Who are these choices relevant to?

Budget shopper checking for Fairtrade

You want to know whether a Fairtrade mark applies to the bun itself. If you’re buying chocolate to go with it, check that as a separate product rather than calling the combination a Fairtrade currant bun.

Family planning shopping and supplies

You choose a number of buns to suit school, work or other occasions, and check that you’ll use the pack in time. If you’re stocking up, follow the instructions on the specific pack.

Shopper who checks ingredients

You check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact currant buns you’re buying. Similar-looking packs may have different ingredients or allergen information.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether the bun itself needs to be Fairtrade-certified, or whether you want to check a separate chocolate product. Then choose a pack you can use up and read the current label.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Fairtrade certification for the bun or chocolate Check the mark on the exact product. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo on a white background may identify only a certified ingredient. If Fairtrade matters to me, I want to know whether the mark applies to the bun or to separate chocolate; for around 39% of consumers, this distinction is the priority.
A pack size that suits you Compare the number of buns with how many you expect to use before the stated use-by date. Check the instructions if you plan to freeze some. If I’m buying for several occasions, I don’t want any buns left over; for around 38% of consumers, getting the right quantity matters most.
Ingredients and storage Read the ingredients, allergen information and storage instructions on the pack of the variety you’ve chosen. I want to be able to judge whether the currant buns suit my dietary needs or plans for stocking up; for around 23% of consumers, ingredients and storage are the deciding factors.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Fairtrade products in a retailer’s range with a Fairtrade bun

    A Fairtrade mark on other products sold by the same supermarket says nothing about the certification of a specific currant bun.

    Check the current packaging for the bun and make sure you know exactly which product or ingredient the mark applies to.

  • Assuming separate Fairtrade chocolate makes the bun Fairtrade

    Fairtrade Nederland lists Fairtrade-certified cocoa in PLUS own-brand products, but that’s not a claim about a plain currant bun without cocoa.

    Check the chocolate and the currant bun separately. Don’t call the combination a Fairtrade currant bun if only the chocolate qualifies.

  • Assuming a larger bag is automatically more practical

    The number of buns in a pack doesn’t tell you whether you’ll use them all in time.

    Choose a quantity based on how many you plan to use, and follow the instructions for that variety if you freeze any.

  • Relying on an old ingredients list

    An ingredients list from another variety or an earlier pack isn’t enough to check what’s in the product you’re buying now.

    Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re actually buying.

Brands and retailers to consider

ALDI

ALDI describes a pack of six raisin and currant buns as wheat buns containing raisins and currants.

  • The six-pack size is clearly shown on the product page.
  • If Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase, check for the mark on the exact pack.

Jumbo

Jumbo provides product information on the ingredients, allergens and nutritional value of its six-pack of raisin and currant buns.

  • The listed ingredients help you assess this specific variety.
  • A retailer’s general range of Fairtrade products doesn’t confirm that these buns are certified.

PLUS

PLUS has product pages for packs of six and eight currant buns.

  • For the eight-pack, PLUS advises freezing the buns on the day of purchase and using them within one month.
  • Fairtrade Nederland’s statement about cocoa in PLUS own-brand products isn’t a Fairtrade claim for these currant buns.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s range overview lists currant buns in various pack sizes.

  • You can compare the number of buns with how many you expect to use.
  • Check the ingredients and marks on each current variety; information about a frozen variety doesn’t necessarily apply to other currant buns.

Lidl

Lidl describes its currant buns as a six-pack product available in store.

  • The pack size is shown on the product page.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and any certification marks on the pack in store.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I consider a plain currant bun Fairtrade-certified?

Only if a certification mark or product-specific information confirms this for the bun in question. A supermarket’s range of Fairtrade products isn’t enough; check the packaging of the variety you’re buying.

Does Fairtrade cocoa make the whole currant bun Fairtrade?

No. A claim about cocoa doesn’t automatically apply to the whole bun. According to Fairtrade Nederland, cocoa in PLUS own-brand products is Fairtrade-certified; Milieu Centraal explains that a Fairtrade logo on a white background may apply only to a certified ingredient.

Can I freeze currant buns to build up a supply?

Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For its eight-pack of long-life currant buns, PLUS says you can freeze them at home on the day you buy them and should use them within one month.

Where should I look if I want to identify iodised salt in currant buns?

Read the ingredients list on the specific pack and look for terms such as baker’s salt or iodised salt. Albert Heijn listed iodised salt in a frozen variety, but that doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in other currant buns.