Who are these choices relevant to?

Stocking up and planning to freeze

If you buy several packs at once, clear freezing instructions will help you plan your supplies. PLUS says its pack of eight can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month.

Checking for Fairtrade cocoa

If a currant bun contains chocolate or cocoa, you’ll want to know whether the Fairtrade label applies to that product or ingredient specifically. A supermarket’s Fairtrade range alone doesn’t tell you this.

Comparing wholemeal varieties

If you buy currant buns for lunch or a snack, you can compare a wholemeal variety with a standard one. For example, Jumbo lists wholemeal mini raisin currant buns. Compare the nutritional information on the packs if fibre is important to you.

What should you look for when stocking up?

First, check whether Fairtrade cocoa is relevant to the currant bun you’ve chosen. Then consider how quickly you’ll use the buns before they lose quality, and check the information on the current packaging.

What to consider What to check Who is this for?
Storage and pack size Check the freezing instructions and choose a quantity that suits how quickly you’ll use them. If I buy several packs, I want to be able to store the rest without leaving them for too long. For around 36% of consumers, this is the most important consideration when stocking up.
Fairtrade cocoa For a chocolate or cocoa variety, check the Fairtrade label on that variety’s packaging. I’ll only choose a chocolate-containing currant bun if the claim clearly applies to the cocoa or chocolate used. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers.
Wholemeal and fibre Check that it’s labelled ‘wholemeal’ and compare the fibre content per 100 g on the current labels. If I regularly buy currant buns for lunch or a snack, I want to compare the nutritional information for standard and wholemeal varieties. Around 21% of consumers give this the highest priority.
Current label Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging; don’t assume the product contains iodine just because of its category. When buying a new supply, I want to know what’s in these particular buns, especially if ingredients or allergens matter to me. For around 14% of consumers, checking the label comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a supermarket policy means a currant bun is certified

    Albert Heijn communicates a policy on certified cocoa in its own-brand products, but that doesn’t confirm that a particular currant bun contains cocoa or carries a Fairtrade label itself.

    For a chocolate or cocoa variety, check the current packaging for a Fairtrade mark or an explicit claim about that ingredient.

  • Buying more fresh packs than you can use in time

    When stocking up, the storage instructions for your chosen variety matter. For its pack of eight, PLUS advises freezing the buns on the day of purchase and using them within one month.

    Choose a pack size that suits how quickly you’ll use the buns, and note the date you freeze them.

    Buns left for too long may lose quality and go uneaten.

  • Assuming every currant bun contains iodine from baker’s salt

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the product category alone won’t tell you whether a currant bun was made with it.

    Check the current ingredients information if the type of salt used matters to your choice.

  • Relying on an old online label

    Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.

    Check the packaging every time you buy, especially if an ingredient or allergen matters to you.

Brands and supermarket ranges to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has an online category for currant and muesli buns, and describes its cocoa policy for own-brand products.

  • The category helps you find varieties to compare by their packaging.
  • The cocoa policy doesn’t confirm the Fairtrade status or cocoa content of a particular currant bun. Albert Heijn recommends checking the current packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists, among other products, a pack of nine wholemeal mini raisin currant buns.

  • The product listing makes the mini size and wholemeal variety easy to identify.
  • Jumbo’s general Fairtrade category doesn’t confirm the Fairtrade status of these currant buns.

PLUS

PLUS lists currant buns in packs of six, as well as an ‘stays delicious for longer’ variety in a pack of eight.

  • PLUS gives specific instructions for freezing the pack of eight at home.
  • A 2023 Fairtrade Netherlands mention of PLUS own-brand cocoa in connection with a promotion doesn’t confirm the current status of a particular currant bun.

ALDI

ALDI lists a pack of six raisin currant buns.

  • The pack size is useful when planning your supplies.
  • If you’re choosing based on Fairtrade cocoa or freezing suitability, check the information on the specific pack.

Lidl

Lidl lists mini raisin currant buns.

  • The mini size gives you a clear variety to compare with other packs.
  • Check the packaging for ingredients and any Fairtrade label that applies to the specific product.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does every Dutch currant bun contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you can’t tell from the product category. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the current product information if the type of salt used matters to your choice.

How long can I freeze currant buns for my supplies?

Follow the instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. PLUS says its pack of eight can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month. Don’t automatically apply that time limit to other varieties.

Is a currant bun Fairtrade if the supermarket uses certified cocoa?

Not automatically. For a currant bun with chocolate or cocoa, check whether the current packaging carries a Fairtrade mark or an explicit Fairtrade claim for that ingredient. A general supermarket policy doesn’t replace checking the product itself.

Why should I check the label again when buying a new supply?

Because product information can change. Albert Heijn specifically points this out for ingredients, nutritional values and dietary or allergen information, so check the packaging on the buns you’re actually buying.