Choose currant buns for a dinner party based on portion size and ingredients, and assess the Fairtrade status of the chocolate you serve alongside them separately. A certification mark on the chocolate, or a supermarket’s general cocoa policy, doesn’t make the buns themselves Fairtrade. Check the allergens in both the buns and any extras, too.
You want to pair currant buns with chocolate whose Fairtrade claim you can check on the packaging. According to Fairtrade International, cocoa in Fairtrade products may be covered by mass balance: the volumes bought and sold are matched, but the cocoa doesn’t necessarily remain physically separate all the way through to the finished product.
You want to check the ingredients in both the buns and the chocolate or other extras before serving. Jumbo and PLUS list wheat and milk ingredients for the currant buns they feature; information about possible traces varies by product.
You want to choose currant buns and chocolate during the same supermarket visit. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS stock currant buns; check the packaging of the individual chocolate product rather than assuming it has a certification mark based on the supermarket’s range.
Decide how you want to serve the currant buns and how many you’ll need. Then check the ingredients in everything you plan to serve and, if Fairtrade chocolate matters to you, check the certification mark and claim on the chocolate you choose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade status of the chocolate | Look for the FAIRTRADE mark and read what the claim on the packaging applies to, especially for chocolate with several ingredients. | I want to serve chocolate that carries a Fairtrade claim on the product I’ve chosen, not one covered only by a supermarket’s general statement. For around 33% of consumers, checking for a certification mark comes first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the up-to-date ingredients and allergen information for the buns and every topping; check for statements about possible traces, too. | If my guests have allergies, I want to know in advance which parts of the dessert are relevant to them. Allergens are the top priority for an estimated 25% of consumers. |
| Portions and planning | Compare the number of buns in each pack with your serving plan, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging you choose. | I want to be able to choose between whole buns, halves or a dessert platter without getting the numbers wrong when it’s time to serve. For around 25% of consumers, practical planning matters most. |
| Nutritional information and bakers’ salt | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g or per portion and read the ingredients list; don’t assume the term bakers’ salt tells you how much iodine is in each bun. | When I want to assess the nutritional value of the bread component, I need information for the specific product. For an estimated 17% of consumers, this label information is the top priority. |
A statement about certified cocoa applies to the cocoa in products covered by that policy. It doesn’t mean that the currants, wheat or currant buns as a whole are Fairtrade.
Check the claim on the chocolate you’re serving, and describe the buns and chocolate as separate products unless the buns themselves carry an appropriate Fairtrade claim.
The currant buns featured by Jumbo and PLUS contain wheat and milk ingredients. Chocolate and other extras have their own ingredients and allergen information.
Ask guests about any relevant allergies in advance, read the current packaging for every item, and keep different extras separate when serving.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes bakers’ salt as salt with added iodine. Seeing bakers’ salt in an ingredients list doesn’t tell you how much iodine is in one currant bun.
Use nutritional information for the specific product when comparing, and don’t infer the iodine content of an individual bun from the product name or ingredients list alone.
Albert Heijn stocks currant buns and says that cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified.
Jumbo lists its Raisin Currant Buns in packs of six, with an ingredients and allergen list. Fairtrade Nederland also cites chocolate as an example of Fairtrade products at Jumbo.
PLUS lists currant buns in packs of six and says its own-brand products containing cocoa use Fairtrade cocoa.
ALDI says that Moser Roth chocolate and its seasonal chocolate are Fairtrade certified.
Lidl says that the cocoa in its own-brand products comes from farming certified by Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or an organic certification scheme.
No. A Fairtrade claim for chocolate doesn’t automatically apply to separate currant buns. Check which product carries the certification mark and what the claim applies to.
According to Fairtrade International, the logo with an arrow may be used on products with several ingredients. Read the additional information on the packaging to understand what the claim covers. Mass balance is permitted for cocoa, meaning Fairtrade volumes are matched administratively without the cocoa necessarily remaining physically separate all the way through to the finished product.
Check the current packaging for both the currant buns and all the extras. Jumbo lists wheat, gluten and milk in its Raisin Currant Buns, as well as possible traces of nuts, soya and sesame, among other things; the PLUS Currant Buns featured contain wheat and milk ingredients. Information can vary by product.
No. Seeing bakers’ salt listed doesn’t tell you how much iodine is in each bun. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that iodine is added to bakers’ salt; you’ll need information for the specific product to assess it.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the buns you buy. Jumbo and PLUS recommend storing the products featured in a cool, dry and dark place; PLUS also says to freeze its currant buns on the day of purchase and use them within one month.
