For a small household, a bag of currant buns can be more practical than a whole sweet loaf if you want to take one bun for breakfast at a time and can freeze the rest promptly. Don’t choose based on the number of buns alone: the size of each bun, shelf life and nutritional information all help determine whether the pack suits your breakfast. Compare a half currant loaf on the same points rather than assuming that half a loaf will automatically mean less waste.
If you have breakfast alone or with one other person, you can take individual buns as you need them. A bag of six or eight is a good fit if you use the rest in time or freeze them according to the product instructions.
Mini, standard and larger buns give you different portion sizes without having to slice a loaf. As well as the number of buns, compare the weight of each one.
If you want to compare fibre, sugars and salt, or need to check ingredients and allergens, look at the information for the specific product. Average nutritional values don’t tell you what’s in every currant bun.
First, work out how many buns you’ll eat before the best-before date and how many you can freeze. Then compare the portion size and the label on the pack you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who will find this most important? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage and waste | Check the number of buns and the best-before date. Check the freezing instructions if you won’t eat them all soon. | If I only eat a currant bun occasionally, I want to be able to store the rest without throwing much away; reducing waste is a priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Portion size and nutritional value | Compare the weight of each bun and the energy, fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g and per portion. | If you regularly have a sweet bun for breakfast, you may want to check how much one bun contributes. Nutritional composition is the most important factor for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, even if you’re looking at a different variety from the same brand. | If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for me, I need to be able to check whether the pack I’ve chosen is suitable; ingredients and allergens are the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Four large buns and a bag with more, smaller buns don’t tell you much on their own about the amount you’ll have for breakfast.
Check the weight of each bun and compare the nutritional information both per portion and per 100 g.
Individual buns only help reduce waste if you use the rest in time. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread can become drier if stored in the freezer for longer.
Divide the buns into portions after buying them and follow the freezing and storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 2 g of fibre for a 50 g currant bun. A different portion size or recipe may result in different values per bun.
Use averages as a guide, then compare the nutritional information for the specific brand and size before making your choice.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt, at a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. The Dutch Bakery Centre explains that using iodised baker’s salt is not a legal requirement.
Check the ingredients list if the type of salt used is important to your choice.
Jumbo sells a pack of six raisin and currant buns, with nutritional information per 100 g and per 65 g bun.
The range includes mini, standard and larger raisin or currant buns in various pack sizes.
PLUS sells, among other options, a bag of eight currant buns and a pack of four giant currant and raisin buns.
ALDI describes a pack of six raisin and currant buns and also sells a larger bun size.
Lidl lists currant buns in a bag of six as an in-store product.
Not necessarily: individual buns are handy if you want to take one for breakfast at a time, but you still need to eat or freeze the rest in time. For a half currant loaf or a bag of buns, compare how much you’ll actually use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions after buying it and notes that it can become drier if kept in the freezer for longer.
Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For its bag of eight currant buns, PLUS says to freeze them on the day of purchase and use them within one month; don’t assume this time limit applies to other products.
No. According to the Dutch Bakery Centre, using iodised baker’s salt is not a legal requirement. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority does set a condition for when iodine compounds are present in bakery products: they may be added through baker’s salt containing no more than 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. Check the ingredients list on the product you buy.
Don’t assume they’re suitable without checking the label. The currant buns described by Jumbo and PLUS list wheat, gluten and milk ingredients; check the current ingredients and allergen information on every pack.
