Office buyer who wants to verify a Fairtrade claim
You want to see exactly what the Fairtrade claim applies to on the packaging of the chocolate product you choose, rather than relying on a supermarket’s general statement about cocoa.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Buyer stocking a shared snack table
You’re buying for several colleagues at once, so you want to check the ingredients, allergens, pack size and storage instructions for your chosen products before placing an order.
Office looking to offer currant buns without chocolate
You want to keep the snack supply simple. If you’d also like to offer a Fairtrade option, you can do so with a separate product without describing the currant bun itself as Fairtrade.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide which specific product you want to be able to identify as Fairtrade. Then check that it suits your colleagues and the planned office occasion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Verifiable Fairtrade choice | Check for the FAIRTRADE Mark or an explicit claim on the chocolate product you choose. If there’s an arrow next to the mark, read the explanation on the back too, as Fairtrade International advises. | I want to be able to point out which product carries a Fairtrade claim on the snack table, without attributing it to the currant bun. This verifiable choice is the top priority for around 46% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on both the currant buns and the chocolate or chocolate sprinkles you choose. | When colleagues share the same snacks, I want to know which allergens are listed on both packs before ordering. This check is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Stock and storage | Compare the number of items in each pack with your planned use, and follow the storage instructions for the variant you choose, including when freezing it. | When staffing levels vary, I want to choose packs that we can store as directed on the label and use in time. Stock planning matters most to around 27% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Applying a supermarket’s statement about cocoa to the currant bun
A statement about cocoa sourcing doesn’t mean that an individual currant bun is Fairtrade-certified. A mark on added chocolate doesn’t automatically apply to the bun either.
Describe the products separately, and only use a Fairtrade claim for a currant bun if the packaging of that specific bun carries the claim.
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Checking allergens only after ordering
Jumbo lists gluten, milk and wheat among the allergens in its raisin currant buns, along with warnings about the possible presence of other allergens. Any chocolate product you add has its own ingredients and allergen information.
Check both packs before placing your order, and keep the product information available by the shared snack table.
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Assuming every currant bun lists the same salt
Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in the ingredients of its raisin currant buns. This product-specific information can’t automatically be applied to another variant.
Use the ingredients list for the currant buns you actually choose, rather than making a general statement about all currant buns.
Brands to consider
Lidl Way To Go
A separate chocolate option to serve alongside currant buns at the office.
- Lidl says its Way To Go products are fully Fairtrade-certified. Check the mark on the pack you choose.
- A Fairtrade claim on Way To Go chocolate is not a Fairtrade claim on currant buns.
PLUS
Currant buns as a base, with a separate product containing Fairtrade cocoa to choose alongside them.
- PLUS gives instructions for storing its currant buns in a cool, dry place and freezing them at home on the day of purchase.
- PLUS says its own-brand products containing cocoa use Fairtrade cocoa. This alone says nothing about whether PLUS currant buns are certified; check the packaging of both products you choose.
Albert Heijn
Currant buns whose ingredients you can compare with those of separately chosen chocolate.
- Albert Heijn lists wheat and iodised salt, among other ingredients, in its raisin currant buns.
- Albert Heijn says that cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance- or Fairtrade-certified. This doesn’t establish that its currant buns carry a Fairtrade mark.
Jumbo
An option for comparing packaged currant buns with a separate cocoa product.
- Jumbo lists allergens for its raisin currant buns and includes Fairtrade Original cocoa powder and chocolate sprinkles in its Fairtrade range.
- Listing a separate Fairtrade product doesn’t make Jumbo’s currant buns Fairtrade-certified. Check the packaging of the cocoa product you choose.
Joybuy products related to this topic
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are currant buns Fairtrade if a supermarket sources Fairtrade cocoa?
No. A supermarket’s statement about cocoa doesn’t confirm that a specific currant bun is Fairtrade-certified. Check the packaging of the currant bun itself for a FAIRTRADE Mark or an explicit certification claim.
How do I check the chocolate I serve with currant buns?
Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark or an explicit certification claim on the specific chocolate product. For a mark with an arrow, Fairtrade International also advises reading the back for an explanation of the ingredients and sourcing method.
Which allergens should I check for a shared snack table?
Check the current packaging for both the currant buns and any chocolate or chocolate sprinkles. Jumbo lists gluten, milk and wheat for its raisin currant buns and also warns of the possible presence of other allergens. Information may vary between products.
Can I assume every currant bun contains iodised salt?
No. Check the ingredients list for the variant you choose. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its raisin currant buns, but that doesn’t automatically describe currant buns from other brands.
Can I buy currant buns for the office in advance?
Yes, as long as the storage instructions on the pack you choose suit your planned use. PLUS recommends storing its currant buns in a cool, dry place and says they can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and used within one month.