Who is this choice for?

If you’re looking for a larger individual snack

You want to pick up one bun during a small top-up shop, without needing to slice it. PLUS and Jumbo sell giant versions, but the product name doesn’t tell you how thick any slice might be.

If you want slices you can add toppings to

If by ‘thick cut’ you mean a slice to add toppings to, a sliced loaf is a better fit than a bag of individual buns. ALDI describes its Drentse bol as partially sliced, while Jumbo also sells slices of currant loaf.

If you compare labels

Before buying, you check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information, including sugars, salt and fibre. Be sure to check the serving size too, as it can vary between products.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want an individual bun or slices. Then check which pack size suits you and, if needed, compare the labels using the same nutritional basis.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Bun or slice Look for ‘giant’, ‘sliced’, ‘partially sliced’ or ‘slices’. A giant bun doesn’t automatically mean thick slices. I want either a larger bun that doesn’t need slicing or a slice I can add toppings to. For around 50% of consumers, product format comes first.
Label Check the ingredients and allergens. Compare sugars, salt and fibre per 100 g, then check the serving size. If I’m keeping an eye on certain ingredients or nutritional values, I want to be able to compare the product label before I buy. For around 30% of consumers, this check is the top priority.
Packaging and storage Choose a pack size that suits when you’ll eat the buns, and follow the storage or freezing advice for the pack you choose. When I’m making a small top-up shop, I don’t want to buy more than I can use or store in time. This is the deciding factor for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘giant’ means ‘thickly sliced’

    A giant bun is a larger individual bun, not a description of slice thickness. If you want slices to add toppings to, you could end up with the wrong type of product.

    For slices, look for ‘sliced’, ‘partially sliced’ or ‘slices’. Choose a giant bun if you’re after a larger individual snack.

  • Mistaking average nutritional values for a product label

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives values for a 50 g currant bun, while Jumbo lists nutritional values for its 65 g raisin and currant bun. You can’t compare those serving sizes as if they were the same amount.

    For a fair comparison, use the nutritional information per 100 g, then check the weight of a bun or serving of the product you’ve chosen.

  • Relying on the product name alone if you have allergies

    The listed allergens vary between products. Jumbo lists wheat and milk, among other things, for its raisin and currant buns; PLUS also lists rye and lactose for its giant currant and raisin buns.

    Check the current label on the specific pack every time you buy, including warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.

  • Buying a large bag without a plan for using it

    A pack containing more buns may not suit a small top-up shop if you can’t use them all in time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also notes that bread is often wasted.

    Compare the number of buns with the times you plan to eat them. If you want to freeze them for later, follow the instructions for the product you’ve chosen.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers currant buns in different sizes, including mini and super versions.

  • Its range also includes a ‘stays fresh for longer’ version.
  • If you want to compare a particular slice thickness or specific ingredients, check the pack of the version you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers standard raisin and currant buns, giant raisin buns and separate sliced loaf products.

  • For its standard raisin and currant buns, Jumbo lists the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per 65 g bun.
  • A giant bun and slices of currant loaf are different product formats, so choose according to how you want to eat them.

PLUS

PLUS offers giant currant and raisin buns, as well as currant buns labelled ‘stays fresh for longer’.

  • For its ‘stays fresh for longer’ currant buns, PLUS advises freezing them at home on the day of purchase and using them within one month.
  • The giant currant and raisin buns list wheat, rye, milk and lactose among their allergens. Check the label of each product individually.

ALDI

ALDI offers both individual raisin and currant buns and the Drentse bol, a partially sliced currant loaf.

  • The partially sliced Drentse bol is a good fit if you want slices to add toppings to.
  • ‘Partially sliced’ doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are, so check whether the format suits what you want to serve.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a currant product with slices I can add toppings to?

Look for currant loaf sold as ‘sliced’, ‘partially sliced’ or in ‘slices’, rather than focusing only on the size of a currant bun. ALDI describes its Drentse bol as partially sliced, but the product format doesn’t tell you how thick each slice is.

When should I choose a giant currant and raisin bun?

A giant bun is a good choice if you want one larger individual snack without having to slice anything. If you want ready-to-eat slices to add toppings to, sliced or partially sliced currant loaf is a better fit.

How do I compare sugars and salt in currant buns?

First compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then check the weight of the bun you’ll eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 15.9 g of sugars and 0.42 g of salt for a 50 g currant bun; Jumbo lists 15.6 g of sugars and 0.66 g of salt for its 65 g raisin and currant bun. The servings are therefore different weights.

Where can I check the allergens in currant buns?

Read the current label on the specific pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires allergens to be listed clearly and accurately on labels. Jumbo and PLUS list different allergens for their currant bun products.

Can I freeze currant buns if I won’t eat them all straight away?

Follow the storage advice on the pack you’ve chosen. PLUS says its ‘stays fresh for longer’ currant buns can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within one month. Don’t assume the same instructions apply to a different product.