If you have coeliac disease, first look for a product labelled gluten-free and check the current packaging for ingredients and allergen warnings; the words ‘currant bun’ or ‘raisin bread’ aren’t enough. If you’d like something similar to a currant bun that you can have ready for later in the evening, pre-packed gluten-free raisin bread is a bread-like alternative, but it isn’t a currant bun. Keep it separate from ordinary bread and crumbs at home.
You’re looking for a bread-like product with raisins to enjoy late in the evening. As well as the gluten-free label, allergen information and avoiding contact with ordinary bread crumbs are important. The Dutch Coeliac Society also highlights the risk of cross-contamination during preparation and serving.
You’re mainly looking for soft bread with raisins. Gluten-free raisin bread is a closer match for that preference than a cracker or cake, although its shape and ingredients won’t necessarily be the same as those of a currant bun.
You want to be able to grab something late at night without having to bake first. Alongside the gluten-free label, check the storage instructions, portion size and type of product you’d like to eat.
First, check that the product is suitable for a strictly gluten-free diet. Then decide whether you’re mainly looking for a bread-like raisin snack or something that’s ready to eat straight away.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contamination | Read the gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging. At home, keep the product separate from ordinary bread and shared utensils. | If I want a raisin bun late at night, I want to know what the packaging says and avoid ordinary bread crumbs getting mixed in. For around 50% of consumers, confidence that a product is gluten-free comes first. |
| Similarity to a currant bun | Check whether it’s raisin bread, a bun, a cracker or a cake; read the product description and ingredients. | I want the combination of bread and raisins, even if the gluten-free option isn’t a bun. For around 30% of consumers, this similarity matters most once they’ve established that the product is suitable for their gluten-free diet. |
| Convenience and nutritional information | Check the storage instructions and compare portion sizes and nutritional values per 100 g if you’re considering different types of snack. | For an unexpected late-night craving, I want something ready to hand, with a choice of options such as bread or cake. Around 20% of consumers focus most on convenience and portion size. |
The name doesn’t tell you which grains have been used. Jumbo lists wheat in its regular Rozijnen Krentenbollen; the PLUS currant and raisin buns that were checked contain wheat and rye.
Start with the current gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information, not the product name or picture.
They’re different types of snack, and their nutritional values can vary too. Jumbo lists 25.1 g of fat per 100 g for its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Mini Cakes, compared with 3.7 g per 100 g for Yam Rozijn glutenvrij, according to PLUS product information.
First decide whether you want bread, a cracker or cake; then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion.
A product bought as gluten-free can come into contact with gluten at home through crumbs, knives or worktops. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises taking steps to prevent cross-contamination.
Store the product separately from ordinary bread and use clean hands, utensils and a clean worktop.
Ingredients lists vary: PLUS lists iodised salt in its gluten-free crispbread and baker’s salt in Yam Rozijn glutenvrij. What’s listed for one product doesn’t automatically apply to another.
If iodine is relevant to your choice, read the ingredients list on the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
A bread-like option for anyone looking for raisins rather than a cracker or cake.
A range of gluten-free bread and snack products for anyone who wants to explore different types of product.
A supermarket with product information on items including gluten-free raisin bread and crispbread.
Not if it contains grains that contain gluten. Jumbo lists wheat flour and wheat gluten in its regular Rozijnen Krentenbollen; the PLUS currant and raisin buns that were checked contain wheat and rye. Always check the current packaging for other products too.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, the label ‘gluten-free’ means that the product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Also read the ingredients and allergen warnings for the product you want to buy.
If you have coeliac disease, it’s best to keep gluten-free snacks separate from ordinary bread and crumbs. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights that gluten can be transferred on hands and utensils, among other things, so use clean utensils and a clean worktop.
No. Don’t assume that an iodine listing for one product applies to another. PLUS lists iodised salt in its gluten-free crispbread and baker’s salt in Yam Rozijn glutenvrij. If this is relevant to your choice, check the ingredients on the packaging of the product you’re buying.
