For a birthday, choose a chocolate spiced breakfast loaf only if the current packaging clearly states that the chocolate or cocoa is Fairtrade. An organic label or the presence of chocolate isn’t enough. Then decide whether sliced loaf, a whole loaf to slice yourself or individually wrapped portions would suit your guests; Albert Heijn lists its spiced breakfast loaf with Fairtrade chocolate as discontinued.
You want to know whether the claim applies to the chocolate or cocoa in the treat. Fairtrade Netherlands recommends checking the information on the back of the packaging too if the certification mark has an arrow.
You can choose between pre-sliced loaf, a whole loaf or individually wrapped portions. The way it’s served doesn’t, in itself, tell you whether any chocolate is Fairtrade.
You want to check the ingredients, allergens, sweeteners and portion size before serving the loaf. Check the packaging for the variant you’ve chosen, especially if any guests have known allergies.
If Fairtrade chocolate is a must, first check the claim for the product you’ve chosen. The serving format and label will then help you decide whether it suits your guests and how you’re preparing.
Choose this if: the packaging for the loaf clearly displays a relevant Fairtrade claim for the chocolate or cocoa.
Bear in mind: Albert Heijn describes its AH Bio variant as filled with fair trade chocolate, but lists it as discontinued. It isn’t a current buying option based on that page.
Choose this if: you’d like to serve spiced breakfast loaf and can offer Fairtrade chocolate as a separate treat.
Bear in mind: check both packages separately, and don’t present the loaf as a product containing Fairtrade chocolate.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check the current packaging to see whether the claim specifically applies to the cocoa or chocolate. If the Fairtrade mark has an arrow, also read the explanation on the back. | I want to be able to verify that the cocoa in the birthday loaf itself is Fairtrade, not just that the shop sells Fairtrade products. For around 50% of consumers, verifiable sourcing comes first. |
| Serving format | Check whether the loaf is pre-sliced or individually wrapped, or whether you’ll need to slice it yourself. Check how many portions the pack contains. | If guests will help themselves, I want to be able to serve the loaf without much preparation. Ease of serving is the most important thing around 33% of consumers look for when buying. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, any warnings about traces, sweeteners and the stated portion size. | If any guests have known allergies, I want to know what I’m serving and what warnings are on the packaging. For around 17% of consumers, checking the label comes before other things they look for when buying. |
An organic product or a supermarket that sells Fairtrade products doesn’t automatically mean every spiced breakfast loaf contains Fairtrade chocolate. A claim about own-brand cocoa doesn’t necessarily apply to a loaf from another brand either.
Read the claim on the packaging of the exact variant you want to serve. Fairtrade Netherlands points out that the certification mark with an arrow provides additional information on the back about ingredients and sourcing.
Albert Heijn describes AH Bio chocolate spiced breakfast loaf as filled with fair trade chocolate, but also marks this variant as discontinued.
Check that your chosen variant is available shortly before the party. If you’d rather serve spiced breakfast loaf and Fairtrade chocolate separately, check both products individually.
Arranging an alternative may mean extra preparation or another trip to the shop.
An individually wrapped bar is easy to hand out, but the packaging alone won’t tell you whether the ingredients are suitable for your guests. The information for Peijnenburg Tussendoor+ Choco lists rye, oats and soya, among other ingredients, and includes warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
Before serving, read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for the variant you’ve chosen.
The Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Foodstuffs defines baker’s salt as iodised table salt for bread and other bakery products. This definition doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a particular spiced breakfast loaf.
For information about the ingredients in your chosen loaf, rely on the current product label rather than making a general assumption about baker’s salt.
A spiced breakfast loaf brand offering both loaves and individually wrapped snacks.
A supermarket that sells, among other things, sliced and unsliced spiced breakfast loaf.
A supermarket with separate categories for spiced breakfast loaf and Fair Trade products.
A supermarket selling spiced breakfast loaf and a separate Way To Go chocolate range.
A supermarket selling Koek & Bakker spiced breakfast loaf and a separate Fairtrade range.
A supermarket selling Peijnenburg spiced breakfast loaf and applying a cocoa policy to its own-brand products.
Check whether the current packaging specifically links the Fairtrade claim to the chocolate or cocoa. Fairtrade Netherlands says that when the Fairtrade mark has an arrow, more information about the ingredients concerned and how they’re sourced can be found on the back.
Albert Heijn’s product page mentions fair trade chocolate, but also marks this variant as discontinued. Check the current product status before shopping, rather than relying solely on a saved product description.
No. A shop-wide policy or a separate Fairtrade range isn’t a claim about every spiced breakfast loaf. Check the packaging of the variant you’ve chosen and make sure any claim really does apply to the cocoa or chocolate in that product.
