Who is this choice for?

Planning drinks with a Fairtrade requirement

You want to serve Fairtrade chocolate, so you’re looking for an explicit claim on the product you choose, rather than a general sustainability message from the shop.

Looking to buy everything in one shop

You want to pick up currant buns and chocolate in the same shopping trip. The number of buns in each pack and the chocolate’s current availability will determine whether the combination works for you.

Comparing labels

You want to know which ingredients and allergens are in both products. If you’re also checking salt or iodine, look at the nutritional information for your chosen currant buns and check whether baker’s salt is listed.

What should you look for?

First decide whether Fairtrade is a requirement for the chocolate. Then choose a suitable quantity of currant buns and check the labels on both products.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade chocolate Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the packaging or the current product page for the chocolate you’ve chosen. Assess the currant buns separately. If Fairtrade is a firm requirement for me, I want to know that the claim applies to my chocolate, not just to the shop’s range. Around 40% of consumers say this check is their top priority.
Everything you need for drinks Compare the number of currant buns in each pack and check that your chosen chocolate is available. When I’m hosting, I want to buy enough currant buns without having to find a different chocolate at the last minute. This practical combination comes first for around 30% of consumers.
Labels and nutritional information Read the ingredients and allergen information for both products. If needed, compare the nutritional information per serving and check whether baker’s salt is listed for the currant buns. When I’m shopping for others, I want to be able to check what’s in the products I’ve chosen; with bread, I may also look for baker’s salt. For around 30% of consumers, checking labels is their main priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming Fairtrade chocolate means Fairtrade currant buns

    A certification claim applies to the product it appears on. Chocolate with a Fairtrade claim doesn’t automatically make the currant buns next to it Fairtrade too.

    Choose each product separately and only use a product-specific claim to check its Fairtrade status.

  • Mistaking a shop-wide claim for a product label

    Albert Heijn says that cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified. This doesn’t tell you which certification applies to a particular chocolate product.

    If only Fairtrade meets your needs, check the packaging or current product description for the exact item.

  • Assuming every currant bun contains iodine from baker’s salt

    According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers don’t have to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell what’s in a currant bun just from its product category.

    Check the label or ask the baker which salt has been used in the product you’ve chosen.

  • Assuming an old promotion reflects the current range

    Past mentions of Fairtrade chocolate at a shop don’t tell you which varieties are available now.

    Check the specific product and its current availability before you finish your shopping for drinks.

Brands and shops to consider

A shop can help you find both items for drinks, but the Fairtrade claim and product information for each individual item are what count.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has an online category for currant buns. You’ll need to check chocolate products individually.

  • The category makes it easy to compare pack sizes of currant buns.
  • Albert Heijn says its own-brand cocoa is Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified. This general claim doesn’t confirm that a particular chocolate product is Fairtrade.

PLUS

PLUS is worth a look if you want to pair currant buns with chocolate that has an explicit Fairtrade claim.

  • PLUS says the cocoa in its own-brand products has been Fairtrade certified since 2020, and includes Fairtrade in the names of certain chocolate products.
  • The claim about own-brand cocoa doesn’t automatically apply to every product in the shop. Check your chosen item and its packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo has an online Fairtrade category that can help you look for chocolate to go with your currant buns.

  • You can search the Fairtrade category for a specific chocolate product.
  • A shop category doesn’t confirm that a particular currant bun is Fairtrade. Check both items individually.

Lidl

Fairtrade Nederland has described Lidl’s Way To Go! chocolate bars as Fairtrade.

  • This product range gives you a specific name to look for when choosing chocolate.
  • Check which variety is available in store and what the current packaging says.

ALDI

Fairtrade Nederland has highlighted ALDI’s Bio Fairtrade chocolate.

  • This gives you a potential product range to check when looking for chocolate to serve with drinks.
  • Check the current variety, availability and Fairtrade claim in store; the claim says nothing about the currant buns.

Chocolate as a separate item for drinks

You could serve this chocolate bar alongside currant buns. Choose the buns separately and check the current chocolate wrapper to make sure the Fairtrade claim meets your requirements.

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

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

A chocolate option to choose separately from the currant buns for drinks.

180 g bar. Check the current packaging for the Fairtrade claim, ingredients and allergens.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are currant buns Fairtrade if I buy them with Fairtrade chocolate?

No. The Fairtrade claim on the chocolate doesn’t apply to the currant buns. Check any certification claim for each product separately.

How can I check whether my chocolate is Fairtrade?

Check the packaging or current product page for the exact chocolate you want to buy. A general statement about a supermarket’s cocoa sourcing doesn’t necessarily confirm the status of every individual product.

Does every Dutch currant bun contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you can’t assume that: according to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the label or ask the baker which salt has been used.

What should I look for in the allergen information for currant buns and chocolate?

Read the current labels for both products you’ve chosen. According to the Voedingscentrum, common allergens must be clearly listed on the label. If you have a specific allergy, don’t rely solely on a general category page or an old product description.

How can I avoid choosing chocolate that’s out of stock?

Check the current range shortly before you shop and, if needed, find a second product with a suitable Fairtrade claim in advance. An old product page or promotion doesn’t confirm current availability.