For a longer, intense bike ride, a currant bun can be a good option if the carbohydrates in each bun fit with what you plan to eat along the way, and you also take a drink with you. If Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase, check the certification mark or a specific ingredient claim on the currant bun’s packaging. A supermarket’s general claim about Fairtrade cocoa does not prove anything about that bun. If you have allergies, always check the current ingredient and allergen information too.
You want to know whether the certification applies to the specific currant bun, or whether a claim relates only to an ingredient such as cocoa. Fairtrade International advises you to read the explanation on the back of the packaging when there’s an arrow next to the certification mark.
You want to be able to factor the carbohydrates in each bun into what you eat during a longer, intense ride, and take a drink separately. It also matters whether the bun is comfortable to eat while cycling.
You need up-to-date information about ingredients such as wheat, gluten or milk. Recipes vary between currant buns and can change, so check the packaging of the product you’re buying.
First, decide whether you need a verifiable Fairtrade claim. Then compare the nutritional information per bun and check any ingredients that matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade status | Check the certification mark or specific ingredient claim on the packaging. If there’s an arrow next to the certification mark, read the explanation on the back. | If I only want to buy a currant bun with a verifiable Fairtrade claim, that claim must apply to the product itself. Around 38% of consumers put this check first. |
| Portion size and when to eat it | Compare the carbohydrates per bun, not just per 100 g, and take into account what else you eat and drink during the ride. | For a longer, intense ride, I want to know how one bun fits into my eating plan and whether it’s comfortable to eat along the way. This is the most important factor for around 37% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the packaging before eating a bun. This is the first thing around 25% of consumers look for when buying. |
A claim about Fairtrade cocoa across a product range doesn’t mean that a standard currant bun is covered by it. Fairtrade International also distinguishes between a product certification mark and information about the origin of individual ingredients.
Check the certification mark or ingredient claim on the specific packaging, and read any explanation on the back.
A bun doesn’t provide hydration. On a longer, intense ride, when you eat, your overall carbohydrate intake and what you drink all need separate consideration, as the sports nutrition information from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also explains.
Check the carbohydrates per bun, take a drink with you and try eating the bun on the move before an important ride to see if it works for you.
Albert Heijn points out that product information can change. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, you need the information on the current packaging.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before eating. If anything is unclear, ask the retailer for product-specific information.
Jumbo’s product information gives you a useful starting point for comparing portion sizes and nutritional values for raisin and currant buns.
The AH raisin and currant bun is a useful point of comparison for nutritional values and ingredients.
PLUS lists nutritional information for its currant buns that stay fresh for longer, and also has a Fairtrade cocoa policy for own-brand products containing cocoa.
Lidl describes its currant buns as a pack of six.
ALDI describes its raisin and currant buns as a pack of six wheat buns with raisins and currants.
A currant bun can be a good option on a longer, intense ride if it’s comfortable to eat on the move and the portion fits with your overall intake. Compare the carbohydrates per bun and plan your drinks separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says extra sports nutrition is usually unnecessary for a ride lasting less than an hour.
No. A general claim about Fairtrade cocoa doesn’t prove that a specific currant bun is Fairtrade. Check the bun’s packaging for a certification mark or an explicit ingredient claim. Fairtrade International says that an arrow next to the certification mark points to additional information on the back of the packaging.
If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the rules for allergen labelling, so don’t rely solely on information you read online in the past or saw on an older pack.
