Who is this choice relevant to?

Small household looking to reduce waste

If there are one or two of you eating currant buns, the number in the bag isn’t the only thing to consider. Think about how many you’ll get through in time, and whether you can freeze the pack you choose.

Lunch buyer comparing nutritional information

When choosing a sweet lunch, you’ll want to know how much fibre, sugar and salt each bun contains. Check the difference between values per 100 g and per serving: buns don’t all weigh the same.

Buyer checking ingredients and allergens

Check the packaging of the exact product before choosing. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo currant buns reviewed list wheat and milk ingredients; a brand name or previous purchase is no substitute for checking the current ingredients list.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out how many buns you’ll actually use. Then compare the weight per bun, storage instructions and nutritional information on packs that suit your eating habits.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Waste and storage Check the number of buns and the storage instructions. For fresh buns, check whether they can be frozen at home. If I only eat a bun now and then, I don’t want the rest to go to waste. For around 27% of consumers, reducing waste is the most important consideration.
Nutritional information Compare fibre, sugar and salt per 100 g and per bun; when checking servings, always use the weight of the product you’ve chosen. When I’m having a sweet lunch, I want to know what one bun contributes and what I’m eating alongside it. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this nutritional comparison.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack, even if you’ve bought the product before. If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for me, I need to check the current packaging. This is the top buying priority for around 20% of consumers.
Portion size and convenience Check the weight of each bun and the number in the bag; four large buns aren’t necessarily a smaller amount than six regular ones. If I want to put together a quick lunch, I want to know in advance how big my portion will be. For around 20% of consumers, planning their portion is the deciding factor.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming fewer buns means less bread

    PLUS offers four giant currant and raisin buns, while ALDI offers four giant raisin buns. With larger buns, the number in the pack alone doesn’t tell you enough about the total quantity or the portion you’ll eat.

    Compare the weight per bun and the nutritional information per serving before comparing a four-pack with six regular buns.

  • Thinking a white currant bun is a fibre-rich lunch staple

    A currant bun can be part of a lunch, but a white wheat bun isn’t the same as wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholegrain products if you’re looking to increase your fibre intake.

    Check the fibre on the label of the bun you’ve chosen and think about what else you’ll have for lunch.

  • Assuming every currant bun contains iodised salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread isn’t always made with baker’s salt. So the product name won’t tell you which type of salt has been used in a particular currant bun.

    If it matters to you, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt.

  • Relying on a previous purchase to check allergens

    The Albert Heijn and Jumbo products reviewed list wheat and milk ingredients. Ingredients and allergen warnings can vary between products or change over time.

    Check the current allergen information on the exact pack every time you buy.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers both fresh raisin and currant buns and a frozen version, each in a pack of six. The difference matters most if you want to eat the buns over several days.

  • For the fresh version, Albert Heijn says you can freeze the buns at home on the day you buy them and should use them within one month.
  • For the frozen version, Albert Heijn advises storing the buns at −18 °C and not refreezing them after thawing. Check the instructions on the pack you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers a pack of six raisin and currant buns, with nutritional information per 100 g and per 65 g bun.

  • According to Jumbo, a 65 g bun contains 1,8 g of fibre, 15,6 g of sugars and 0,66 g of salt. The per-serving values make it easy to compare buns individually.
  • The product reviewed is a white wheat bun containing milk ingredients. Check the current label for ingredients and storage instructions when you buy it.

PLUS

PLUS offers a pack of six currant buns and a pack of four giant currant and raisin buns. This lets you compare the number of buns with their size.

  • For a separate eight-pack long-life version, PLUS says the buns can be frozen at home on the day of purchase.
  • Four giant buns don’t automatically add up to a smaller total quantity. Check the weight per bun; the freezing advice for the eight-pack doesn’t necessarily apply to other PLUS packs.

ALDI

ALDI offers raisin and currant buns in packs of six, as well as giant raisin buns in packs of four. The latter are labelled differently from raisin and currant buns.

  • The pack sizes can help you decide which option suits how you plan to use them.
  • In store, compare the weight, ingredients and nutritional information of the exact versions before treating the two packs as equivalent.

Lidl

Lidl offers currant buns in the Netherlands and has a separate overview of ingredients and allergens for fresh-from-the-oven bread.

  • The ingredients and allergen overview gives you a starting point for checking the fresh-from-the-oven version you’ve chosen.
  • Check the pack size and nutritional information for the specific currant buns before comparing them with packaged versions.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Do Dutch currant buns always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No, you can’t assume that. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread isn’t always baked with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the specific currant buns to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.

Can I freeze fresh currant buns to reduce waste?

You can if the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen allow it. For its fresh raisin and currant buns, Albert Heijn says to freeze them at home on the day of purchase and use them within one month. For its separate frozen version, Albert Heijn advises storage at −18 °C and says not to refreeze the buns after thawing.

Is a currant bun a complete lunch on its own?

A currant bun doesn’t have to be the only part of your lunch. Compare the nutritional information for the bun you’ve chosen and decide what else to eat with it. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, an average 50 g currant bun contains 15,9 g of sugars; a bun with a different weight or recipe won’t necessarily have the same values per serving.

How do I check allergens in packaged and loose currant buns?

For packaged currant buns, read the allergen information for the exact product; if buying loose buns, ask for the allergen information before you buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must also be available for unpackaged foods. Check the grain listed, any milk ingredients and any warnings about cross-contamination.