A bag of mini currant buns works well for smaller snack portions, while a bag of six or eight regular buns is more practical if you want to plan several lunch occasions. Don’t just look at the number of buns: check the size, storage instructions and allergens for each pack, and make sure your choice fits any rules set by the school. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends wholemeal or brown bread, vegetables and fruit for a school lunch, so a currant bun doesn’t need to make up the whole meal.
Before packing, you’ll want to check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about possible traces of other allergens. Also check the school’s rules on food in the classroom and sharing food. The PLUS, Albert Heijn and Jumbo varieties we looked at contain wheat or cereals containing gluten, and milk.
You’re comparing mini buns with regular ones and working out how many lunch or snack occasions a bag needs to cover. Product information from PLUS and Albert Heijn also shows why it’s worth checking the storage instructions for each variety before stocking up and freezing them.
You’re looking for variety in the lunchbox and considering the rest of the meal as well as the currant bun. Compare the nutritional information for your chosen variety, including fibre and sugars per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends wholemeal or brown bread, vegetables and fruit for a school lunch.
First, check that the currant buns are suitable for any allergens and school rules relevant to your child’s lunch. Then choose a portion size and pack that you can use within the stated storage period.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Check the current pack for ingredients, allergens and any warnings about possible traces of other allergens. Ask the school what rules it follows. | When I pack something for school, I want to know that the ingredients and school rules are a good fit. For around 36% of consumers, this would be their first consideration. |
| Portion size | Compare the number of buns and whether they’re labelled mini or regular; check the weight per portion if it’s listed. | For a smaller snack, I don’t want to choose a larger bun just because there are fewer in the bag. For around 29% of consumers, portion size would come first. |
| Stocking up and storage | Choose a bag that suits the number of planned eating occasions. Check the use-by date and whether the pack says the variety can be frozen. | I want to spread the buns over several school days without buying more than I can use. For around 21% of consumers, planning ahead would be the deciding factor. |
| How it fits into the lunch | Check fibre and sugars per 100 g on the pack, and think about what else is going into the lunchbox. | If I pack a currant bun, I also want to consider the rest of the lunch. For around 14% of consumers, the overall balance would be their first consideration. |
PLUS’s bag of nine mini currant buns has a different portion size from a bag of six or eight regular buns. More buns doesn’t automatically mean more food per portion.
Look for the mini label, the stated portion weight and how many occasions you want the bag to cover.
The PLUS, Albert Heijn and Jumbo varieties we looked at also list milk or lactose. Warnings about other possible allergens can vary from product to product.
Check the current allergen information and any warnings about possible traces of other allergens on each pack you buy. Also check the school’s rules separately.
A currant bun doesn’t tell you what else is in the lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal or brown bread, vegetables and fruit, among other things, for a school lunch.
Decide how a currant bun fits into the whole lunchbox, rather than looking only at the nutritional information for one bun.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with bakers’ salt. So the ingredients in one currant bun don’t tell you anything about another variety.
If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list for bakers’ salt or iodised salt.
Albert Heijn lists a bag of Extra Long-Fresh Raisin Currant Buns, with six buns weighing 65 g each.
Jumbo lists a bag of raisin and currant buns, with six portions weighing 65 g each.
PLUS lists bags of six regular currant buns, eight Lekker Lang Lekker currant buns and nine mini currant and raisin buns.
ALDI Netherlands lists a bag of six raisin and currant buns.
Lidl Netherlands lists, among other products, giant raisin currant buns and mini raisin currant buns.
The PLUS, Jumbo and Albert Heijn currant buns we looked at list wheat or cereals containing gluten. Don’t rely on the product name when choosing another variety: check the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
According to their product information, the Albert Heijn variety we looked at and PLUS’s six- and eight-bun bags can be frozen on the day of purchase. Follow the freezing and storage instructions on the pack you buy.
No, you can’t assume that for every currant bun. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with bakers’ salt. Check the ingredients list for your chosen variety to see whether bakers’ salt or iodised salt has been used.
Think of a currant bun as part of the whole school lunch, not as an automatic replacement for everything else in the lunchbox. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal or brown bread, vegetables and fruit, among other things, for a school lunch. If you’re choosing currant buns, compare the nutritional information for the specific variety too.
