Who might find this choice relevant?

Certification-conscious Sinterklaas shopper

You want to be able to check the Fairtrade status of your chosen Dutch breakfast cake on the product itself, rather than relying on the shop or brand.

Host looking to share Dutch breakfast cake

You’re looking for breakfast cake to serve to several guests, so you’re comparing pack sizes, ingredients and allergen information.

Ingredient-conscious snack shopper

You want to know which ingredients, sugars and potential allergens your chosen product contains before serving it.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether you need Fairtrade certification on the product itself. Then consider how you plan to serve the breakfast cake and check the nutritional information for the exact product.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Verifiable Fairtrade status Check the Fairtrade mark on the packaging or in the product information for the exact product you’ve chosen. I don’t want to confuse Fairtrade certification for another product group with certification for my breakfast cake; around 50% of consumers prioritise verifiable Fairtrade status.
Easy to share and packaging Check the number of servings and whether the cake is sliced or individually wrapped. If you want to hand out breakfast cake easily on Sinterklaas evening, how it’s served matters more; around 30% of consumers prioritise how easy it is to share.
Ingredients and nutritional information Read the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional values per 100 g for the exact product. If your guests have different dietary needs, you’ll want to know what you’re serving; around 20% of consumers put ingredients and allergens first.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a Fairtrade shop category for product certification

    Jumbo has separate categories for Fairtrade products and Dutch breakfast cake. That alone tells you nothing about the certification of a specific breakfast cake.

    Check the packaging or product page for the product you want to buy, including its flavour and pack size.

  • Assuming Fairtrade chocolate means Fairtrade breakfast cake

    For Sinterklaas 2025, Fairtrade Netherlands highlighted chocolate letters made with Fairtrade cocoa, among other products. A chocolate letter is still not breakfast cake.

    Choose chocolate only if you deliberately want to serve a different product category. Check the Fairtrade status of breakfast cake separately.

  • Assuming all Dutch breakfast cake contains baker’s salt

    The Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Foodstuffs describes baker’s salt as iodised salt used in bread and other baked goods. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that even bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt.

    Don’t assume a breakfast cake contains baker’s salt just because of its product category; check the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen.

  • Assuming the ingredients in one product apply to all Dutch breakfast cake

    Flavours and pack types can differ in their ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information. The details for one Peijnenburg pack won’t necessarily apply to another.

    Check the current packaging for each product you choose, especially if you’re keeping an eye on allergens or comparing sugar content.

Brands and shops to explore

Peijnenburg

Peijnenburg sells plain Dutch breakfast cake in individual portions, among other options. It’s worth considering if you want to hand out slices.

  • Peijnenburg says its plain 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped 28 g slices, and provides ingredient and allergen information for this product.
  • Check the packaging of your chosen product for a Fairtrade mark; the brand name alone doesn’t indicate product-specific certification.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists Dutch breakfast cake and Fairtrade products in separate online categories.

  • The breakfast cake category is a useful starting point for comparing products and packaging.
  • Jumbo’s Fairtrade category doesn’t confirm that a breakfast cake listed elsewhere is Fairtrade-certified.

PLUS

PLUS has an online category for Dutch breakfast cake and also mentions Fairtrade in connection with its own-brand products.

  • PLUS mentions Fairtrade in relation to coffee, tea, chocolate and bananas, among other products.
  • This general information doesn’t determine the Fairtrade status of a particular breakfast cake; check the packaging of the product you’ve chosen.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify Fairtrade-certified Dutch breakfast cake?

Check for the Fairtrade mark on the packaging and compare the product information with the exact product you’re buying. A supermarket’s Fairtrade page doesn’t mean that every breakfast cake in its range is certified.

Can I serve a Fairtrade chocolate letter as an alternative?

Yes, if Fairtrade cocoa matters more to you than choosing breakfast cake. Fairtrade Netherlands highlighted chocolate letters made with Fairtrade cocoa for Sinterklaas 2025. Check the mark on the current packaging and remember that chocolate is a different product category.

Does Dutch breakfast cake always contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you can’t assume that for every breakfast cake. The Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Foodstuffs describes baker’s salt as iodised salt used in bread and other baked goods; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, its use isn’t compulsory even in bread. Check the ingredients of the specific breakfast cake.

What should I check if my guests have allergies?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the breakfast cake you’re serving. For its plain 10-pack, Peijnenburg lists rye flour and possible traces of milk, hazelnuts, almonds and other cereals containing gluten. Don’t assume this information applies to other products.