If you want an egg cake with cocoa that is demonstrably Fairtrade-certified to enjoy with your coffee, choose one only if the packaging or current product information clearly confirms that the Fairtrade mark applies to the cocoa or chocolate used. A supermarket’s general cocoa policy or a different certification does not confirm this for the egg cake you have chosen. Also check the allergens and current availability.
You want the cocoa or chocolate in your egg cake to be demonstrably Fairtrade-certified. So you check the mark and ingredient information for the product you choose, rather than relying on the shop’s policy alone.
You’re looking for something that suits your coffee break, such as a regular, mini or wholemeal egg cake. You only factor Fairtrade cocoa into your choice if the information on the specific product supports it.
You’re serving egg cakes to guests for whom ingredients matter. Product information from Bolletje and Jumbo lists ingredients including egg, wheat, milk and soya for certain varieties. Always check the packaging of the variety you’re serving.
First decide whether Fairtrade cocoa is a must. Then choose a variety to suit your coffee break and check the allergen information before buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa or chocolate | Check the Fairtrade mark on the packaging and, for a composite product, read which ingredients it applies to. Fairtrade International explains that an arrow next to the mark points to this information. | If I want Fairtrade cocoa with my coffee, the mark must clearly apply to the cocoa or chocolate in my egg cake. This demonstrable sourcing is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Variety and availability | Check the type of egg cake, the pack size and the product’s current status. Jumbo says its Chocolate Egg Cakes, 8 Pack are no longer available in its online range. | For a coffee break with several people, I want to choose a suitable variety and pack that I can actually buy. This practical choice matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety you’ve chosen, including any warnings about cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires allergens to be clearly distinguished in the ingredients list. | When I serve egg cakes to guests, I want to check in advance whether the ingredients are suitable for them. Checking ingredients and allergens is the highest priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn, ALDI and Lidl outline policies on certified cocoa, but mention several possible certifications. This doesn’t tell you whether the cocoa in a specific egg cake is Fairtrade-certified.
Check the packaging or current product page to see which Fairtrade mark applies to the variety you’ve chosen and which ingredient it covers.
Jumbo lists UTZ Certified Cacao for its Chocolate Egg Cakes, 8 Pack. This is not a Fairtrade mark.
Check the exact name of the certification. If Fairtrade is a requirement, look for a Fairtrade mark that clearly explains its link to the cocoa or chocolate.
Ingredients can vary between egg cakes. For certain varieties, Bolletje and Jumbo list ingredients including egg, wheat, milk and soya.
Read the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety you’re buying, especially if you’re serving the egg cakes to others.
Jumbo says its Chocolate Egg Cakes, 8 Pack are no longer available in its online range. So finding a product name from the past doesn’t tell you what you can buy now.
Check the product’s status just before buying and reassess any replacement variety for its ingredients and Fairtrade mark.
Bolletje offers products including its Soft Cinnamon Egg Cake, a cinnamon variety with a milk coating instead of chocolate.
Jumbo offers several types of egg cakes, including regular, mini and wholemeal varieties.
Albert Heijn has a range of egg cakes and separately outlines its policy on cocoa in its own-brand products.
Lidl sells egg cakes and also outlines its policy on own-brand cocoa and its separate Way To Go chocolate range.
ALDI offers Heerlijck Banket Free-Range Egg Cakes and also has a separate Fairtrade range.
Check that the Fairtrade mark and its accompanying ingredient information clearly relate to the cocoa or chocolate in that egg cake. Fairtrade International explains that, for composite products, an arrow next to the mark points to information on the back of the packaging about the ingredients concerned and the sourcing method.
No, not without information about the egg cake you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn, ALDI and Lidl also mention other certifications in their cocoa policies, so check the packaging of the specific variety.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the variety you’re serving. Product information from Bolletje and Jumbo lists egg, wheat, milk and soya for certain egg cakes; another variety may have a different recipe.
First check whether that exact variety is still available and what the current packaging says. For example, Jumbo says its Chocolate Egg Cakes, 8 Pack are no longer available in its online range. Check any other chocolate variety again for its certification and ingredients.
