Don’t choose a currant bun just because it’s described as ‘dark’: the standard versions from Albert Heijn and Jumbo we looked at don’t list cocoa or chocolate in their ingredients. If you’re taking buns to your holiday home for several meals, check whether the pack you choose can be frozen at home, and check the ingredients and allergens before buying. If a high cocoa content matters, look for a clear declaration on the specific product.
If you want to spread your buns across several breakfasts or lunches, freezer space matters. Albert Heijn and PLUS say that specific varieties can be frozen at home on the day of purchase; follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
If you’re looking for a currant bun with cocoa or chocolate, a dark colour or the word ‘dark’ isn’t enough. Check the ingredients and, if a high cocoa content is important, look for a declaration of the relevant percentage.
Check the label on the pack you buy for allergens and the type of salt used. The Jumbo and Albert Heijn labels we looked at list ingredients including wheat and milk; recipes can vary between products.
First decide whether cocoa is a must-have or whether you’re mainly looking for enough buns for several meals. Then check the storage instructions and allergen information for the exact variety you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa and chocolate | Look for cocoa or chocolate in the ingredients list. Check for a declared percentage if a high cocoa content is essential. | I specifically want that cocoa flavour and can’t tell from the colour or the proportion of currants. This is the main concern for around 44% of consumers. |
| Stocking up and freezing | Check whether the buns can be frozen at home and how they should be defrosted; choose a pack size that suits your mealtimes. | I want to divide the buns between several breakfasts without having to defrost them all at once. This is the main need for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens and salt | Read the allergen information on the pack and check how the salt is described if iodine is relevant to you. | If ingredients or allergens determine my choice, I need to be able to read the label on the exact pack I’m buying. Around 23% of consumers give this check top priority. |
A dark bun or a high proportion of raisins and currants doesn’t tell you whether it contains cocoa. The standard varieties from Albert Heijn and Jumbo we looked at don’t list cocoa or chocolate.
Check the ingredients of the specific product, and look for a declared percentage if a high cocoa content is a must-have for you.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread can be frozen safely, but it may dry out if stored for a long time. Instructions also vary from product to product.
Divide the buns into portions if the pack allows you to freeze them, and take account of the freezer space you have and the defrosting instructions.
The recipe of the variety you buy is what matters. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label.
Read the label on the pack before eating, and ask for allergen information if the buns are unwrapped.
The product category doesn’t tell you how the salt is described on the label of a specific variety.
Check the ingredients list if it matters to you whether the salt is iodised.
Albert Heijn lists both fresh and frozen varieties of currant buns.
Jumbo describes a pack of six raisin and currant buns.
PLUS lists standard, mini and giant packs of currant buns, among other options.
ALDI lists packs of six raisin and currant buns, and packs of four giant raisin buns.
Lidl lists currant buns and mini raisin and currant buns.
Check whether cocoa, cocoa mass, cocoa powder or chocolate is listed in the ingredients; ‘dark’ on its own isn’t enough. Also look for a verifiable percentage if a high cocoa content is essential to you. The standard varieties from Albert Heijn and Jumbo we looked at don’t list cocoa or chocolate.
You can freeze varieties whose packaging says they can be frozen at home. Albert Heijn and PLUS say this for specific products on the day of purchase. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions and notes that it may dry out if stored for a long time; also follow the defrosting instructions for the variety you buy.
As the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains, allergen information for prepacked currant buns appears on the label. Read the pack you buy; if the buns are unwrapped, ask for the product information. The prepacked examples from Jumbo and Albert Heijn we looked at list ingredients including wheat and milk.
Read how the salt is described in the ingredients list on the pack you choose. Don’t assume that it contains iodised salt just because it’s called a currant bun or because of where you buy it.
