Only buy a chocolate egg cake for a conference with a Fairtrade claim if the current packaging or product specification supports that claim for the exact product. If it doesn’t, you can serve plain egg cakes with separately labelled Fairtrade chocolate. For this combination, check the allergen information for both products and plan how you’ll serve individual portions.
You want to be able to explain to attendees exactly which product the Fairtrade claim applies to. So check the current packaging for the chocolate, rather than assuming a general cocoa policy or a different certification supports a claim about a specific product.
You’re looking for something that’s easy to hand out, while making sure attendees can check the allergens in both the egg cake and any chocolate before eating. This calls for extra care with self-service or unpackaged food.
You want to confirm the number of items, pack size and availability before ordering. Choosing chocolate separately lets you check the Fairtrade claim for each component, but you’ll also need a separate serving plan.
Choose this option: if the current packaging for the exact egg cake states that its cocoa is Fairtrade and one item per attendee suits your serving plan.
Trade-off: a UTZ or Rainforest Alliance statement on its own doesn’t support a Fairtrade claim.
Choose this option: if you want to show the Fairtrade statement on the chocolate separately and can serve two items.
Trade-off: both products need their own allergen information and portion planning, and you’ll need to manage both sets of packaging.
Assess the certification claim at product level, then check what your chosen serving option means for allergens and portions.
| Point to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Read the current packaging or product specification for the exact chocolate or chocolate egg cake; don’t infer the claim from a general cocoa policy. | If I promise attendees Fairtrade, I want to be able to point to that statement on the product. For around 40% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Allergens when serving | Check the allergen information for both products and keep it available wherever unpackaged products are served. | For self-service, I want attendees to know which allergens are present before they choose; around 30% of consumers give this top priority. |
| Portions and availability | Confirm that the item is available to order, how many items are in each pack and the best-before date on delivery; decide how you’ll portion out loose chocolate. | For a planned break, I want to have enough portions ready without relying on an old product range. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn mentions Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade for the cocoa in its own-brand products. That policy statement doesn’t tell you which certification applies to the cocoa in a particular product. Nor does it make a plain egg cake with no cocoa eligible for a Fairtrade chocolate claim.
When communicating with attendees, only use a statement shown on the current packaging or product specification for the chocolate you’re actually serving.
Jumbo’s page for Chocolate Egg Cakes says that the product is no longer in its online range. A saved product link therefore doesn’t confirm that you can order the egg cakes for a conference.
Before confirming quantities, check with your chosen supplier that the product is available to order, and confirm the pack size and best-before date.
Otherwise, you may need to find a replacement at the last minute.
The egg cakes described by Albert Heijn and Bolletje list, among other things, egg, cereals containing gluten, milk and soya. If you’re serving them with chocolate, you’ll also need to check the information for that second component.
Keep the current packaging or allergen information available where the food is served. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says customers must be informed about allergens present.
Jumbo has a product page for Chocolate Egg Cakes, but says that the product is no longer in its online range.
Albert Heijn offers Brabant egg cakes with allergen information specific to the product. Its own cocoa policy mentions Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade, but doesn’t support a Fairtrade claim for an egg cake that contains no cocoa.
Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel as an egg cake with a layer of milk chocolate.
Verkade says that all the cocoa in its chocolate bars and chocolate letters is Fairtrade. This statement applies to these chocolate products, not to egg cakes.
Lidl describes its own-brand products as containing certified cocoa and mentions its partnership with Fairtrade for Way To Go chocolate.
ALDI describes a Moser Roth dark chocolate bar with a Fairtrade mark.
This bar suits a serving plan where you buy egg cakes separately and offer the chocolate on its own. It isn’t an egg cake itself: check the packaging for both products and decide how you’ll serve the portions before ordering.
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Serve this chocolate separately alongside egg cakes bought separately. The bar weighs 180 g; before portioning it out, check the current packaging for the Fairtrade statement, allergen information and any cross-contamination warnings. Decide how many portions you want to serve from one bar, too.
No. Those statements on their own don’t support a Fairtrade claim for the product you’ve chosen. Rainforest Alliance says that UTZ is now part of its programme; check separately whether the current product packaging explicitly states Fairtrade.
Yes. Inform attendees about the allergens in the products you’re offering. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says customers must be able to get this information; for unpackaged food, make sure it’s available where the food is served.
Check the full allergen information for each product you choose. The product information for the Albert Heijn and Bolletje egg cakes discussed here lists, among other things, egg, cereals containing gluten, milk and soya; if you’re serving chocolate separately, check the information for that bar as well.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the egg cakes you order. Albert Heijn says to store its Brabant egg cakes in a cool, dry place and close the packaging securely after use; check the instructions separately for any other product.
