Who is this choice relevant to?

Easter lunch shoppers who want to make a substantiated Fairtrade claim

You want to serve breakfast cake and chocolate, but only make a Fairtrade claim about the cocoa or chocolate product it actually applies to.

Families keeping an eye on allergens

You’re serving breakfast cake to several guests and want to check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the packaging of each variety before buying.

Shoppers who want to keep Easter lunch simple to serve

You’re choosing between chocolate breakfast cake as a single product and plain breakfast cake with chocolate chosen separately. The second option means an extra purchase, but makes it easier to check the Fairtrade claim for the chocolate separately.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want chocolate in the breakfast cake or on the side. Then check the Fairtrade claim, ingredients and portions for each product you choose.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade claim Check whether the claim applies to the chocolate you’ve chosen, cocoa as an ingredient or the whole product. If I want to serve Fairtrade chocolate with breakfast cake, it needs to be clear which part carries the claim. This check is the top priority for an estimated 50% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any warnings about cross-contamination. When guests with food allergies are coming, I don’t want to rely on the product name. For around 30% of consumers, checking allergens is the top priority.
Portions and presentation Compare the packaging format and number of portions; keep any chocolate served separately clearly identifiable. If I want to get Easter lunch on the table quickly, the amount of preparation the combination requires matters. An estimated 20% of consumers prioritise ease of serving above all else.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming chocolate in breakfast cake is Fairtrade

    Listing chocolate as an ingredient says nothing about its certification. Albert Heijn lists 7% chocolate in Peijnenburg Overheerlijk chocolade; that percentage does not substantiate a Fairtrade claim.

    Check the Fairtrade claim for the exact variety. If it appears only on chocolate bought separately, describe only that chocolate as Fairtrade.

  • Checking only the product name when someone has an allergy

    According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Peijnenburg Overheerlijk chocolade contains rye and gluten, soya and nuts. Another breakfast cake or topping may have a different composition.

    Before serving, read the current packaging for both the breakfast cake and any chocolate, including warnings about cross-contamination.

  • Assuming the rule for bakers’ salt applies to every breakfast cake

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through bakers’ salt. This rule does not confirm that every breakfast cake contains iodised bakers’ salt.

    If you want to know what a particular breakfast cake contains, check the ingredients and nutritional information on its packaging.

Brands to consider

These brands offer different options for breakfast cake or a cocoa or chocolate product to serve alongside it. Mentioning a brand below does not mean its entire range is Fairtrade.

Peijnenburg

Breakfast cake for Easter lunch, with plain and chocolate varieties.

  • Peijnenburg says its Naturel 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped slices of 28 g.
  • Albert Heijn lists 7% chocolate in Overheerlijk chocolade and the allergens rye and gluten, soya and nuts. Check separately for a Fairtrade claim on this variety.

PLUS Huismerk

An option for choosing a cocoa or chocolate product to serve alongside breakfast cake.

  • PLUS says that the cocoa in its own-brand products has been Fairtrade certified since 2020.
  • This statement applies to cocoa in PLUS own-brand products, not automatically to breakfast cake or products from other brands. Check the brand and the packaging of the product you choose.

Favorina

Lidl seasonal chocolate to serve alongside breakfast cake at Easter.

  • Lidl Netherlands says that Favorina seasonal chocolate, including its Easter varieties, is Fairtrade certified.
  • The claim applies to the seasonal chocolate, not the breakfast cake served with it. Check the ingredients and allergens for the variety you choose, too.

Fairtrade Original

Cocoa powder for anyone who wants to prepare a cocoa-based addition to their Easter lunch.

  • PLUS product information states that the cocoa in Fairtrade Original Cacaopoeder is sourced on Fairtrade terms using the mass balance principle.
  • Cocoa powder is not breakfast cake or ready-to-eat chocolate. You’ll need additional ingredients to prepare it.

Delicata

Albert Heijn’s chocolate brand for anyone who also considers where the cocoa comes from.

  • Albert Heijn says that Delicata products containing cocoa from Ghana or Côte d’Ivoire are sourced according to the principles of Tony’s Open Chain.
  • This supply chain claim does not prove Fairtrade certification for Delicata or for breakfast cake. Check the specific product for a Fairtrade claim.

Products on Joybuy

Matching products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is chocolate breakfast cake automatically Fairtrade?

No. Chocolate as an ingredient does not prove Fairtrade certification. Albert Heijn lists 7% chocolate in Peijnenburg Overheerlijk chocolade; check the current packaging or product information for that exact variety before making a Fairtrade claim about it.

How can I serve breakfast cake with Fairtrade chocolate at Easter lunch?

Serve breakfast cake with a separate chocolate product whose Fairtrade claim applies to the variety you’ve chosen. PLUS says that the cocoa in its own-brand products is Fairtrade certified; Lidl Netherlands makes this claim about Favorina seasonal chocolate. Check the packaging you actually choose and limit the claim to the relevant cocoa or chocolate product.

Which allergens should I check in chocolate breakfast cake?

Always check the allergens on the current packaging for both the breakfast cake you’ve chosen and any chocolate served alongside it. Albert Heijn lists rye and gluten, soya and nuts for Peijnenburg Overheerlijk chocolade; you shouldn’t assume this information applies to other varieties.

Does every breakfast cake in the Netherlands contain iodine?

No, that does not follow from the Dutch rule for bakers’ salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products only through bakers’ salt, with a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. To find out whether a particular breakfast cake contains this type of salt, check the product information.