Who is this choice relevant to?

If you’re quickly picking up a bag of currant buns

You only need a few buns and want to know how many are in the bag and how they should be stored.

If you’d like some Fairtrade chocolate too

You’re choosing chocolate and a currant bun as two separate products, and want to check the Fairtrade claim on the chocolate.

If you compare labels

Before buying, you check the ingredients, allergens, fibre and whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.

What should you look for when buying?

First, work out how many currant buns you need and how you plan to store them. Then compare the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen. Check any Fairtrade claim on chocolate separately.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade chocolate Check for an explicit Fairtrade claim or certification mark on the separate chocolate product, rather than relying on a general claim made by the retailer. If I buy chocolate to have with a currant bun, I want to know whether the claim applies to that exact bar. This check is the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Packaging and storage Compare the number of buns in each bag and read the storage or freezing advice for the variety you’ve chosen. When I’m just topping up, I don’t want to take home a bigger bag than I can use or store. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Label information Read the allergen list and compare fibre per 100 g. If you’re interested in iodine, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. If an ingredient or allergen is a deciding factor for me, I want to read the label for the exact variety. This information comes first for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a store-wide Fairtrade claim applies to the currant buns

    A Fairtrade claim about chocolate or cocoa doesn’t confirm that a separate currant bun is certified.

    Check the claim on the exact currant bun, and assess any chocolate separately.

  • Assuming all currant buns have the same nutritional values

    The Albert Heijn wholemeal variety examined lists 6,1 g of fibre per 100 g; the standard Jumbo variety examined lists 2,8 g per 100 g. The number of buns in each pack also varies.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and the portion size for the variety you’re actually buying.

  • Relying on the product name alone to identify allergens

    The products examined from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list wheat and milk, among other allergens. Warnings about the possible presence of other allergens may vary between products.

    If you have an allergy or intolerance, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before eating.

  • Assuming every currant bun contains baker’s salt

    According to the Voedingscentrum, bread isn’t always baked with baker’s salt. The product name alone won’t tell you which salt has been used.

    If it matters to you, check the label for baker’s salt or iodised salt.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

The AH Extra long-lasting fresh raisin and currant buns examined come in a pack of four wholemeal wheat and rye buns.

  • Albert Heijn lists 6,1 g of fibre per 100 g and iodised salt for this variety.
  • The product information lists wheat, rye and milk among its allergens. Check the product itself for any Fairtrade claim on these currant buns.

Jumbo

The Jumbo Raisin and Currant Buns examined are sold in packs of six.

  • Jumbo lists 29,6% raisins, 6,1% currants and 2,8 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
  • The product information lists wheat, gluten and milk. Also check the packaging for any warnings about other allergens.

PLUS

The PLUS varieties examined include packs of six and eight currant buns.

  • For its six-pack variety, PLUS lists 31% raisins and 3,9% currants. Check the storage advice for each variety if you plan to freeze them.
  • The product information examined lists wheat, gluten and milk. A claim about cocoa in other PLUS products doesn’t confirm that these currant buns are Fairtrade-certified.

Lidl

Lidl sells currant buns in a bag of six.

  • A pack of six gives you a clear quantity to compare with what you need straight away.
  • Check the packaging in store for ingredients, nutritional information, allergens and any certification marks.

ALDI

ALDI lists chocolate in its Fairtrade range as a possible separate extra to have with a currant bun.

  • An explicit Fairtrade claim on the chocolate product you choose makes it easy to check the claim for that product.
  • Fairtrade chocolate says nothing about whether a separate currant bun is certified.

Chocolate as a separate extra at Joybuy

This selection includes chocolate you can choose separately to have with a currant bun. Check the Fairtrade claim on the bar itself; it doesn’t automatically apply to the currant bun.

Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate with pecan and caramel, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely milk chocolate with pecan and caramel, 180 g

If you’d like to choose chocolate separately to have with a currant bun, the product description says this milk chocolate is Fairtrade. Check the claim on the current packaging; it doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status for the currant bun.

According to the product information, the bar contains at least 32% cocoa solids and lists pecan, milk, soya and cereals containing gluten, including barley. If you have allergies, check the current packaging.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether a currant bun is Fairtrade-certified?

Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim or certification mark for that exact currant bun on the packaging or product page. A retailer’s claim about chocolate, cocoa or other own-brand products doesn’t confirm the currant bun’s status.

Can I freeze currant buns for later?

That depends on the variety you choose and its storage advice. The AH variety examined and the PLUS product information recommend freezing at home on the day of purchase. Follow the instructions on the packaging you buy.

Which allergens should I check in currant buns?

At the very least, check the packaging for wheat or gluten and milk. The products examined from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list these allergens; warnings about the possible presence of other allergens may also vary between varieties.

Do currant buns always contain iodised baker’s salt?

Don’t assume they do. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread isn’t always baked with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the currant buns you choose to see whether it contains baker’s salt or iodised salt.