Who are these choices relevant to?

Anyone who wants to be able to verify Fairtrade status

You want to know whether the particular currant bun you’re handing out carries a Fairtrade label. A reference to a shop’s general range of Fairtrade products doesn’t confirm this.

Group buyers planning portions

You want to be able to count, transport and store the buns in advance. Jumbo lists a pack of 6 raisin currant buns; PLUS lists, among other options, 8 standard buns and 9 mini buns. Check which size is right for handing out.

Buyers who need to consider allergens

You’re handing out buns to people for whom ingredients and packaging warnings are important. The Jumbo and PLUS varieties described contain wheat and milk; the PLUS mini variety also carries warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether the currant bun itself needs to be demonstrably Fairtrade. Then choose a size and pack that suit your plans, and check the allergen information for each variety you select.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade status Check whether the currant bun itself carries a Fairtrade label. If you’re choosing a chocolate variety, make sure it’s clear what any certification applies to. I only want to describe the currant bun I’m handing out as Fairtrade if this can be verified for that product. For around 42% of consumers, certification would be their top priority.
Handing out and storage Compare the number and size of the buns in each pack, and read the storage instructions for your chosen product. When buying for a group, I want to know in advance how many portions I can take and how to store them until the parade. Around 33% of consumers would consider this the most important factor.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen warnings for each variety, even when buying several packs for the same group. If I’m handing out buns to people with food allergies, I want to be able to check what each bun contains or may contain. Around 25% of consumers would put allergen checks first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a Fairtrade range means a currant bun is Fairtrade

    Fairtrade Nederland lists Fairtrade products at various supermarkets, but a shop’s range doesn’t tell you whether an individual currant bun is certified.

    Only describe the bun as Fairtrade if the current packaging or product information confirms this for that specific variety.

  • Checking allergens only when it’s time to hand out the buns

    The Jumbo and PLUS currant buns described contain wheat and milk. The PLUS mini variety also carries warnings about the possible presence of, among other things, egg, soya, nuts and sesame.

    Check in advance which allergens matter to the group, and keep the packaging handy when handing out the buns.

  • Not planning portions and storage time in advance

    A mini currant bun and a standard currant bun aren’t the same size. The number of buns in a pack and the storage instructions also vary by product.

    Count the expected attendees, choose a size carefully and follow the storage or freezing instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen.

Brands and shops to consider

PLUS

PLUS provides product information for mini and standard currant buns. In 2023, Fairtrade Nederland also mentioned Fairtrade cocoa in PLUS own-brand products.

  • The currant buns described include information on ingredients, allergens and storage.
  • The mention of own-brand cocoa doesn’t confirm that a specific PLUS currant bun is Fairtrade-certified.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists a pack of 6 raisin currant buns. Fairtrade Nederland also mentions a separate Fairtrade range at Jumbo.

  • The product information for the pack of 6 includes ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
  • A Fairtrade range isn’t proof that these currant buns are certified.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists a range of pack sizes in its currant and raisin buns category. In 2023, Fairtrade Nederland mentioned Fairtrade-certified AH products, including chocolate.

  • The category gives you a useful starting point for comparing the number of buns in each pack.
  • The Fairtrade mention for other AH products doesn’t automatically apply to a currant bun.

ALDI

In 2023, Fairtrade Nederland mentioned Fairtrade products at ALDI, including chocolate. This could be useful if you want to hand out chocolate separately alongside currant buns.

  • You can check a separate chocolate product for its own Fairtrade label.
  • This doesn’t tell you whether a currant bun is certified; check each product separately.

Bolletje

Bolletje has seasonal products for Sinterklaas, including kruidnoten and chocolate kruidnoten.

  • The range may be worth considering if you’re also looking at other treats.
  • Kruidnoten aren’t currant buns. Check the product type and any Fairtrade label for each item individually.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a currant bun Fairtrade if the supermarket sells Fairtrade products?

No. A supermarket’s Fairtrade range doesn’t confirm the status of an individual currant bun. Check the label on the current packaging or the product information for the bun you want to hand out.

Can I buy currant buns in advance for the Sinterklaas parade?

Yes, as long as you can follow the storage instructions and use-by date for the product you choose. For its Krentenbollen lekker lang lekker, PLUS says to store the buns somewhere dry and dark, or freeze them at home on the day of purchase and use them within one month. Be sure to check the label on your pack too.

Are the currant buns described suitable for someone with a gluten or milk allergy?

The Jumbo and PLUS varieties described contain wheat and milk, so they aren’t suitable for anyone who needs to avoid these ingredients. PLUS also mentions the possible presence of other allergens in its mini variety. Check the current packaging for each variety before handing them out.