If sugar-free is a strict requirement for your office lunch, choose only a currant bun with no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g: that’s the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under EU nutrition claim rules. The standard varieties for which Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS provide nutritional information contain between 24.0 and 25.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so they do not meet that threshold. If you’re happy with sugars from raisins and currants, compare total sugars, any added sugars and fibre separately; a higher fibre content doesn’t make a bun sugar-free.
You want the claim to apply literally, so you check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack. Under EU nutrition claim rules, a product can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to be labelled ‘sugar-free’.
You’re happy with sugars that occur naturally in raisins and currants, but want to know whether sugar or another source of sugar has also been added. To check, read both the ingredients list and the nutritional information per 100 g.
You compare fibre and portion size as well as sugars, and want to know how to store the buns. If you have an allergy, it’s also important to check the latest information on the packaging.
Start with your requirement for total sugars. If sugar-free isn’t essential, you can then compare added sugar, fibre and portion size for your office lunch.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The EU ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If the total sugars in my lunch have to meet the ‘sugar-free’ threshold, I can’t rely on the product name alone. Around 42% of consumers put this strict requirement first. |
| Added sugar | Compare total sugars per 100 g and check the ingredients for things such as sugar, dextrose and glucose syrup. | I’m happy with sugar from raisins or currants, but want to limit added sugar. This is the first consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Fibre and portions | Compare both fibre and sugars per 100 g, then check the weight of each bun and the storage instructions. | For several working days, I want to choose a portion that suits my lunch and can be stored. Fibre and convenient storage come first for around 25% of consumers. |
Even without added sugar, raisins and currants can contribute to the total amount of sugars. The EU threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim applies to all sugars combined.
If you have a strict requirement, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. If your main aim is to limit added sugar, check the ingredients list as well.
Buns can vary in weight. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses a 50 g currant bun in its general nutritional information, while the wholemeal variety listed by Albert Heijn has a 75 g serving.
Compare products per 100 g first, then use the actual weight of the bun to assess your lunch portion.
The wholemeal variety listed by Albert Heijn contains 6.1 g of fibre, but also 25 g of sugars per 100 g. So the fibre content doesn’t tell you whether the bun meets a sugar criterion.
Assess fibre and sugars as separate figures in the nutritional information.
Ingredients and allergens can vary between product varieties, and product information may change. This is particularly important if you need to check a specific sugar threshold or an allergen.
Check the current packaging of the bun you’re buying before putting it in your lunchbox.
The nutritional values shown apply to the specific varieties below, not to every currant bun sold by each retailer. Always compare the variety and portion size you’re actually thinking of buying.
A useful reference if you want to compare a wholemeal raisin and currant bun with other varieties.
A useful reference for a standard pack of six raisin and currant buns.
Sells currant buns in different sizes, so the weight of the bun you choose matters when comparing portions.
Offers a pack of six raisin and currant buns as a standard option for stocking up on lunch supplies.
Offers mini raisin and currant buns if you’re looking for a smaller size for lunch.
Under EU nutrition claim rules, ‘sugar-free’ can only be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The standard varieties listed by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain between 24.0 and 25.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so they don’t meet that threshold.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information includes all sugars, including those from ingredients such as raisins and currants. If you want to distinguish added sugar from total sugars, check this figure per 100 g alongside the ingredients list.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the currant bun you’ve chosen. The European Commission says that the 14 specified allergens must be clearly identified when used as ingredients; don’t assume that another variety has the same ingredients.
For an opened pack of currant buns, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1 to 3 months in the freezer. Freeze individual portions if you want to spread the buns over several working days, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
No, you can’t assume this is the case for every currant bun. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt; that doesn’t mean every variety contains iodised salt. If this matters for your purchase, check the ingredients on the specific pack.
