If you have coeliac disease, first look for a currant bun clearly labelled gluten-free or bearing an appropriate gluten-free certification mark. Check the current label for gluten-containing cereals and warnings about cross-contamination. Only then consider the Fairtrade mark: on a product made with several ingredients, it may apply to specific ingredients rather than every ingredient.
A product name that doesn’t mention wheat flour isn’t enough to tell you whether it’s suitable. Look for a clear gluten-free label, and check the current packaging even if you’ve bought the product before.
Once you’ve checked the gluten-free information, you’ll want to know what the Fairtrade mark applies to. Fairtrade International says that, when a brand mark includes an arrow, you should check the back of the packaging for information about ingredients and sourcing.
You’ll want to choose the baking mix and other ingredients separately. Albert Heijn Allerhande has a recipe for gluten-free currant buns using gluten-free self-raising baking mix. You’ll also need to check the other ingredients and take care to prevent cross-contamination.
When choosing a currant bun for someone with coeliac disease, checking that it’s gluten-free comes before considering the Fairtrade claim. If you’d rather bake your own, you’ll need to assess both points for each ingredient and during preparation.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status | Look for a gluten-free label or an appropriate certification mark. Check the current label for gluten-containing cereals and warnings about cross-contamination. | If I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the product name or an old packet. For around 50% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| What Fairtrade means | Check which Fairtrade mark appears on the packaging. If there’s an arrow or an ingredient-specific label, read the additional information. | I want to know whether the claim applies to the currant bun or to specific ingredients. For around 30% of consumers, this clarity is the deciding factor, once gluten-free status has been checked. |
| Baking your own | Choose a baking mix explicitly labelled gluten-free, check the other ingredients separately and take care to prevent cross-contamination during preparation. | If I want to choose the ingredients myself, I also need to consider what could get onto my worktop and utensils. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this way of preparing currant buns. |
Fairtrade relates to sourcing in line with Fairtrade standards. On its own, it says nothing about whether a currant bun contains gluten.
Check the gluten-free label and current packaging first. Then look at what the Fairtrade mark applies to.
According to Fairtrade International, a Fairtrade brand mark with an arrow points to additional information about ingredients and sourcing. An ingredient-specific mark doesn’t automatically apply to the whole currant bun.
Read the back of the packaging to see which ingredients are named.
The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that a change in the recipe can affect whether a product contains gluten.
Check the gluten-free label, ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings on every new packet.
Albert Heijn lists standard currant buns in its online shop. Allerhande also publishes a recipe for gluten-free currant buns.
No. For someone with coeliac disease, the product name alone isn’t enough to tell you whether it’s suitable. Look for a clear gluten-free label or an appropriate certification mark, and check the ingredients list and any cross-contamination warnings on the current packaging.
Not necessarily. According to Fairtrade International, if a brand mark includes an arrow, you should read the back of the packaging to see which ingredients and sourcing methods the mark applies to. The logo doesn’t replace checking that the product is gluten-free.
Yes. The presence of oats in the ingredients list doesn’t, on its own, rule out a gluten-free label on the finished product. Check the label on the packaging and read all the information; don’t rely solely on whether the word ‘oats’ is present.
