Shoppers who prioritise certification
You want to check that the breakfast cake itself carries an appropriate FAIRTRADE mark, rather than relying on a shop’s general product range.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Groups who want to share the cake
You’re looking for slices to put on a sharing platter, or individually wrapped portions to hand out during the film.
Shoppers comparing nutritional information
You want to check the sugars per 100 g and per portion, and see which allergens are listed on the packaging you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether a verifiable Fairtrade mark is essential. Then choose between a cake to share and individual portions, and check the nutritional and allergen information for the product you’ve picked.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade mark | Check the mark on the individual pack. If the cake contains several ingredients, also check which ingredients the mark applies to. | If Fairtrade is a must for me, I don’t want to rely on the shop’s range alone. For around 50% of consumers, checking the product mark comes first. |
| Sharing and portions | Check whether the cake is pre-sliced and how many slices or individual portions the pack contains. | For a sharing platter, I want slices I can hand out; with individual portions, I want to know how many there are. Around 30% of consumers give this ease of sharing top priority. |
| Sugars and allergens | Compare sugars per 100 g and per intended portion, and read the allergen statement on the packaging you choose. | When I’m serving something to others, I want to compare nutritional values and take their allergies into account. This check matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a Fairtrade range means the cake carries the mark
The fact that a supermarket sells Fairtrade products doesn’t mean a particular breakfast cake carries the mark.
Check the packaging or official page for the exact breakfast cake you want to buy. Fairtrade International explains that products with several ingredients may need additional information about which ingredients the mark applies to.
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Taking ‘less sugar’ to mean ‘sugar-free’
Jumbo compares the sugar content of its less-sugar bars with its own plain breakfast cake bar; ‘less’ doesn’t mean the bars contain no sugars.
Check the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion before comparing different packs.
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Skipping the allergen check for a group snack
Jumbo lists rye and wheat in its plain breakfast cake and warns that it may also contain barley and oats. Information may differ for another variety.
Ask about any relevant allergies and read the allergen statement on every pack you serve.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
Offers both a large pre-sliced plain cake and individually wrapped slices—two formats that work differently when you’re handing them out.
- Peijnenburg lists 18 slices for its 550 g pre-sliced cake and ten individually wrapped 28 g slices in its 10-pack.
- Check the packaging of the specific variety for any Fairtrade mark; the portion format says nothing about certification.
Jumbo huismerk
Offers plain breakfast cake and less-sugar bars, among other products, so the format and nutritional information need checking for each variety.
- Jumbo compares the sugar claim for its less-sugar bars with its own plain breakfast cake bar.
- A Fairtrade category at Jumbo doesn’t confirm that an individual breakfast cake carries the mark.
Albert Heijn huismerk
The range includes different types of breakfast cake, including an organic, unsliced variety.
- Sliced and unsliced varieties give you a choice of how to serve the cake.
- An organic mark on its own isn’t proof of Fairtrade certification.
PLUS huismerk
PLUS’s breakfast cake range includes several varieties, including sliced plain breakfast cake.
- PLUS lists a pack weight of 485 g for its sliced plain variety.
- The fact that PLUS also sells Fairtrade own-brand products doesn’t confirm the Fairtrade status of this breakfast cake.
Lidl huismerk
Lidl lists a zero breakfast cake among its range, among other products.
- Lidl says this variety is only available in store.
- Check the packaging to see whether the specific cake carries a Fairtrade mark.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check whether a breakfast cake is Fairtrade certified?
Check the FAIRTRADE mark on the individual pack or official product page. For a product with several ingredients, also read the information about which ingredients the mark covers; Fairtrade International says this information may be important alongside the mark. A supermarket’s general Fairtrade page isn’t proof that a particular breakfast cake is certified.
Does organic also mean Fairtrade for breakfast cake?
No. An organic mark doesn’t confirm that a breakfast cake is Fairtrade certified. Check both marks separately on the packaging or official product page for the product you choose.
Which allergens should I check when sharing breakfast cake?
Read the allergen statement for every variety you plan to serve. Jumbo lists rye and wheat in its plain breakfast cake and warns that it may also contain barley and oats; don’t assume the information is the same for other cakes.
Does the rule about baker’s salt mean every breakfast cake contains iodine?
No. What the law permits doesn’t tell you what’s in an individual breakfast cake. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products. Check the current ingredient information if the ingredients matter to your choice.