The host who cares about certification
You only want to offer guests Fairtrade breakfast cake if the claim applies to the variety you actually buy, not just to the shop or a separate topping.
Who is this for?
The host putting together a sharing platter
You’re looking for a way to serve it that suits your garden party: sliced breakfast cake for a platter, or individually wrapped portions that guests can help themselves to.
The shopper comparing ingredients
You want to be able to check the ingredients and allergens in your chosen variety for a group with different dietary needs, separately from any Fairtrade claims.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether the Fairtrade claim needs to apply to the breakfast cake itself or whether it can apply to a separate topping. Then choose how you want to serve it and check the labels of the products you’ll be using.
Fairtrade breakfast cake
When to choose it: If you want to present the breakfast cake itself as Fairtrade, the certification must apply to that exact variety.
What to bear in mind: A shop’s Fairtrade range or an organic label on the cake isn’t enough.
Breakfast cake with a Fairtrade topping
When to choose it: If you want to create a breakfast cake sharing platter and are happy for the Fairtrade choice to be the chocolate topping.
What to bear in mind: Certification for a separate topping doesn’t automatically apply to the breakfast cake underneath.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check that the Fairtrade mark or an explicit certification statement appears on the exact breakfast cake variety you’ve chosen. If you’re using a separate topping, check what its claim applies to. | If I want to call the breakfast cake itself Fairtrade, the label must match the pack I’m serving. Around 50% of consumers prioritise verifiable Fairtrade status for the breakfast cake. |
| Serving and storage | Choose between sliced, unsliced and individually wrapped portions. Also check the storage instructions and use-by or best-before information on the packaging. | When guests are helping themselves, I want to know in advance whether I’ll need to slice the cake or can simply put out individual portions. For around 30% of consumers, ease of serving is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen cake and any topping; compare nutritional information on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | For a group with different dietary needs, I want to be able to see what the chosen products contain. Ingredients and dietary suitability come first for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a shop’s Fairtrade range for a mark on the cake
A supermarket selling Fairtrade products doesn’t tell you whether a particular breakfast cake variety is certified. PLUS, for example, describes a broad Fairtrade own-brand range; that doesn’t automatically apply to other products in the shop.
Check the Fairtrade mark or explicit certification statement on the packaging of the exact flavour and variety you’re buying.
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Assuming the Fairtrade claim on chocolate sprinkles applies to the whole platter
A separate Fairtrade chocolate topping doesn’t change the certification status of the breakfast cake. Fairtrade Original lists 65.8 g of sugars per 100 g for its dark chocolate sprinkles; include the topping when comparing nutritional information.
Present the combination as breakfast cake with a Fairtrade chocolate topping, and keep the claims for the cake and topping separate.
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Taking wholegrain, organic or gluten-free as proof of Fairtrade status
These labels answer different questions from whether a product is Fairtrade certified. For example, Peijnenburg lists 37% wholegrain rye flour for one wholegrain variety, while Jumbo offers a gluten-free breakfast cake variety.
Check the Fairtrade mark, ingredients and dietary information separately on the packaging of your chosen product.
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Assuming every breakfast cake contains iodised baker’s salt
The agreement published in the Government Gazette in 2008 sets out arrangements for iodised baker’s salt among participating producers. It doesn’t tell you which ingredients were used in a particular breakfast cake.
Read the ingredients label on the breakfast cake you’re buying rather than assuming its ingredients from a general industry agreement.
Brands and shops to help you choose
Peijnenburg
A breakfast cake brand offering, among other things, sliced wholegrain cake and individually wrapped plain portions.
- The sliced wholegrain variety lists 37% wholegrain rye flour; the plain portions are individually wrapped.
- For its individually wrapped plain variety, Peijnenburg lists possible traces of milk, hazelnuts, almonds and other cereals containing gluten. Check the Fairtrade claim on the specific variety you choose.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket with a range of breakfast cakes, including an organic chocolate breakfast cake.
- The product page for the organic chocolate variety helps you identify the exact cake.
- Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging, as ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. Organic doesn’t automatically mean Fairtrade.
Jumbo
A supermarket offering different types of breakfast cake, including an unsliced gluten-free variety.
- Its range gives you options for comparing serving styles and product varieties; for Jumbo Ontbijtkoek Naturel, Jumbo advises storing it in a cool, dry place.
- A separate Fairtrade category in the shop doesn’t mean every breakfast cake carries the Fairtrade mark. Check your chosen variety and its label.
PLUS
A supermarket with a breakfast cake category and a separate Fairtrade own-brand range.
- The breakfast cake category includes a sliced Peijnenburg variety with no added sugars.
- The Fairtrade label on other PLUS own-brand products says nothing about the certification of that breakfast cake variety.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is chocolate breakfast cake automatically Fairtrade?
No. Chocolate in the product name or an organic label tells you nothing about whether the breakfast cake is Fairtrade certified. Only make the claim if the Fairtrade mark or an explicit certification statement applies to the variety you’ve chosen.
Does breakfast cake with Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles become Fairtrade itself?
No. The Fairtrade claim for separate chocolate sprinkles doesn’t automatically apply to the breakfast cake. You can describe the combination as breakfast cake with a Fairtrade chocolate topping. Fairtrade Original lists at least 32% cocoa solids and 65.8 g of sugars per 100 g for its dark chocolate sprinkles.
Does every breakfast cake in the Netherlands have to contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. Don’t assume every breakfast cake has the same ingredients. The agreement published in the Government Gazette in 2008 sets out arrangements for participating producers to use baker’s salt containing 50–65 mg of iodine per kg of salt; check the ingredients label for the specific cake.
How should I store breakfast cake bought in advance for a garden party?
Follow the storage instructions and date information on the packaging of your chosen variety. Jumbo advises storing its plain breakfast cake in a cool, dry place and recommends checking it by sight, smell and taste after the best-before date.