Who is this choice relevant to?

If you want proof that the currant bun is Fairtrade

For you, a certification label only counts if it applies to the currant bun itself. A claim about other products from the same supermarket isn’t enough.

If you’re checking the label for your guests

You want to be able to check the ingredients and allergens listed on the pack you’ve chosen before serving it. Salt ingredients and changes to the packaging are also relevant to your choice.

If you’re comparing fibre and types of bread

You compare the nutritional value of a white currant bun with a wholemeal alternative, without assuming that either is therefore Fairtrade.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide whether Fairtrade certification for the currant bun itself is essential, or whether you’re looking for chocolate to serve alongside it. Then compare the information on the packaging of the products you want to buy.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Fairtrade status Look for a Fairtrade claim for the exact currant bun. Check any chocolate you buy to serve alongside it separately. I only want to buy a currant bun as a Fairtrade option if the certification applies to that exact product. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers.
Celebration and storage Choose enough for your guests and check the use-by date and any freezing instructions. When I’m getting buns ready for several guests, I want to know how many I’ll need and whether I can store them in advance. This planning matters most to around 25% of consumers.
Type of bread and fibre Check that an alternative is genuinely wholemeal and compare fibre content on the same basis, for example per 100 g. If you’re mainly looking at fibre, you won’t want to mistake a white currant bun for a wholemeal alternative. This is the main consideration for around 17% of consumers.
Allergens and salt Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and details of iodised salt or baker’s salt. When I’m serving something to guests, I want to check relevant allergens and salt ingredients on the pack in advance. Checking the label is a priority for around 16% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a supermarket’s Fairtrade claim means its currant buns are certified

    Fairtrade Netherlands lists Fairtrade products sold by various supermarkets, but that doesn’t mean every currant bun from those shops is certified.

    Check the current packaging or product page for the exact item before buying it as a Fairtrade option. Do the same for any chocolate you serve alongside it.

  • Relying on an old pack for allergen information

    The currant buns described by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list wheat and milk. Other allergen information on the pack you choose may also be important for your guests.

    Before serving, read the current ingredients list and both the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ warnings.

  • Mistaking a white currant bun for a wholemeal one

    The varieties described by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS are white wheat buns with raisins and currants. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes wholemeal bread from white bread, among other things, by its fibre content.

    Check the type of bread in the exact product and compare fibre values per 100 g if that matters to your choice.

  • Buying in advance without checking the storage advice

    Freezing instructions for one pack don’t automatically apply to another variety. Albert Heijn and the described eight-pack from PLUS provide product-specific freezing instructions.

    Plan your purchase around the date and the storage and freezing instructions on the pack you take home.

Brands and shops to consider

The information below relates to specific currant buns, except for Lidl, where it refers to chocolate to serve alongside them. A brand or shop name on its own doesn’t confirm that a particular product is certified.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn describes its AH raisin currant buns as white wheat buns with raisins and currants.

  • For this six-pack, Albert Heijn lists allergens, iodised salt and 2.9 g of fibre per 100 g, among other details.
  • The product page described doesn’t mention Fairtrade for these currant buns. Check the current pack if this is a condition of your purchase.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes its six-pack of raisin currant buns as white wheat buns with raisins and currants.

  • For this product, Jumbo lists allergens, baker’s salt and 2.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The currant bun product page described doesn’t confirm Fairtrade status for this item. Other Fairtrade products at Jumbo don’t change that.

PLUS

PLUS describes a six-pack of white wheat buns with raisins and currants, and also provides product information for an eight-pack.

  • According to PLUS, the six-pack lists allergens, baker’s salt and 3.3 g of fibre per 100 g. The eight-pack has its own freezing advice.
  • General information about Fairtrade cocoa in PLUS own-brand products doesn’t confirm that these currant buns are certified.

ALDI

ALDI Netherlands describes its six-pack of raisin currant buns as wheat buns with raisins and currants.

  • The product description and pack size help you identify the item.
  • Check the current packaging for the ingredients, allergens and any Fairtrade claim before basing your choice on it.

Lidl

Lidl is relevant here for chocolate you might serve separately with currant buns, not as a confirmed source of Fairtrade currant buns.

  • In 2023, Fairtrade Netherlands included Lidl Way To Go! chocolate in information about Fairtrade products.
  • Check the current packaging of any chocolate bar you choose. The 2023 reference doesn’t confirm certification for a currant bun.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a currant bun Fairtrade if the supermarket also sells Fairtrade products?

No. A supermarket’s range doesn’t confirm that a specific currant bun is certified. The product pages described for Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS don’t mention Fairtrade for the currant buns listed. Check for a certification label on the current packaging or product page for the exact item.

Does every currant bun contain iodised salt?

Don’t assume that every currant bun lists the same type of salt. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt for the AH raisin currant buns described; Jumbo and PLUS list baker’s salt for their products. If this matters to your purchase, read the ingredients on the pack you choose.

Which allergens should I check when buying currant buns for guests?

Read all the allergen information on the pack you choose, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. The currant buns described by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list wheat and milk; don’t assume the other warnings are the same on every pack.

Can I buy currant buns before St Nicholas’ Eve?

Yes, if the date and storage instructions for the product you choose fit your plans. Albert Heijn advises freezing its currant buns on the day of purchase; PLUS gives the same advice for the eight-pack described. Follow the instructions on the pack you actually buy.