Who is this choice important for?

Hotel buyers with a Fairtrade requirement

You want to serve cocoa with a verifiable Fairtrade label alongside the coffee. So check the packaging of the variety you choose: a brand’s general cocoa policy does not necessarily apply to the egg cake.

Hotel teams responsible for communicating allergens

You want to be able to tell guests which allergens the snack contains. Product information from Albert Heijn, Bolletje and Jumbo lists egg, cereals containing gluten, milk and soya among the allergens in various egg cakes; the information for the variety delivered is what matters.

Guests who want an egg cake with their coffee

You’re looking for a simple snack to serve with coffee. Once a pack has been opened, remember to follow the storage instructions and check the cakes are still in good condition.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether Fairtrade cocoa is a requirement for the snack. Then check which allergen information and packaging will work best when serving it in hotel rooms.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade cocoa Check that the Fairtrade label on the current packaging or product specification applies to the cocoa in this particular egg cake variety. If Fairtrade cocoa is my main requirement for a coffee-time snack, I want to be able to link the claim to the variety I’ve chosen. This proof is the top priority for around 46% of consumers.
Allergen information Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, including any warnings about possible traces. When serving guests, I want to be able to tell them in advance which allergens their egg cake contains. Clear allergen information is the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Portions and storage Check the number of cakes, whether they are individually wrapped, the best-before date and the storage instructions. When egg cakes are placed in hotel rooms, I want them to be easy to serve without the quality of opened stock deteriorating. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing a general cocoa policy with a product claim

    Albert Heijn and Lidl describe their cocoa sourcing policies for parts of their ranges. That does not prove that the egg cakes shown contain Fairtrade cocoa.

    For the egg cake you choose, rely only on a claim that applies to the current variety and its packaging.

  • Calling a different cocoa certification Fairtrade

    Jumbo Eierkoeken met Chocolade product information lists UTZ Certified Cacao. This is not the same as a Fairtrade claim.

    Repeat the certification exactly as it appears in the product information, and check separately whether a Fairtrade label is present.

  • Relying on an old product page

    Jumbo says its Eierkoeken met Chocolade is no longer part of its online range. Ingredients and allergens can also vary between current packaging.

    Before ordering, check which variety can be supplied and compare the product specification with the packaging you receive.

  • Guessing allergens from the product name

    A visible chocolate coating doesn’t tell you which allergens or possible traces the whole egg cake contains. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products.

    Keep the information for each variety available to guests, and take care not to mix up the packaging when restocking.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Eierkoeken in a 360 g pack containing 12 portions. The company says that cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified.

  • AH Eierkoeken product information lists the portions and ingredients.
  • Cocoa is not listed among the ingredients for these egg cakes. So the general cocoa policy is not a Fairtrade claim for this variety; the product information lists egg, milk, cereals containing gluten and soya, among other ingredients.

Bolletje

Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek as an egg cake with a milk coating, made with free-range eggs.

  • Worth considering if you’d like to serve an egg cake with a milk coating alongside coffee.
  • For this variety, Bolletje lists egg, cereals containing gluten, milk, wheat and soya, among other ingredients. The product information does not support a Fairtrade cocoa claim.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes Eierkoeken met Chocolade as an 8-piece, 310 g pack, with a cocoa-flavoured decorative topping and a UTZ Certified Cacao label.

  • The product information makes clear which cocoa certification applies to this chocolate variety.
  • UTZ Certified Cacao is not a Fairtrade label. Jumbo also says this product is no longer part of its online range; the information lists egg, gluten, milk and soya, and warns that it may contain nuts.

Lidl

Lidl lists its egg cakes in packs of 12. The company also describes Fairtrade-related cocoa sourcing for its Way To Go! chocolate.

  • The pack size listed helps you plan how to serve plain egg cakes.
  • The information about Way To Go! chocolate does not link Fairtrade cocoa to the egg cakes listed.

ALDI

ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken in packs of 12 and separately describes Choceur chocolate as Fairtrade quality.

  • Egg cakes and chocolate are separate options to consider serving with coffee.
  • The Fairtrade label for Choceur chocolate does not apply to Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken.

Products on this topic at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can you call a chocolate egg cake Fairtrade?

Only when the Fairtrade label can be shown to apply to the chocolate egg cake variety you’ve chosen. For products with multiple ingredients, Fairtrade describes a label with an arrow; a claim for a different chocolate bar or a shop’s general cocoa policy says nothing about the status of this egg cake.

What allergen information do hotel guests need about egg cakes?

Guests need to be able to check the allergens in the variety on offer before choosing an egg cake. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked products appears on the label; when serving them, keep the information from the packaging of the product delivered to hand.

Which allergens do Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Bolletje list for their egg cakes?

For AH Eierkoeken, Albert Heijn lists egg, milk, cereals containing gluten and soya. Jumbo Eierkoeken met Chocolade and Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek also list several of these allergens, along with warnings about possible traces of nuts. Check the current packaging for each variety, even if you’ve bought the same product before.

How should you store egg cakes for coffee in a hotel room?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the egg cake you’ve chosen, and check any opened stock before serving it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists staleness, softness, drying out and loss of flavour as signs that the quality of egg cakes has deteriorated.