Who is this choice relevant to?

Snack shopper who checks certification labels

You want to choose Fairtrade-certified cocoa or chocolate for an afternoon snack. So you check the claim on the specific egg cake, rather than relying on a retailer’s policy.

Shopper who checks ingredients

Before choosing an egg cake, you need to check its ingredients and allergens. These can vary between varieties, especially when there’s a coating or filling.

Shopper looking for a convenient snack

You might compare plain, mini, wholemeal and chocolate egg cakes for your afternoon snack. Check the exact variety and packaging, but don’t assume this tells you anything about Fairtrade status.

What should you look for when choosing?

Egg cake without cocoa

When: You’re looking for a plain egg cake as an afternoon snack and don’t require Fairtrade cocoa.

Trade-off: As it contains no cocoa, this option won’t meet a preference for Fairtrade-certified chocolate.

Chocolate egg cake

When: Choose this variety to meet your preference for Fairtrade only if the claim appears on the specific packaging or in the product information.

Trade-off: The presence of chocolate doesn’t in itself prove Fairtrade certification.

Egg cake with Fairtrade chocolate on the side

When: You’d like Fairtrade chocolate with your afternoon snack, but can’t confirm that a chocolate egg cake carries that claim.

Trade-off: Check the chocolate separately; serving it with the egg cake doesn’t make the egg cake itself Fairtrade.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade status of the cocoa Check the certification label and the information on the exact chocolate egg cake. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo on a white background may apply only to a certified ingredient. If Fairtrade cocoa is a deciding factor for me, I want to know whether the claim applies to this egg cake. For around 45% of consumers, this check is the top priority.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging, even if you’re already familiar with the variety. If I need to watch out for certain ingredients, the product’s contents matter more than my preference for a particular flavour or certification label. Around 33% of consumers put this check first.
Variety and packaging Compare the exact variety, number of pieces and pack weight, and check availability at the retailer you plan to buy from. For my afternoon snack, I want a size and variety that suit the occasion. This practical choice comes first for around 22% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing a retailer’s policy with a product certification

    Albert Heijn and ALDI describe policies on certified cocoa, but the certification options they mention don’t confirm that a specific egg cake is Fairtrade.

    If certification is a condition of your purchase, check the Fairtrade statement on the exact chocolate egg cake.

  • Assuming chocolate means Fairtrade chocolate

    The fact that an egg cake contains chocolate says nothing about its certification. Nor does a retailer listing chocolate egg cakes in its range amount to a Fairtrade claim.

    Check which certification claim applies to your chosen variety and whether it covers an ingredient or the whole product.

  • Relying only on a product page for allergen information

    Ingredients can vary between varieties. For Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel, Bolletje lists wheat, egg, soya and milk, among other ingredients. This isn’t an ingredients list for other egg cakes.

    If you have an allergy, check the current packaging of the egg cake you’re actually going to eat.

Brands and retailers to consider

Bolletje

Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel as an egg cake with a milk coating and cinnamon.

  • The product information lists ingredients and allergens for this specific variety.
  • A milk coating or the brand name doesn’t prove that the product contains Fairtrade cocoa. Check for a claim on the packaging you choose.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn is a retailer that sells egg cakes and has its own cocoa policy for own-brand products.

  • Albert Heijn says that the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified.
  • This policy doesn’t make clear which of those certifications applies to a specific chocolate egg cake.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists plain, mini, wholemeal and chocolate egg cakes separately in its range.

  • The separate varieties make it easier to compare the packaging and ingredients you’re interested in.
  • The description ‘chocolate egg cake’ doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status. Check the claim for the exact variety.

ALDI

ALDI describes Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken as a pack of 12 and also publishes a cocoa policy.

  • The product name and pack size help you identify the egg cake variety you’re looking for.
  • ALDI says cocoa may be certified by Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or the EU organic label. This doesn’t confirm Fairtrade certification for these egg cakes.

Lidl

Lidl describes Fairtrade-certified chocolate in its separate Way To Go range.

  • If you’d like chocolate with an egg cake, you can check the certification claim on the chocolate separately.
  • Information about Way To Go chocolate says nothing about the Fairtrade status of an egg cake.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products will appear soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether a chocolate egg cake is Fairtrade?

Look for the FAIRTRADE certification label or an explicit Fairtrade claim on the exact chocolate egg cake, and check what the claim applies to. Fairtrade Nederland requires a licence agreement for use of its certification label; a retailer’s general sustainability policy isn’t a substitute for a product-specific statement.

Does a Fairtrade logo mean the whole egg cake is certified?

Not necessarily. According to Milieu Centraal, a logo on a white background may indicate that only one ingredient is Fairtrade certified. So before assuming the claim applies to the whole egg cake, read the information accompanying the logo on the packaging.

Which allergens should I check in egg cakes?

Check the allergen information on the current packaging of your chosen variety. For its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel, Bolletje lists cereals containing gluten, wheat, egg, soya and milk. Other egg cakes may contain different ingredients.