Only choose a currant bun as a Fairtrade cocoa option if that specific variety contains cocoa or chocolate and its packaging displays an applicable FAIRTRADE mark alongside ingredient information. If the snack is going to school or an after-school club, also check the latest allergen information and the rules in place there. A supermarket’s general Fairtrade claim is not proof that the currant bun you have chosen qualifies.
You want to see on the packaging of the currant bun you have chosen whether it contains cocoa or chocolate, and which ingredients were sourced on Fairtrade terms. A general promise about a product range is not enough.
You’re packing a snack for school or an after-school club and want to check the latest ingredients, allergens and any cross-contamination warnings first. You’ll also want to check the rules about bringing food in.
You’re looking for a convenient snack, but you also want to compare a currant bun with fruit or wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists these alternatives in its advice for children aged 4 to 12.
Start with the ingredients and certification on the specific currant bun. Then check whether the packaging and intended use fit with any allergen rules and your choice of an after-school snack.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for cocoa or chocolate in the ingredients list, and read the FAIRTRADE mark and the information on the packaging. Fairtrade International says that, when a mark includes an arrow, further information can be found on the back of the pack. | I want to know whether the cocoa in the currant bun I’ve chosen was sourced on Fairtrade terms, not just whether the shop sells Fairtrade chocolate. For around 33% of consumers, being able to check the cocoa’s credentials comes first. |
| Allergens and rules | Read the latest allergen information and any cross-contamination warnings; also check the school or after-school club’s policy. Jumbo lists wheat and milk among the ingredients in its Rozijnen Krentenbollen. | If I’m sending something in for school or an after-school club, it needs to meet the allergen requirements and rules there. For around 42% of consumers, getting this right takes priority. |
| Choosing a snack | Check the nutritional information per serving and compare your chosen currant bun with fruit or wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists these alternatives for children aged 4 to 12. | I’m looking for a snack I can pack regularly without choosing on convenience alone. Around 25% of consumers prioritise weighing up a currant bun against fruit and wholemeal bread. |
A supermarket may sell Fairtrade chocolate, while a particular currant bun contains no cocoa or does not carry an applicable mark. The Fairtrade status of other products tells you nothing about this pack.
Check the ingredients and mark on the exact variety you want to pack.
Fairtrade International allows mass balance for cocoa. So a Fairtrade claim does not automatically mean that the cocoa in an individual pack can be physically traced, or that all the ingredients are Fairtrade.
If the mark includes an arrow, read the information on the back and check which ingredients the claim applies to.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn therefore advises customers to check the packaging alongside its product information. This is especially important if the snack needs to meet allergen requirements.
Before packing it, check the latest packaging, including any cross-contamination warnings.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread does not have to be baked with baker’s salt. So the product name won’t tell you which salt was used in the currant bun you have chosen.
Check the label or ask the baker which salt was used if it matters to your choice.
These brands offer useful starting points for checking product information. Their wider ranges, on their own, say nothing about the Fairtrade status of an individual currant bun.
Albert Heijn sells AH Rozijnen krentenbollen online. Fairtrade Nederland also mentions chocolate elsewhere in the wider Albert Heijn range.
Jumbo publishes ingredients and allergen information for Jumbo Rozijnen Krentenbollen and also has a separate Fairtrade range.
In 2023, Fairtrade Nederland described the cocoa in PLUS own-brand products as Fairtrade-certified.
No, not without checking the specific variety. The ingredients information for Jumbo Rozijnen Krentenbollen does not list cocoa or chocolate. For a Fairtrade cocoa claim, the currant bun you’ve chosen must contain cocoa or chocolate, and the packaging must display an applicable mark alongside ingredient information.
According to Fairtrade International, the arrow points to information on the back of a composite product. Check there to see which ingredients the claim applies to. Mass balance is allowed for cocoa, so the mark does not automatically prove that all ingredients are Fairtrade or that the cocoa in that individual pack can be physically traced.
It depends on the product: Jumbo lists wheat and gluten in its Rozijnen Krentenbollen. Always check the ingredients and allergen information on the latest packaging of the variety you want to pack, rather than relying on the product name.
If the currant bun is going to school or an after-school club, check the rules about bringing food in. For school, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking the school handbook, website or app. A suitable product label does not override any local rules about snacks or allergens.
No, you can’t tell from the product category: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread does not have to be baked with baker’s salt. Check the label or ask the baker which salt was used in the currant bun you have chosen.
