Who is this choice relevant to?

Organisers with a strict Fairtrade requirement

You want the cocoa or chocolate in the treat you choose to be explicitly labelled Fairtrade. A supermarket’s general cocoa sourcing policy is not enough.

People handing out treats who need to consider allergens

You’re handing out treats to a mixed group and want to check the ingredients and allergens in every egg cake and any separate chocolate in advance.

People preparing for the procession

You want to know how many items you can hand out and whether the packaging, shelf life, storage advice and availability fit your plans.

What should you look for when buying?

Chocolate egg cake

When it’s suitable: If the Fairtrade chocolate needs to be part of the egg cake itself.

What to consider: Without an explicit Fairtrade label for the cocoa or chocolate in that variety, there’s no proof that the egg cake meets this requirement.

Egg cake with separate chocolate

When it’s suitable: If you can hand out chocolate labelled Fairtrade in its own right alongside a plain egg cake.

What to consider: The Fairtrade label doesn’t automatically apply to the egg cake; you’ll need to check both products and plan how to hand them out.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade label Check the exact packaging or current product page to see whether the Fairtrade label applies to the cocoa or chocolate used. If Fairtrade chocolate is a firm requirement, I want to know that the specific variety I’ve chosen is labelled as such; around 42% of consumers prioritise this product-level proof.
Allergens Read the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the current packaging of each product. When handing out treats to a mixed group, I want to avoid relying on the product name alone; allergen checks are the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Handing out and storage Check the number of items, best-before date and storage advice; confirm availability before planning how to hand them out. When I need to buy and bring the treats in advance, I want to know whether there’ll be enough to share and how to store them; around 25% of consumers give these practical considerations top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a retailer’s policy for a product certification

    A supermarket may use different certification schemes for cocoa. That doesn’t tell you which certification applies to the chocolate in one specific egg cake.

    If Fairtrade is a strict requirement, check the label on the packaging or the current product page for the exact variety you’ve chosen.

  • Calling UTZ-certified cocoa Fairtrade

    Jumbo listed UTZ Certified Cacao for its chocolate egg cakes. That wording is not an explicit Fairtrade label.

    Use the name of the certification actually shown on the product, especially if you’ve promised a Fairtrade treat in advance.

  • Guessing allergens from the product name

    Ingredients vary between egg cakes and chocolate varieties. Warnings about the possible presence of other allergens may also be relevant.

    Read the current packaging for each variety before buying and again before handing them out, especially if you’re pairing egg cakes with separate chocolate.

  • Including an old product listing in your plans

    Product information may remain visible even when an item is no longer available online; Jumbo noted this for the chocolate egg cakes mentioned.

    Check availability shortly before buying, and only choose an alternative after checking its packaging too.

    A last-minute replacement could mean an extra trip to the shop.

Relevant brands to consider

Albert Heijn

AH Egg Cakes are plain egg cakes made with free-range egg, with no cocoa or chocolate in the variety described.

  • Albert Heijn lists twelve portions per pack.
  • Albert Heijn describes Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance as certifications for cocoa in its own-brand products; that doesn’t make these cocoa-free egg cakes a Fairtrade chocolate product.

Jumbo

Jumbo listed UTZ Certified Cacao for its chocolate egg cakes.

  • The varieties described include ingredient and allergen information.
  • UTZ Certified Cacao is not an explicit Fairtrade label. Jumbo noted on the relevant product pages that the items were no longer available online.

Bolletje

Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel is an egg cake made with free-range egg, topped with a layer of milk and cinnamon.

  • The product information lists ingredients and allergens.
  • This variety does not list cocoa or Fairtrade chocolate; also check for warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.

Verkade

Verkade is worth considering if you can choose the chocolate separately from the egg cake.

  • Verkade says all the cocoa in its chocolate bars and chocolate letters is Fairtrade.
  • That statement about bars and letters does not confirm that an egg cake contains Fairtrade chocolate.

ALDI

ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken as plain egg cakes made with barn eggs.

  • Plain egg cakes can be used as a separate base if handing out chocolate alongside them works for you.
  • ALDI lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and the EU organic label as possible certifications for its own-brand cocoa. Don’t infer that these egg cakes are Fairtrade from this information.

Lidl

Lidl is worth considering if you’re choosing seasonal chocolate around Sinterklaas.

  • Lidl says its seasonal chocolate around Sinterklaas is Fairtrade-certified.
  • Check the label and availability of the specific product you choose; the statement about seasonal chocolate says nothing about a particular egg cake.

Chocolate to pair with egg cakes

This Joybuy selection includes separate chocolate for anyone arranging plain egg cakes separately. The product shown is not an egg cake; check whether handing out the chocolate separately works for your Sinterklaas procession.

Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel chocolate bar, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel chocolate bar, 180 g

This individual chocolate bar can be handed out alongside separately purchased egg cakes; the chocolate’s Fairtrade label does not automatically apply to the egg cakes.

The bar weighs 180 g. The product description says the milk chocolate is Fairtrade; check this label on the current packaging.

The product information lists milk, soya, pecans and cereals containing gluten, and states that the product may also contain egg and peanuts. Check the current allergen information before handing it out, and decide how best to share the bar.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are egg cakes Fairtrade if the supermarket buys certified cocoa?

Not on the basis of that sourcing policy alone. Check whether the packaging or current product page for the egg cake you’ve chosen explicitly says that the cocoa or chocolate it contains is Fairtrade.

Which allergens should I check in egg cakes and separate chocolate?

Check the ingredients and allergens for both exact products on their current packaging. The egg cakes described contain ingredients such as egg, cereals containing gluten, milk and soya; some varieties also carry warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.

How should I store egg cakes until the procession?

Follow the storage advice and best-before date on the packaging you choose. Albert Heijn recommends storing its egg cakes in a cool, dry place away from light and closing the pack securely after opening; other varieties may have different instructions.

Do allergens have to be listed on pre-packed egg cakes?

Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, ingredients and any allergens present must be clearly shown on the label of pre-packed foods. When handing out the treats, check the packaging for the variety you’ve actually chosen, even if you’ve already looked at a product page.