Choose a box of chocolates as a thank-you or something to share. If you’re looking for a bread-based snack to eat yourself or take with you, currant buns are a better fit. For chocolate, check the portions, flavours and allergens for each variety. When comparing currant buns, look at the ingredients and check the label if you want to know whether iodised salt has been used.
For a thank-you, a coffee visit or a get-together, a box of chocolates with individual portions and different flavours could be just the thing. Do check that the contents are suitable for the people receiving it.
In a box containing several flavours, the ingredients and warnings may vary from one variety to another. Check the current packaging before choosing something for someone else.
For a bread-based snack to eat at home or take with you, currant buns are a different choice from a chocolate gift. Compare the ingredients and allergens, and check the storage instructions. The label will also tell you whether iodised salt has been used.
First decide whether you want to give someone a gift or buy a bread-based snack. Once you’ve decided, check the packaging and current label to see which product suits the occasion and recipient.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Giving and sharing | Check the number of individual portions and the mix of flavours. Think about whether the box is for one person or a group. | For a thank-you or coffee break, I want something I can share that suits the group. This ease of sharing is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, including any warnings about cross-contamination. | If someone receiving it needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in each flavour. For around 50% of consumers, checking the label is their first concern. |
| Bread-based snack or gift | When choosing currant buns, consider the type of bread, ingredients and storage instructions. Check the ingredients list if iodised salt is relevant to your choice. | For home or on the go, I’m looking for something bread-based to eat, not a gift box. That’s why around 10% of consumers start by choosing currant buns. |
A bread-based snack and a gift box suit different occasions. A portion-sized pack that works well for one purpose may be inconvenient for another.
Before choosing a product, decide whether you’re buying it to eat yourself, as a small thank-you or to share with a group.
Ingredients can vary between flavours in a chocolate assortment. If someone has an allergy, any warnings about cross-contamination are important too.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for the person you have in mind. Don’t rely on the assortment’s name alone.
According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. The product name won’t tell you whether it has been used.
Read the ingredients list or ask the bakery if you’re buying unpackaged products.
The Tiny gift box is an example of individually portioned chocolates: Tony's Chocolonely lists 22 chocolates in 10 flavours.
merci Finest Selection is an assortment of different chocolate specialities, ideal for saying thank you.
Albert Heijn lists Celebrations assortment mixes in its chocolate gifts category.
Only if a bread-based snack suits what you want to give. For a thank-you or something to share, a box of chocolates is a different choice from currant buns bought to eat yourself. So start by deciding what the occasion calls for.
Read the ingredients list and any cross-contamination warnings on the current packaging, especially if the box contains several flavours. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory labelling requirements for 14 allergens. Check which of these are relevant to the person receiving the chocolates.
Use the website to make an initial selection, but also check the packaging of the product you buy. merci says recipes may change, and different versions may be available in shops at the same time.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, baker’s salt is not compulsory when baking bread. A product such as AH Rozijnen krentenbollen lists iodised salt in its ingredients, but check each pack or ask if you’re buying unpackaged currant buns.
