If Fairtrade cocoa is a must, choose a spiced breakfast cake only if the specific product is labelled accordingly; a general claim from a supermarket isn’t enough. For a school lunch, check the allergen label and portion size too. Spiced breakfast cake can be part of the lunch, but it won’t necessarily replace everything else.
Look for the claim on the spiced breakfast cake itself, not just in a retailer’s communications. Albert Heijn described its chocolate spiced breakfast cake as containing fair trade chocolate, but its product page now lists it as discontinued. PLUS’s Fairtrade cocoa claim for its own-brand products doesn’t, on its own, confirm that a specific spiced breakfast cake is Fairtrade.
Check the label on your chosen variety before packing it. Peijnenburg lists rye flour in its Naturel 10-pack; according to Peijnenburg, its gluten-free plain variety contains milk and lupin.
An individually wrapped slice doesn’t need to be cut or packed separately. Peijnenburg says its Naturel 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped 28 g slices. Also consider what else you’re putting in the lunchbox.
Start with the requirement that’s non-negotiable for the student, such as a verifiable Fairtrade cocoa claim or suitable allergen information. Then compare the nutritional information and packaging for the exact variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for a Fairtrade cocoa claim on the current packaging or product page for the spiced breakfast cake you’ve chosen. | If Fairtrade cocoa is my deciding factor, I want to be able to find that claim on the product. Around 25% of consumers would make this their first purchasing requirement. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging; check what’s allowed at school if there are rules about what students can bring in. | If a student needs to avoid gluten or other allergens, I want to know what the chosen variety contains. Around 31% of consumers would put allergen checks first. |
| Its place in the lunch | Compare the portion size and nutritional information, including sugars and fibre, for the variety you’ve chosen. | I want a slice to sit alongside the rest of the lunch, rather than replace it. Nutritional value would be the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Packaging and portion size | Check the weight per slice and whether portions are individually wrapped. | If you want to pack the spiced breakfast cake without cutting it, a pre-portioned slice can help. Around 19% of consumers would put this convenience first. |
PLUS talks about Fairtrade cocoa in its own-brand products, while ALDI highlights its Fairtrade products. Neither statement on its own confirms that the spiced breakfast cake you choose contains Fairtrade cocoa.
Check the packaging or product page for that exact spiced breakfast cake before choosing it on that basis.
Peijnenburg lists milk and lupin in its gluten-free plain variety. Its Naturel 10-pack contains rye flour, so it isn’t suitable if gluten needs to be avoided.
Check the latest allergen information for each variety and take any school rules into account.
According to average nutritional values from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a 30 g slice of spiced breakfast cake contains 11.2 g of sugars and 1.1 g of fibre. These figures don’t describe a complete lunch and can vary by product.
Think of spiced breakfast cake as one part of the lunchbox, and consider the other items you’re packing too.
Offers individually wrapped Naturel slices, among other products, as well as a gluten-free plain variety.
Described an organic chocolate spiced breakfast cake made with fair trade chocolate.
Stocks several types of spiced breakfast cake, including a gluten-free variety.
PLUS says the cocoa in its own-brand products has been Fairtrade-certified since 2020.
Lists spiced breakfast cake under Koek & Bakker and also shares information about Fairtrade products.
Lists spiced breakfast cake and also has a separate range of Fairtrade Original products.
No. Look for a claim for the specific spiced breakfast cake on the current packaging or product page. Albert Heijn described a chocolate spiced breakfast cake made with fair trade chocolate, but says that the product has been discontinued. PLUS’s statement about cocoa in own-brand products doesn’t confirm the ingredients of any particular spiced breakfast cake.
No, there are also varieties specifically labelled gluten-free. Peijnenburg lists rye flour in its Naturel 10-pack, while its gluten-free plain variety contains milk and lupin. If allergens are a concern, always check the label on the exact product and follow any school rules.
It’s better to think of spiced breakfast cake as part of the lunch rather than a replacement for everything in the lunchbox. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends wholegrain products, vegetables or fruit, and a suitable drink for a school lunch. Compare the nutritional information for the spiced breakfast cake you’re actually packing.
No, you can’t tell that from the name alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen or ask the manufacturer if this matters to you.
