For a small household, a pack of six currant buns can be a practical choice if you only need some of them for after-school snacks. Choose a pack size that suits how many you expect to use. If you want to freeze some, follow the instructions on the pack you buy. Before putting one in your child’s lunch bag, check the allergens too, and compare portion sizes and nutritional information if these affect your choice.
If you’re buying currant buns for just a few snack times, the key thing is whether you’ll use the whole pack. A pack of six is easier to manage than a larger one. PLUS says that, for the varieties reviewed, any buns you don’t use can be frozen on the day of purchase.
If your child has an allergy, the current label is what matters. The Jumbo and PLUS currant buns reviewed contain wheat and milk, among other ingredients. Check with the school about its rules before sending a snack in with your child.
A mini variety may suit you if you’re looking for a smaller portion. If fibre content matters, compare the weight of each bun and the nutritional information for the specific products, rather than relying on the product name alone.
Start with how many buns you’ll use and the storage instructions. Then check the label on the pack you’re actually planning to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and waste | Compare the number of buns with how many you’ll use. Check whether the pack you choose includes freezing instructions. | If I only need a few buns after school, I want to be able to store the rest without forgetting about them. For around 36% of consumers, keeping the amount in the cupboard manageable is the top priority. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current label. If necessary, check the school’s rules too. | If there’s an allergy or a school rule to consider, I need to know whether these currant buns are suitable before sending them in. Allergens and school rules are the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Portion size and nutritional information | Compare the weight of each bun and the stated fibre and sugar content, both per 100 g and per portion. | If I’m choosing a smaller snack or looking for a source of fibre, I want to know what’s actually in one bun. Around 21% of consumers say portion size and nutritional information are what they pay most attention to. |
| Availability and shelf life | Check whether your preferred variety is available in store, and read the use-by and storage instructions. | If I need the currant buns soon, I want to find a pack that suits when I’ll be using them. For around 14% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
A pack of six is still a whole pack. A larger pack won’t necessarily be a better choice if you end up with buns left over after a few snack times.
Choose the pack size to suit how many you’ll use. If you want to freeze some, check the instructions for that specific pack. For the packs reviewed, PLUS says to freeze the buns on the day of purchase and use them within a month.
The Jumbo and PLUS varieties reviewed also contain milk and list other possible allergens. So the product name alone won’t tell you everything you need to know if your child has an allergy.
Read the current label before buying, and check it again before giving your child a currant bun. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
A name featuring ‘raisins’ or ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t replace the nutritional information for the specific product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives the fibre and sugar content of a 50 g currant bun as 2 g and 15.9 g respectively. These values won’t be the same for every pack.
Compare the weight of each bun and the nutritional information on the labels. For a mini variety, also check how many buns make up the portion you’re looking for.
Jumbo describes a pack of Raisin Currant Buns containing six buns.
PLUS describes currant buns in packs of six and eight.
ALDI describes a pack of Raisin Currant Buns containing six buns.
The AH Raisin Currant Buns pack described contains six buns. Albert Heijn marks this variety as discontinued.
Lidl describes Mini Wholemeal Raisin Buns as a 360 g in-store product.
Yes. If allergens are a concern, check the label on the current pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the allergen labelling requirements for prepacked foods. You should also ask the school about any rules it has for snacks brought from home.
You can if the pack says the buns can be frozen. For the pack of six reviewed, PLUS says to freeze the buns on the day of purchase and use them within a month. For other varieties, follow the instructions on the pack.
Don’t assume they do. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread isn’t always made with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list to see which type of salt is used in the currant buns you choose.
Compare the fibre per 100 g and per bun, as well as the weight of each bun. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives the fibre content of a 50 g currant bun as 2 g. For a specific mini or wholemeal variety, check the label.
