Organisers with a strict Fairtrade requirement
They want to be able to verify the Fairtrade status of the exact breakfast cake before telling visitors they’ve chosen a Fairtrade product. A claim about the retailer’s range isn’t enough.
Who is this choice important for?
Serving points that need to hand out portions quickly
They want to minimise cutting at the serving point. Peijnenburg offers breakfast cake variants that are individually wrapped; check any Fairtrade claim separately.
Organisers serving unpackaged portions
They need to arrange how visitors can get allergen information before purchase when slices are served from an opened pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires this information for unpackaged foods.
What should you look for when choosing?
First check that the Fairtrade claim applies to the breakfast cake you’ve chosen. Then choose a serving format that lets you manage the portions you need and provide allergen information.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade status | Check the claim on the exact variant and whether it applies to the product or just one ingredient. | If I want to promote a product as Fairtrade at the festival, the claim must apply to the breakfast cake I’ve chosen, not just to the retailer. This product-specific status is the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Quick service | Check whether the portions are individually wrapped and can be handed out without cutting. | At a busy serving point, I want to hand out portions straight away without cutting them on the spot. Quick service is the main priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergen information | Read the label for the variant you’ve chosen, and arrange information for visitors if you’re serving it unpackaged. | If I serve unpackaged slices, I want to be able to give visitors accurate allergen information before they buy. This matters most to around 27% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight, number of portions and whether the cake is pre-sliced. | For a larger group of visitors, I want to work out how many portions each pack will provide. Around 13% of consumers put size and volume first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a retailer’s Fairtrade range means a product is certified
A retailer can sell Fairtrade products without the breakfast cake you choose being certified itself. The same distinction applies between a claim about Fairtrade cocoa and one about the whole breakfast cake.
Before announcing that a product is Fairtrade, check the certification information for the exact variant on the packaging or product page.
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Serving unpackaged slices without allergen information
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says visitors must be able to get allergen information before buying unpackaged food. For one of its plain variants, Peijnenburg lists rye flour and possible traces of milk, hazelnuts, almonds and other cereals containing gluten. Always check the label for your chosen variant.
Make sure the latest allergen information is available at the serving point, and brief the staff who will be speaking to visitors.
Keeping an up-to-date list and briefing staff takes extra preparation on site.
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Assuming all breakfast cake contains iodised baker’s salt
Brood.net says that using iodised baker’s salt is not a legal requirement in the Netherlands. So the product category alone won’t tell you which salt was used in a specific breakfast cake.
Check the ingredients for your chosen variant if this matters to your decision.
Relevant brands and retailers
These brands and retailers give you a starting point for comparing formats. Their name or general Fairtrade range doesn’t confirm whether an individual breakfast cake is certified.
Peijnenburg
A breakfast cake brand with, among other options, individually wrapped variants.
- Individually wrapped variants can mean less cutting at the serving point.
- Check Fairtrade information and allergens for the exact variant. For one plain variant, Peijnenburg lists rye flour and possible traces of milk and certain nuts.
Albert Heijn
A retailer with a category for breakfast cake and spiced cake.
- The category makes it easier to compare product types and packaging.
- Fairtrade Netherlands lists Fairtrade products in Albert Heijn’s range, but this doesn’t prove that a specific breakfast cake is certified.
Jumbo
A retailer with separate categories for breakfast cake and Fairtrade products.
- You can browse breakfast cake formats, then check the information for each product.
- Having both categories doesn’t prove that a breakfast cake belongs in both.
PLUS
A retailer offering, among other things, unsliced own-brand breakfast cake and an own-brand Fairtrade programme.
- An unsliced variant lets you cut portions on site, provided you have serving arrangements and allergen information in place.
- Fairtrade Netherlands says PLUS uses Fairtrade-certified cocoa in its own-brand products. This doesn’t prove that a specific breakfast cake is Fairtrade-certified as a whole.
Breakfast cake on Joybuy
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is breakfast cake Fairtrade if the retailer sells lots of Fairtrade products?
No. A retailer’s Fairtrade range doesn’t prove that an individual breakfast cake is certified. Check the claim on the exact packaging or product page, and see whether it applies to the whole product or just one ingredient.
What allergen information do I need if I serve breakfast cake unpackaged?
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says information about the 14 allergens must be available before purchase for unpackaged food. Make sure visitors can get information about the variant you’ve chosen at the serving point. If staff provide it verbally, visitors must be clearly told they can ask.
Does breakfast cake for a street festival have to be individually wrapped?
No. Individual wrapping is a practical choice for quick service, not a requirement under the cited allergen information rules. If you serve unpackaged slices, make sure visitors can get the required information before purchase.
Does all breakfast cake in the Netherlands contain iodised baker’s salt?
You can’t tell from the product category alone. Brood.net says that using iodised baker’s salt is not a legal requirement in the Netherlands. Check the ingredients for the specific breakfast cake if this matters to your choice.
Can I choose Fairtrade chocolate if the breakfast cake doesn’t meet my requirement?
Yes. If a chocolate snack is also suitable for your festival, you could consider it as an alternative product category. Check the Fairtrade claim and portion and allergen information for that specific product too; a claim about chocolate doesn’t automatically make breakfast cake Fairtrade.