Choose a currant bun for your advent calendar based on its size, storage instructions and the latest ingredient and allergen information. According to their ingredient lists, the Albert Heijn and PLUS currant buns described here contain no cocoa or chocolate. If you also want Fairtrade chocolate, choose a separate chocolate product with an explicit Fairtrade label on that product; a shop’s Fairtrade range says nothing about the currant bun you choose.
You want clear proof that the chocolate in your treat is Fairtrade. Lidl says its Way To Go chocolate bar is fully Fairtrade-certified. According to their ingredient lists, the Albert Heijn and PLUS currant buns described here contain no chocolate, so check any chocolate component separately.
You’re looking for a suitable portion for each recipient or calendar day, and want to know how to store the currant buns. Albert Heijn lists four buns weighing 75 g each for the variant described; PLUS lists six currant buns per bag and says they can be frozen on the day of purchase.
You want to be able to check the information for both products before handing out a combination. PLUS lists wheat, rye, milk and lactose among the ingredients in its currant buns, as well as other possible allergens. Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, so check the latest packaging for the variant you choose.
First decide whether your treat needs to include chocolate with a product-specific Fairtrade label. After that, a plain currant bun and a combination with separate chocolate each need their own checks for portions, storage and ingredients.
Choose this option: if you want a bread-based treat and Fairtrade chocolate isn’t essential.
Consideration: the ingredients lists for the Albert Heijn and PLUS currant buns described here contain no chocolate, so a Fairtrade label for cocoa isn’t a feature of these buns.
Choose this option: if you want to hand out chocolate with an explicit Fairtrade label alongside a currant bun.
Consideration: you’ll be handing out two separate products, so check the latest packaging for both.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade label for chocolate | Check whether the specific chocolate variant carries a Fairtrade label and whether the currant bun you’ve chosen contains chocolate. | If I want to hand out Fairtrade chocolate, the label needs to be on the chocolate I’ve chosen, not just associated with the shop. For around 50% of consumers, this product-specific clarity comes first. |
| Portions and storage | Compare the number of items, sizes and storage instructions for the products you’ve chosen. | When filling several compartments, I want to be able to portion out the treats and store them as directed on the packaging. Around 30% of consumers say this practical planning is what they pay most attention to. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredient lists and information about allergens that are present or may be present in both products. | When handing out treats to others, I need to check in advance which ingredients and allergens are relevant to them. For around 20% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
Fairtrade Nederland lists chocolate in the ranges at Albert Heijn and Jumbo, but that doesn’t confirm the certification of an individual currant bun or chocolate product. According to their ingredient lists, the Albert Heijn and PLUS currant buns described here contain no chocolate.
Look for a Fairtrade label on the packaging or product information for the specific chocolate you choose.
The Albert Heijn variant described lists iodised salt; PLUS lists baker’s salt. According to Nederlands Bakkerij Centrum, Dutch bakeries use iodine-enriched baker’s salt for the Dutch market under an agreement, rather than a general legal requirement applying to all currant buns.
If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list for the exact product.
PLUS lists allergens that are present or may be present in its currant buns. If you’re pairing them with chocolate, the information for that separate product also needs to suit the recipients.
Check the latest packaging for both products before portioning them out, and follow the storage instructions for each product.
Albert Heijn has a category for currant buns and muesli buns. Fairtrade Nederland also lists chocolate among some parts of its range.
PLUS lists currant buns in bags of six, with ingredient, allergen and storage information. Fairtrade Nederland has also written about PLUS’s own-brand Fairtrade range.
Lidl lists currant buns in bags of six and also offers the separate Way To Go chocolate range.
Fairtrade Nederland lists chocolate as one of Jumbo’s Fairtrade product categories.
This chocolate bar is a possible separate addition to a currant bun, not a chocolate-filled currant bun. Check the Fairtrade label and ingredients on the packaging you choose before putting the combination together.
Image unavailable
For anyone who wants to hand out separate chocolate alongside currant buns. The bar weighs 180 g. Check the latest packaging for the Fairtrade label, ingredients and allergens, then decide which portions will fit in your calendar.
Not if the currant bun doesn’t contain chocolate. The ingredients lists shown for PLUS Krentenbollen and AH Extra lang lekker rozijnen krentenbollen contain no cocoa or chocolate. If you want to hand out Fairtrade chocolate, check the label on a separate chocolate product you’ve chosen.
No. Nederlands Bakkerij Centrum describes the use of iodine-enriched baker’s salt by Dutch bakeries for the Dutch market as an agreement, not a general legal requirement for all currant buns. Check the ingredients list to see which salt is listed for the product you’ve chosen.
Check the ingredients list for the exact variant. The Albert Heijn currant bun described here lists iodised salt, while PLUS lists baker’s salt in its currant buns. Don’t assume another product will list the same type.
When handing out treats, use the latest information for the exact product, preferably on the packaging. Albert Heijn says ingredient and allergy information can change. If you’re putting together a combination, check both the currant bun and the chocolate.
