Choose spiced breakfast cake for a Christmas market as a Fairtrade option only if the certification mark appears on the packaging of that exact variety and it’s clear whether it applies to the whole cake or just one ingredient. An organic label or a retailer’s cocoa policy is no substitute for checking this. Then compare the nutritional information, allergens and packaging with how you plan to serve the cake.
You want to be able to explain what a Fairtrade claim applies to. So check the label on the spiced breakfast cake you’ve chosen: according to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo on a white background indicates a certified ingredient, not the whole product.
You’re looking for spiced breakfast cake with chocolate or cocoa for your Christmas market. First check that those ingredients are actually in your chosen variety, then see whether any Fairtrade claim applies specifically to the cocoa or to the product as a whole.
You want to serve slices while comparing sugar, fibre and salt per 100 g or per serving. Check the latest allergen information too: the gluten-containing cereals present and whether nuts may be present vary by product.
First check the certification mark on the spiced breakfast cake you’ve chosen. Then decide which ingredients, nutritional information and packaging format suit what you want to offer at your Christmas market.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade status | Check the certification mark on the packaging of the exact variety and see whether it applies to the whole cake or just one ingredient. | If fair trade is my main reason for choosing it, I want to be able to say exactly what is certified. Around 36% of consumers prioritise a Fairtrade status they can verify. |
| Chocolate or cocoa | Check whether the ingredients list mentions cocoa or chocolate, and what any certification mark applies to. | For a chocolate-themed display, I want to know whether the spiced breakfast cake I’ve chosen actually contains cocoa. A variety with cocoa or chocolate is the first choice for around 29% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information and allergens | Compare sugar, fibre and salt per 100 g and per serving; check the allergen information and any warnings about traces. | When I’m offering different slices, I want to be able to compare their nutritional value and clearly indicate allergens. Around 21% of consumers give this top priority. |
| Ease of serving | Check the pack size and whether the cake is pre-sliced or individually wrapped. | If I want to serve slices quickly, I look at how much preparation the packaging requires. Ease of serving is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
PLUS, ALDI and Lidl outline policies on Fairtrade or certified cocoa. This doesn’t confirm that a particular spiced breakfast cake is Fairtrade-certified. And a cocoa policy is only relevant if the variety you’ve chosen contains cocoa.
Check the certification mark on the spiced breakfast cake itself before presenting it as Fairtrade.
According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo on a white background means that an ingredient is certified, not the whole product.
When serving the cake, say which ingredient carries the certification mark.
These labels answer different questions. An organic or wholegrain spiced breakfast cake doesn’t automatically have Fairtrade certification.
Check the Fairtrade claim separately, then compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the variety you’ve chosen.
You can’t tell from the product category alone whether a spiced breakfast cake contains baker’s salt or iodised salt.
If this ingredient matters to your choice, check the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer about the variety you’ve chosen.
These brands offer useful options to compare; always assess any Fairtrade claim for each spiced breakfast cake individually.
Peijnenburg offers sliced plain and wholegrain spiced breakfast cake, among other varieties.
This ALDI own-brand range includes pre-sliced wholegrain spiced breakfast cake.
GIJS offers an organic spiced breakfast cake, available from PLUS.
PLUS sells spiced breakfast cake and also outlines a Fairtrade policy for own-brand products containing cocoa.
Lidl says that cocoa in its own-brand products is sourced from Fairtrade-, Rainforest Alliance- or organically certified farming.
No. An organic label alone doesn’t confirm Fairtrade certification. Check whether the pack of the spiced breakfast cake you’ve chosen also displays a Fairtrade mark and what it applies to.
No. A cocoa policy doesn’t confirm that every spiced breakfast cake contains cocoa or is Fairtrade-certified. Check the ingredients and certification mark for the specific variety.
Read the latest ingredients list and allergen information for every spiced breakfast cake you plan to serve. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly listed in the ingredients; spiced breakfast cake may, for example, list rye or wheat, and may carry a warning about possible traces of nuts.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen and check the best-before date before the Christmas market. Keep the product packaging with the cake so you can refer to the ingredients and allergen information while serving it.
