Who is this choice relevant to?

BBQ hosts who care about Fairtrade

You want to serve chocolate with your currant buns and be able to check its Fairtrade claim. Look at the specific chocolate packaging: Fairtrade International says that mass balance may be used for cocoa.

Anyone catering for guests with allergies

You need to know what’s in both the bun and the chocolate. The currant buns from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS that we looked at contain wheat and milk; warnings about possible cross-contamination vary by product.

Anyone planning a buffet in advance

You want to match the number of buns and portions to your guests. Compare the size and pack quantity, and check the storage advice. PLUS says that its currant buns we looked at can be frozen on the day of purchase.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, choose a bun that suits your guests and buffet. Then assess the chocolate as a separate product.

What to consider What to check Who is this most important for?
Fairtrade claim on the chocolate Look for an explicit Fairtrade statement on the chocolate you choose, and read any explanation of mass balance. If I’m serving chocolate with currant buns, I want to be able to check the Fairtrade claim on that bar. This is a priority for around 31% of consumers.
Allergens Read the ingredients and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on both packs. If any guests have allergies, I don’t want to choose a bun or chocolate without reading the labels. Around 31% of consumers make this their priority.
Portions and storage Compare the size and number of buns. If you’re buying in advance, follow the storage and freezing advice on the packaging. For a buffet, I want to work out how many buns I’ll need and whether I can store them in advance. This is the main consideration for around 19% of consumers.
Nutritional information Compare sugar, fibre and salt on the same basis: per 100 g and, where possible, per bun. If the buns aren’t the same size, I want to compare their nutritional values without mixing up portion sizes. This takes priority for around 19% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a general sustainability claim for Fairtrade

    A sustainability message doesn’t automatically mean that the chocolate you choose carries a Fairtrade claim. Fairtrade International also explains that mass balance may be used for cocoa. This doesn’t mean that all the cocoa used remains physically separate.

    Check the Fairtrade statement on the chocolate bar itself, and read how any mass balance claim is explained.

  • Reading only the currant bun label

    The chocolate may also contain allergens or carry warnings about possible cross-contamination. The currant buns from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS that we looked at contain wheat and milk.

    Before buying, check the latest labels on both the bun and the chocolate, especially if you’re catering for guests with allergies.

  • Relying on ‘mini’ or ‘wholemeal’ to judge the whole product

    These words don’t tell you a product’s Fairtrade status or give you a full picture of its ingredients, allergens or nutritional value.

    Use the size to plan portions, and compare the other information on the packaging of the variety you choose.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers both raisin currant buns and a separate chocolate bar with a Fairtrade statement.

  • For its AH Biologisch extra dark bar, Albert Heijn states that it is Fairtrade and uses mass balance.
  • The AH currant buns we looked at contain wheat and milk. A Fairtrade claim on the chocolate doesn’t automatically apply to the currant bun.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers raisin currant buns in a pack of six.

  • Jumbo states that this product contains 29.6% raisins and 6.1% currants.
  • The product contains wheat and milk. Also read the warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.

PLUS

PLUS offers currant buns in packs of six and eight, with storage advice for the products we looked at.

  • PLUS says these currant buns can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within one month.
  • The products we looked at contain wheat and milk. Check the current packaging for warnings about possible cross-contamination too.

Lidl

Lidl offers a mini wholemeal raisin bun to consider if you’re looking for smaller portions.

  • Lidl lists a pack size of 360 g and says it’s sold in store.
  • Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information. A mini wholemeal raisin bun isn’t necessarily the same product as a currant bun.

Chocolate to serve alongside currant buns

You can serve this chocolate bar separately alongside the currant buns. Choose the buns separately, and check that the Fairtrade statement on the chocolate packaging meets your requirements.

Tony's Chocolonely Pure 70% chocolate bar, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely Pure 70% chocolate bar, 180 g

A separate chocolate bar to serve with currant buns; choose the buns separately.

The bar weighs 180 g and states that it contains 70% cocoa. Check the current packaging for the Fairtrade claim and allergen information.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does a currant bun become Fairtrade if I serve it with Fairtrade chocolate?

No. The Fairtrade claim on the chocolate doesn’t automatically apply to the currant bun. Check both products separately; Fairtrade International says that mass balance may be used for cocoa.

Which labels should I read if a BBQ guest has an allergy?

Check the current packaging for both the currant bun and the chocolate. The currant buns from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS that we looked at contain wheat and milk, while warnings about the possible presence of other allergens vary by product.

Can I freeze currant buns in advance?

According to PLUS, the currant buns we looked at can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month. For other products, follow the storage advice on the packaging.

How do I compare the sugar and fibre in currant buns?

Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and, if the buns weigh different amounts, per portion too. The Voedingscentrum gives 15.9 g of sugar as an average reference for a 50 g currant bun; check the packaging for the value of the product you choose.

Does every currant bun contain iodised salt?

Don’t assume so. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in the raisin currant buns we looked at; for other buns, check the ingredients list on the current packaging.