If you want one bun without lots left over
You’re looking for a small treat for yourself, but don’t want the rest of an opened bag to go to waste. As well as the size of the bun, check how many are in the bag and the storage instructions.
If you want to have a single currant bun on your birthday, choose the size that suits your appetite: a mini bun for a small treat, a standard bun for a regular portion, or a jumbo bun if you’d like something larger. The options mentioned are sold in bags containing several buns, so check how many will be left over, how to store them and what the current label says.
You’re looking for a small treat for yourself, but don’t want the rest of an opened bag to go to waste. As well as the size of the bun, check how many are in the bag and the storage instructions.
You want to read the ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings for the exact product before buying. The Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS products discussed here list wheat and milk ingredients, among others; information can vary between products.
You want to know whether a currant bun is actually labelled wholemeal, rather than judging by its colour or the stated fibre content. Check the packaging and ingredients of the product you choose.
When choosing a currant bun for one on your birthday, the main thing to consider will depend on what matters to you: how much will be left over, what ingredients it contains or whether it’s wholemeal.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and leftovers | Compare the size of the buns and the number in each bag. Check how you can store any remaining buns. | If I only want one bun, I want to know what to do with the rest of the bag. For around 42% of consumers, portion size and leftovers are the main consideration. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any cross-contamination warnings on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I can’t rely on the product name alone. Around 33% of consumers give checking the label top priority. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | Check whether the packaging says wholemeal. Compare fibre, sugar and salt on the same basis, for example per 100 g, and check the portion size. | If I’m looking for a wholemeal currant bun, I want to be able to find that stated on the pack and know what’s in one bun. This grain and nutrition choice comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
A smaller bun doesn’t mean you’re buying just one: Lidl lists nine mini raisin and currant buns per bag.
Check how many buns are included and whether they’re individually wrapped. If you’re having one, see how you can store the rest.
The standard and jumbo options discussed list different ingredients and possible cross-contamination allergens. Information for one variety doesn’t automatically apply to another.
Check the label on the exact pack every time you buy, especially if you need to avoid certain ingredients.
A stated fibre content doesn’t automatically make a white wheat, raisin and currant bun wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread can only be labelled wholemeal if it is made with wholemeal flour.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging and read the ingredients. Always compare the nutritional values of different products on the same basis.
The mention of iodised salt in one product tells you nothing about the ingredients of another currant bun.
If the type of salt used matters to you, read the ingredients list on the exact pack. If the salt description is unclear, ask what it means.
Albert Heijn lists a standard variety of raisin and currant buns in a bag of six, with a stated portion size of 65 g.
Jumbo lists white wheat, raisin and currant buns in a bag of six, with six portions of 65 g.
PLUS lists standard currant buns in packs of eight and jumbo raisin and currant buns in packs of four, among other options.
ALDI lists raisin and currant buns in a pack of six.
Lidl lists packs of six currant buns and packs of nine mini raisin and currant buns.
You can’t tell from the word ‘mini’: the mini raisin and currant buns listed by Lidl come nine to a bag. If you want exactly one wrapped bun, check specifically whether they’re individually wrapped.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can keep currant buns from an opened pack in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. For an unopened bag, follow the date and storage instructions on the packaging.
Read the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are labelled on food; also look out for any cross-contamination warnings.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging and check the ingredients. Don’t rely solely on the colour of the bun or a stated fibre content; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bread can only be labelled wholemeal if it is made with wholemeal flour.
Check the ingredients list on the specific pack for a description such as ‘iodised salt’. If it only lists a type of salt whose meaning isn’t clear to you, ask the manufacturer to explain rather than making assumptions about the ingredients.