Who is a sharing bag useful for?

Parents having breakfast with several toddlers

For a shared breakfast, knowing how many buns are in the bag makes it easier to work out how many you’ll need. If there are any left over, check the storage instructions too.

Parents who want to serve smaller portions

If a whole standard-sized bun is too much for one meal, you can share one or look for a mini version. Compare the nutritional information and ingredients on the packaging separately from the size.

Parents considering allergens and group rules

If you’re providing breakfast at school or childcare, it’s important to check the current ingredients list. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on prepacked foods; you should also check the setting’s rules on food brought from home.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out how many children will be eating and what portion is right for the occasion. Then check how you can store any leftovers and whether the ingredients are suitable for the group.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Portion size and choice of bread Check the size of each bun and its nutritional value per 100 g. The regular varieties from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS included in this comparison are white wheat buns; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal or brown bread for everyday bread-based meals. If my toddler doesn’t always eat a whole bun, I want to be able to share one and take their other bread-based meals into account. For around 42% of consumers, portion size and choice of bread come first.
Sharing and storage Compare the number of buns with the number of mealtimes, and read the storage or freezing instructions. For its 6-pack included in this comparison, Albert Heijn advises freezing on the day of purchase and using within one month; PLUS advises freezing its 8-pack on the day of purchase. When several children are having breakfast together, I want enough to go round without being left with an awkward number of leftovers. Around 33% of consumers give ease of sharing and storage the highest priority.
Allergens and group rules Read the current ingredients list and any warnings on the packaging. Ask the school, childcare setting or organiser what rules apply to food brought from home. If I’m packing food for a group, I need to know which ingredients and allergens could be an issue for them. This is the most important consideration for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Looking only at the number of buns

    A larger bag is only practical if you’ll use the buns or can store them according to the packaging instructions. Eight regular buns and nine mini buns also don’t provide the same number of portions.

    Count the children as well as the later mealtimes. If you want to freeze the buns, choose a variety with suitable freezing instructions on the current packaging.

  • Assuming a mini bun is a different type of bread

    A smaller bun can make serving easier, but its size alone doesn’t tell you how much fibre, sugar or salt it contains, or what type of flour has been used.

    Use the size to help you choose portions, and compare the ingredients and nutritional information separately.

  • Checking only for gluten

    As well as gluten-containing cereals, the regular products included in this comparison list milk or lactose. Warnings about the possible presence of other allergens vary by product.

    Check the full, current packaging before buying or packing buns for a group, and ask how the setting handles allergen warnings.

Brands compared

The quantities and details given apply to the varieties described, not to every product from each brand.

Albert Heijn

The regular bag included in this comparison contains six raisin and currant buns and has instructions for freezing at home.

  • Albert Heijn states that each bun weighs 65 g and advises freezing on the day of purchase and using within one month.
  • This white wheat variety contains gluten, milk and lactose. Check the packaging for details of any other allergens too.

Jumbo

The bag of six raisin and currant buns included in this comparison offers a set quantity for a smaller group breakfast.

  • Jumbo lists six portions of 65 g and gives the ingredients and nutritional value per 100 g.
  • The variety included in this comparison contains wheat and milk; also check for warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.

PLUS

The bag of eight currant buns included in this comparison is an option when several children will be eating.

  • PLUS states that this 8-pack can be frozen at home on the day of purchase.
  • This white wheat variety lists wheat, rye, gluten, milk and lactose, among other ingredients. Check the packaging for any other allergen warnings.

Lidl

The bag described contains nine mini raisin and currant buns, designed as smaller individual portions.

  • Lidl lists the bag as 360 g and says it contains nine buns made with butter.
  • Use the nutritional information and allergen details on the current packaging to help you choose.

ALDI

ALDI lists both a regular bag of six raisin and currant buns and a separate pack of nine mini butter and raisin buns.

  • The two pack sizes give you the choice of regular buns or smaller portions to share.
  • For the variety you choose, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the current packaging.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are currant buns suitable as everyday bread for a toddler’s breakfast?

It’s best to offer currant buns for variety rather than as a routine replacement for wholemeal or brown bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends those types of bread for everyday bread-based meals; the regular currant buns included in this comparison are made with white wheat flour.

Roughly how much bread does a child aged one to three need?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends around two to three slices of bread a day, usually divided between breakfast and lunch. When serving currant buns, consider the size of each bun and what else your child eats at other mealtimes.

Do the currant buns compared here contain gluten?

The regular varieties from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS included in this comparison list wheat or other gluten-containing cereals. Each time you buy them, check the current ingredients list for the exact variety you plan to serve.

Can I rely on online allergen information alone for school or childcare?

Check the packaging of the product you actually buy too, and ask about the school or childcare setting’s rules. Product information can change, and the setting may have its own requirements for food brought from home and allergen warnings.

Does baker’s salt mean a currant bun contains iodised salt?

You can’t tell from the words ‘baker’s salt’ alone. For the variety included in this comparison, Albert Heijn specifically lists iodised salt; the Jumbo variety lists baker’s salt without explicitly saying it is iodised. Check the current ingredients list if this distinction matters to you.