Who is this choice relevant to?

Traveller who puts Fairtrade first

You want to be able to see on the chocolate packaging which Fairtrade claim applies to the product or its ingredients. If the egg cake doesn’t provide that information, a separate chocolate bar is an option.

Egg cake lover on the go

Your main priority is taking an egg cake on the train. A plain egg cake may be enough if chocolate isn’t essential; otherwise, you can choose both products separately.

Traveller keeping an eye on allergens

You check the current packaging of each product. For AH Eierkoeken, Albert Heijn lists egg, milk, wheat and soya among the allergens; a separate chocolate bar has its own ingredients and allergen list.

What should you look for when choosing?

Plain egg cake

Choose this if: the egg cake itself matters more to you than chocolate.

Trade-off: the ingredients list for AH Eierkoeken doesn’t mention cocoa, so Albert Heijn’s cocoa commitment doesn’t make this a Fairtrade chocolate snack.

Egg cake with separate chocolate

Choose this if: you want an egg cake and want to check the Fairtrade claim on the chocolate separately.

Trade-off: you’ll be taking two packets with you. Verkade states that its dark chocolate bar contains Fairtrade cocoa; check the packaging of the bar you buy.

Chocolate biscuit instead of egg cake

Choose this if: chocolate with a product-specific Fairtrade claim matters more to you than having an egg cake.

Trade-off: a chocolate biscuit, such as Verkade Nizza Coconut, isn’t an egg cake; check the variety you choose and its current availability.

What to considerWhat to check when buyingWho it matters to
Fairtrade claim Check the exact packaging for the FAIRTRADE Mark or an explicit claim about the chocolate or cocoa. Fairtrade International also advises checking the back of the packaging if the mark includes an arrow. If Fairtrade is the deciding factor for me, I want to know whether the claim really applies to the chocolate. Around 38% of consumers put this check first.
Easy to take with you Check whether the snack you’ve chosen is available when you set off, and whether you can take the packaging and waste with you. Just before my train journey, I want to be able to buy a snack and take it with me easily, even if that means choosing a different type of biscuit. This matters most to around 37% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current labels on both the egg cake and any chocolate, paying particular attention to ingredients such as egg, milk, wheat and soya. I need to be able to decide whether the ingredients in both products are suitable for me before I pack them. Around 25% of consumers put this check first.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a general cocoa commitment for a product claim

    Albert Heijn, ALDI and Lidl describe policies on certified cocoa, but that doesn’t prove that a specific egg cake contains chocolate or show which certification applies to that chocolate.

    Check the ingredients and Fairtrade claim on the packaging of the product you’re buying.

  • Mistaking a product page for current stock

    Jumbo lists its Choco Eierkoeken as no longer available in its online range. So an existing product page doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to buy the biscuits before you set off.

    Check current availability with the shop you want to order from or visit.

  • Assuming the type of biscuit tells you about allergens

    AH Eierkoeken, as described by Albert Heijn, contain ingredients including egg, milk, wheat and soya. Another variety may have a different recipe.

    Read the allergen information on the current packaging every time, even if you’ve bought the same type of biscuit before.

  • Confusing a chocolate biscuit with a chocolate egg cake

    Verkade Nizza Coconut is a coconut biscuit with chocolate, not an egg cake. The type of biscuit also determines whether this alternative meets your needs.

    Decide whether an egg cake is essential. If you also want Fairtrade chocolate, check a separate chocolate bar.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

For anyone looking to take a plain egg cake with them.

  • Albert Heijn lists AH Eierkoeken in a pack of 12, weighing 360 g, and provides allergen information.
  • The ingredients list doesn’t mention cocoa or chocolate. Albert Heijn’s cocoa policy doesn’t make these egg cakes a Fairtrade chocolate product.

Jumbo

Useful for seeing the difference between plain and chocolate egg cakes.

  • Jumbo’s egg cake range includes several varieties.
  • The Jumbo Choco Eierkoeken page mentions UTZ Certified cocoa, not Fairtrade, and says the product is no longer available in its online range.

Verkade

An option if you want to choose Fairtrade chocolate separately from your egg cake.

  • Verkade states that its dark chocolate bar contains Fairtrade cocoa.
  • A chocolate bar or Nizza Coconut biscuit isn’t a Verkade egg cake.

Bolletje

Worth considering if you’re looking for a specific egg cake variety.

  • Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel as a variety with a milk coating.
  • The product information doesn’t mention cocoa or a Fairtrade claim, and lists wheat, egg, soya and milk among the allergens.

ALDI

Worth considering if you’re looking for a plain egg cake.

  • ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken in packs of 12.
  • ALDI mentions several possible certifications for cocoa; this doesn’t mean these egg cakes are Fairtrade-certified.

Lidl

Worth considering if you’re looking for egg cakes from a retailer with a separate cocoa policy.

  • Lidl describes its policy on certified own-brand cocoa.
  • That policy doesn’t show that a specific Lidl egg cake contains chocolate or uses Fairtrade chocolate.

A chocolate bar to take separately

This bar is suited to taking chocolate separately from an egg cake. It isn’t an egg cake itself; if a Fairtrade claim is important to you, check the packaging.

Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with pecan and caramel, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate bar with pecan and caramel, 180 g

A separate chocolate bar for anyone who also wants to take an egg cake with them. The product name specifies milk chocolate, pecan, caramel and a weight of 180 g.

Before buying, check the current packaging for the Fairtrade claim, ingredients and allergens.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether the chocolate in a biscuit is Fairtrade?

Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark on the packaging and check which ingredients the claim applies to. Fairtrade International also advises checking the back of the packaging if the mark includes an arrow.

Does UTZ Certified cocoa mean a chocolate egg cake is Fairtrade?

No, a UTZ claim isn’t a Fairtrade claim for that biscuit. Jumbo mentions UTZ Certified cocoa in connection with its Choco Eierkoeken; if Fairtrade is essential, check whether the specific product states this explicitly.

Is a supermarket’s cocoa policy enough to help me choose an egg cake?

No, check the specific egg cake first. For example, the ingredients list for AH Eierkoeken doesn’t mention cocoa, so a general policy on certified cocoa doesn’t confirm that it’s the chocolate egg cake you want.

What should I bear in mind when eating a snack on an NS train?

Think about the packaging and waste. NS asks passengers to put their rubbish in the bin; take it with you if you can’t use a bin straight away.

Should I check the allergens again for a product I know?

Yes, read the current packaging for both the egg cake and any chocolate. Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging because product information can change.