices or pieces, too. | When serving a group, I want to know how much cutting and serving each format involves; for around 30% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider. |
| Label and nutritional information | For the variety you’ve chosen, read the ingredients, allergens, any cross-contamination warnings, nutritional information and best-before date. | If guests with a food allergy are coming, I want to check the label on the treat they’ll be eating first; around 30% of consumers prioritise this check. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a shop’s Fairtrade range proves a product is certified
A shop can sell Fairtrade products without the breakfast cake you choose being certified. The claim must apply to that particular variety.
So check the specific pack or current product page, even if you know the shop for its other Fairtrade products.
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Confusing organic or wholemeal with Fairtrade
These claims describe something different from Fairtrade certification. A nutrition table won’t tell you whether a product carries the mark, either.
Check the Fairtrade claim, ingredients and nutritional information separately on the packaging you’ve chosen.
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Ordering for a group based on the product name alone
Slices, bars and unsliced breakfast cake each involve different preparation when it comes to serving.
Before buying, check the format, net weight and number of pieces or slices to make sure they suit the way you plan to serve them.
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Assuming breakfast cake is made with iodised baker’s salt
The product category doesn’t tell you which type of salt was used in a particular cake.
If the type of salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the packaging you’ve chosen.
Brands and shops to consider
Peijnenburg
Albert Heijn lists Peijnenburg breakfast cake in a range of formats, including sliced, unsliced and wholemeal varieties.
- The different formats give you options for portioning at a Christmas party.
- Check the Fairtrade mark on each variety you’re considering; the brand name or product format doesn’t prove certification.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s breakfast cake category includes own-brand products and other brands. Fairtrade Netherlands also lists Fairtrade products at this shop in other categories.
- You can compare different breakfast cake formats to find one that suits the way you want to serve it.
- A Fairtrade claim on chocolate or tea, for example, doesn’t automatically apply to breakfast cake.
Jumbo
Jumbo has a breakfast cake category with different brands and formats; Fairtrade Netherlands also lists Fairtrade products at Jumbo.
- Compare a cake you can slice with formats that are easy to hand out individually.
- For breakfast cake, check the claim on the product itself, not just the shop’s Fairtrade range.
PLUS
PLUS lists breakfast cake varieties and also describes its own-brand Fairtrade range.
- You can consider breakfast cake and a separate Fairtrade-labelled party treat as two different purchases.
- A general claim about the range doesn’t confirm the Fairtrade status of a specific breakfast cake.
Breakfast cake on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can I call breakfast cake for a Christmas party Fairtrade?
When the FAIRTRADE mark or a clear Fairtrade certification statement applies to the breakfast cake variety you’ve chosen. Fairtrade International identifies the mark as a way to recognise certified products; a Fairtrade product elsewhere in the shop’s range isn’t proof that this cake is certified.
Should I still check allergens in packaged breakfast cake?
Yes. Read the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety you plan to serve. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that prepacked foods must show allergen information on the label; check for any cross-contamination warnings, too.
Can I assume breakfast cake contains iodised baker’s salt?
No. Don’t rely on the product category alone for a specific breakfast cake. If the type of salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the packaging you’ve chosen.