People who want to take a snack with them
A currant bun can go straight into your bag, with no cutlery needed. Before you leave, check the portion size, storage instructions and allergens on the packaging.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers who want to verify Fairtrade claims
What matters to you is a certification mark or product-specific claim for the exact product you’re buying, not just the shop’s general cocoa policy.
Families comparing snacks
You might weigh up the convenience of a currant bun against options such as fruit or wholemeal bread. The allergens listed for the Jumbo and PLUS currant buns reviewed here are worth checking too.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether Fairtrade needs to apply to the currant bun itself or to chocolate you’re taking separately. Then compare what’s practical for your snack break and read the label on the variety you choose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade status of the currant bun | Look for a certification mark or product-specific Fairtrade claim on the packaging. Check that any claim about cocoa applies to this product. | I want the currant bun itself to demonstrably meet my Fairtrade requirement, not just another product from the same shop. For around 42% of consumers, this product-specific requirement matters most. |
| Convenience as a snack | Check the portion size per bun. If it’s a regular snack, compare it with fruit or a wholemeal option too. | A bun is easy to take with you and needs no cutlery, but for a child I also want to weigh it up against other snacks. This combination of convenience and choice comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Labelling and storage | Read the allergens and any warnings about possible traces of allergens. Follow the storage and any freezing instructions on the packaging you choose. | If I need to take allergens into account or buy several bags, I want to know what the buns contain and how to store them. These questions about labelling and storage are the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a shop’s cocoa policy means its currant buns carry a certification mark
PLUS describes its use of Fairtrade cocoa in own-brand products containing cocoa, while Albert Heijn describes the certification of its own-brand cocoa. Neither policy confirms that a currant bun itself is Fairtrade-certified.
Check the claim on the currant bun you’re buying. Assess any chocolate product separately by checking its own packaging.
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Assuming a currant bun is an obvious everyday snack for children
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit and wholemeal bread among its everyday snack examples for children; a currant bun isn’t among its preferred options.
If you regularly take a snack with you, weigh up the convenience of a currant bun against those alternatives.
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Guessing the allergens from the product name
The Jumbo and PLUS currant buns reviewed here list wheat and milk. The product information also includes warnings about allergens that may be present.
Read the current packaging for the variety you choose, including any warnings about possible traces of allergens.
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Assuming every currant bun contains baker’s salt
Jumbo and PLUS list baker’s salt in the varieties reviewed here. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t necessarily use it.
Check the ingredients of the currant bun you’re buying, or ask the baker which salt they use.
Brands to compare
Jumbo
For its Raisin Currant Buns, Jumbo lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for a pack of six.
- The product information lists 29.6% raisins, 6.1% currants and 2.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The listed ingredients include wheat and milk. If Fairtrade certification of the bun is essential to you, check the packaging separately.
PLUS
PLUS offers packs of six currant buns and a longer-life variety in packs of eight, with product information and storage instructions.
- For the varieties reviewed here, PLUS says you can freeze them at home on the day of purchase.
- The varieties list wheat and milk. PLUS’s Fairtrade cocoa policy does not mean these currant buns are certified.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn has an overview of its range of currant buns and muesli buns, and separately describes its policy on own-brand cocoa.
- Its cocoa policy may be relevant if you’re assessing a separate chocolate product.
- That policy doesn’t confirm the Fairtrade status of a specific currant bun. Check the product itself to find out.
Lidl
Lidl lists currant buns in its range and provides information about ingredients and allergens for its freshly baked bread.
- An ingredients and allergens overview for freshly baked bread can help you compare products.
- For the currant buns you choose, check the packaging too if you want to check allergens, nutritional information or a product-specific Fairtrade claim.
Chocolate as a separate snack
This Joybuy pick is chocolate you can take separately from a currant bun. A Fairtrade claim on chocolate says nothing about the bun’s certification, so check the claim for each product separately.
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Tony's Chocolonely Dark Chocolate 70%, 180 g
A separate chocolate option if you’d like to take chocolate as well as a currant bun; this product isn’t a currant bun itself.
Check the Fairtrade claim and allergens on the current packaging. Also consider whether the portion size works for your gym bag.
Frequently asked questions
Does a supermarket’s Fairtrade cocoa mean its currant buns are Fairtrade?
No. A cocoa policy doesn’t confirm that a currant bun is certified. Look for a certification mark or product-specific claim on the bun itself; the Jumbo and PLUS currant buns reviewed here don’t list cocoa as an ingredient.
Are currant buns a preferred everyday snack for children?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre doesn’t include currant buns among its preferred everyday snacks for children. It lists fruit and wholemeal bread, among other examples, as options to compare for a regular snack break.
Do currant buns always contain baker’s salt?
Don’t assume they do: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t necessarily use baker’s salt. The varieties from Jumbo and PLUS reviewed here do list it; for another bun, check the ingredients or ask the baker.
How should I store currant buns I plan to take with me later?
Follow the instructions on the packaging for the currant buns you choose. For the varieties reviewed here, PLUS recommends storing them in a cool, dry place away from light and says they can be frozen on the day of purchase and used within one month.