Choose a currant bun for your child’s school lunchbox based on portion size, ingredients and how you plan to store it, rather than the word ‘premium’. A standard pack suits a typical lunch, a variety with freezing instructions is handy if you like to plan ahead, and a larger bun works for a deliberately bigger portion. Whatever you choose, check the allergens and the school’s rules.
If your child has a food allergy or coeliac disease, or their school has rules about allergens, the information on the pack you buy is what matters. The standard currant buns from Jumbo and PLUS that we checked contain wheat and milk; also check for any ‘may contain’ warnings.
If you want to keep buns for several school days, product-specific freezing instructions can be useful. PLUS says its ‘stays fresh for longer’ variety can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month.
If you’re considering a currant bun for a change, compare the type of flour and the fibre content on the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal or brown bread as the basis for a school lunch, so a bun with fruit isn’t necessarily wholemeal too.
First, check whether allergies or school rules limit your options. Then compare the type of flour, storage instructions and portion size of the varieties that remain.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Read the ingredients, allergen information and ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack. Check what rules apply in your child’s class. | If my child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what the bun contains and what the school has agreed before packing it. For around 31% of consumers, this check is their main concern. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check which type of flour is used and compare fibre content on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | If wholemeal is a priority for lunch, I don’t want to judge a bun just by whether it contains fruit. Around 31% of consumers give this consideration the highest priority. |
| Storage and freezing | Check whether freezing is mentioned, when you can freeze the buns and how long that variety can be kept. | When I prepare lunches for several school days, I want to know how to store the buns in line with the packaging. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
| Portion size | Compare the number of buns and, where given, the weight and nutritional information per bun and per 100 g. | For a special lunch, I want to choose between a standard, small or larger bun. For around 15% of consumers, size is the first thing they consider. |
A larger bun or a pack that keeps for longer isn’t automatically wholemeal or higher in fibre. The feature you’re looking for can vary from one variety to another.
Decide whether you’re looking for a different size, easier storage or wholemeal flour. Then check that feature in the product information and compare nutritional values on the same basis.
The standard currant buns from Jumbo and PLUS that we checked contain wheat and milk. PLUS also notes that its standard variety may contain other allergens.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. Also bear the school’s rules in mind.
A giant variety is a different size from a standard bun. Nutritional values per 100 g also don’t tell you how much is in one bun.
Decide on the portion you want first, then compare the nutritional information per bun and per 100 g, if both are shown on the pack.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it’s been used just from the type of product.
Check the ingredients list if you want to know whether baker’s salt was used in a packaged bun.
Albert Heijn offers currant buns and similar varieties in different sizes, including products called ‘Stays fresh for longer’.
Jumbo sells a standard pack of 6 Raisin Currant Buns, with product information covering ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
PLUS offers standard currant buns, a pack of 8 with storage instructions, and giant currant and raisin buns.
Lidl offers standard currant buns in packs of 6, as well as mini wholemeal raisin buns. These are different product types.
ALDI offers a pack of 6 raisin and currant buns, and also lists larger bun sizes in its bread range.
The standard currant buns from Jumbo and PLUS that we checked contain wheat and gluten, so they aren’t a gluten-free option. Always check the current packaging for a different variety; don’t rely on the product name.
Check the ingredients list on the pack’s label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires allergens to be listed there. Also check which type of grain has been used and whether there’s a ‘may contain’ warning.
You can if the instructions for your chosen variety say so. PLUS says its ‘stays fresh for longer’ currant buns should be frozen on the day of purchase and used within one month. For other buns, follow the instructions on their own packaging.
No, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can check the label on packaged bread to see whether baker’s salt has been used. Don’t assume a currant bun contains it without checking.
