If you’re looking for strictly sugar-free
For you, ‘sugar-free’ is a firm requirement, not another way of saying ‘less added sugar’. Check the total sugars per 100 g before choosing a currant bun for lunch.
Who are these differences important for?
If you want to limit added sugars
You’re happy with sugars that occur naturally in raisins and currants, but want to know whether sugar, dextrose or syrup has also been added. Check the ingredients list alongside the nutrition information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre emphasises that ‘no added sugars’ is not the same as sugar-free.
If you’re stocking up for lunch
You want to be able to keep a currant bun for a busy day working from home. Check the storage instructions and allergen information on the packaging, regardless of what the product says about sugar.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether sugar-free is a firm requirement or whether you want to limit added sugars. Then compare the nutrition information and portion size, and check the storage instructions too if you’re stocking up for lunch.
| What to look for | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely sugar-free | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published via EUR-Lex, a solid food carrying the claim ‘sugar-free’ must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I’m looking for something genuinely sugar-free, less added sugar isn’t an equivalent alternative. Around 31% of consumers would make this strict limit their main criterion. |
| Added sugars | Check the ingredients for things such as sugar, dextrose and glucose syrup. Compare total sugars and, where listed, added sugars per 100 g. | I want to limit added sugar, but I’m happy with the sugars in raisins and currants. For around 31% of consumers, this would be their first consideration. |
| What makes up your lunch | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and consider how much you actually eat. Look at fibre, protein, carbohydrates and salt, among other things. | When I eat a currant bun as part of my lunch, I want to look beyond the sugar claim. An estimated 23% of consumers would prioritise this broader consideration. |
| Storage and allergens | Check the allergen information on the current packaging and, for frozen products, read the storage and defrosting instructions. | I like to stock up for busy working days, but I want to know how to store the buns and whether the ingredients are suitable for me. Around 15% of consumers would put this practical check first. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that products with no added sugars can still contain sugars that occur naturally. In currant buns, raisins and currants are a source of these sugars.
If sugar-free is a firm requirement, check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; assess added sugars separately.
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Looking only at the front of the pack or one serving
A claim on the packaging doesn’t tell you how much sugar, fibre, protein or salt the whole currant bun contains. Portion sizes can also vary between products.
First compare products per 100 g, then check the portion size of what you’re having for lunch.
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Relying on an allergen list you read previously
Ingredients can vary between currant buns, and recipes can change. An old product description is no substitute for the label on the pack you’re using.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information, even if the buns have been in your cupboard or freezer for a while.
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Refreezing buns after defrosting
Albert Heijn says that AH Krentenbollen 6 stuks vers ingevroren must not be refrozen after defrosting.
For your work-from-home lunch, defrost the number you expect to eat and follow the storage instructions for your product.
Comparing brands and shops
A familiar shop name tells you nothing about the sugar content of an individual currant bun. Compare the ingredients, nutrition information and storage instructions for the product you’re considering.
Albert Heijn
For the regular and fresh-frozen currant buns mentioned here, the sugar values per 100 g are a useful starting point for comparison.
- Albert Heijn lists 25 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Rozijnen krentenbollen and 24 g per 100 g for AH Krentenbollen 6 stuks vers ingevroren.
- Neither of these products meets the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Jumbo
The ingredients in Jumbo Rozijnen Krentenbollen 6 stuks can help you assess whether sweetening ingredients have been added.
- Jumbo lists ingredients including raisins, currants and dextrose for this product.
- Don’t rely on the ingredients list alone to decide whether a product is ‘sugar-free’: check the total sugars per 100 g on the packaging too.
PLUS
The PLUS varieties mentioned here differ in size and storage method, so check the label of each currant bun individually.
- Some varieties list ingredients such as sugar, dextrose or glucose syrup. PLUS Krentenbollen also comes with instructions for freezing at home.
- Don’t infer a sugar claim from the size or ease of storage; check the nutrition information per 100 g for the variety you’ve chosen.
Currant buns at Joybuy
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a currant bun with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No, the terms don’t mean the same thing. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that products with no added sugars can still contain sugars that occur naturally. In a currant bun, these may come from raisins and currants. To check whether it’s ‘sugar-free’, look at the total sugars per 100 g.
When can a currant bun be called sugar-free?
Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published via EUR-Lex, a currant bun can only be called ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition information. A statement about added sugars answers a different question.
Do the Albert Heijn currant buns mentioned here meet that limit?
No. Albert Heijn lists 25 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Rozijnen krentenbollen and 24 g per 100 g for AH Krentenbollen 6 stuks vers ingevroren. Both values exceed the maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
What should I look for in frozen currant buns for lunch?
Follow the storage and defrosting instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn says AH Krentenbollen 6 stuks vers ingevroren should be stored at −18 °C and must not be refrozen after defrosting. Check the latest allergen information too.