If you’re looking for Fairtrade cocoa
If you want to take chocolate spiced cake with you, check whether the Fairtrade claim applies to that specific product. A chocolate flavour or a general statement about a retailer isn’t enough to confirm this.
Who is this relevant for?
If you need to take allergens into account
Does the snack need to be gluten-free, or does the school have rules you need to follow? Read the full allergen information on the exact pack. For example, the gluten-free Peijnenburg spiced cake described by Albert Heijn contains milk and lupin.
If you’re planning portions in advance
Compare the weight per portion and the nutritional information if one pack is meant to cover several snack times. A cake you portion yourself and individually wrapped bars need different approaches to packing and storage.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the non-negotiable requirement for your snack: a verifiable Fairtrade claim, suitable allergen information or a practical portion size. Then check the other details on the same pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim or relevant certification for the chocolate, cocoa or product on the current packaging or product page. | If I’m taking chocolate spiced cake with me, I want to know whether the sourcing claim applies to this pack. Verifiable Fairtrade cocoa is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the ingredients and allergen information, including any relevant warnings about possible traces, and check the school or class rules. | If a child needs to avoid gluten or other allergens, the snack must meet that dietary requirement and the school’s rules. Suitability for allergies and school is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Compare the portion weight, sugars and salt per portion, and check how the pack should be stored after opening. | For several afternoons, I want to be able to portion the cake easily or take a bar with me individually. Around 25% of consumers give portion size and storage convenience top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming chocolate means Fairtrade chocolate
A chocolate ingredient doesn’t, by itself, confirm a Fairtrade claim. Albert Heijn does make this claim for the AH Bio chocolate spiced cake we looked at, but lists the product as discontinued.
Check the claim on a product you’re actually considering, and check the packaging again if the recipe changes.
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Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens
The gluten-free Peijnenburg spiced cake described by Albert Heijn contains milk and lupin. Warnings about possible traces may also be relevant for other varieties.
Read the full information on the exact pack and take into account the rules that apply to your child and their school.
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Relying only on a claim about sugars
A claim such as ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t replace comparing portion sizes, nutritional information and ingredients. For the Tussendoor+ Choco bars we looked at, Peijnenburg lists sweeteners and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Compare sugars and salt per portion, and read the rest of the packaging information before choosing a variety.
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Assuming every spiced cake contains iodine-rich baker’s salt
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt contains iodine, but its use isn’t compulsory. This doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been used in a specific spiced cake.
Don’t assume what’s in a spiced cake based on general information about baker’s salt; check the product label.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
The products we looked at include traditional spiced cake, a gluten-free variety and individually wrapped bars.
- The plain cake we looked at contains rye flour and is described by Peijnenburg as providing 12 portions.
- The gluten-free variety described by Albert Heijn contains milk and lupin. We couldn’t confirm a Fairtrade cocoa claim for the products we looked at.
Albert Heijn
The AH Bio chocolate spiced cake shows how an explicit Fairtrade chocolate claim can appear on a product page.
- The product page says the spiced cake is filled with Fairtrade chocolate.
- Albert Heijn lists this product as discontinued, so don’t take it as confirmation that it’s currently available.
PLUS
PLUS offers various types of spiced cake and describes a Fairtrade policy for own-brand products containing cocoa.
- PLUS says its own-brand products containing cocoa use Fairtrade cocoa.
- A listing in the spiced cake category doesn’t show whether a specific variety contains cocoa. So check the ingredients and claim for the individual product.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check whether the chocolate in spiced cake is Fairtrade?
Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim or relevant certification for the chocolate, cocoa or product on the current packaging or product page. According to Albert Heijn, the AH Bio chocolate spiced cake has such a claim, but it is also listed as discontinued.
Is traditional spiced cake suitable if a child needs to eat gluten-free?
Don’t assume so: the plain Peijnenburg cake we looked at contains rye flour. If you choose a product specifically labelled gluten-free, check the other allergens too; the Peijnenburg variety described by Albert Heijn contains milk and lupin.
What allergen information should I be able to find on packaged spiced cake?
Allergens must be clearly stated on the label, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. When choosing, read the ingredients list on the exact pack and, where relevant, look out for warnings about possible traces too.
Does baker’s salt mean every spiced cake contains iodine?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt contains iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. You can’t tell whether a particular spiced cake contains it from the product category; check the label.
How should I store an opened pack of spiced cake?
Store spiced cake in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Before eating, check the condition of the cake and follow any instructions on the packaging.