When choosing mini currant buns for a park picnic, start by deciding how many you want to take, then check the label: ‘mini’ doesn’t mean a set weight or nutritional value. PLUS, Jumbo and ALDI each list a nine-bun option; if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal, you can consider the option Lidl lists as an in-store product. For a butter version, check the allergen information for milk. Whatever you choose, always go by the date and storage advice on the packaging.
Small buns are handy for a picnic with several people if you don’t want to have to slice them on the spot. PLUS, Jumbo and ALDI each list a nine-bun mini option. When you buy, check how many buns you actually need.
If allergens or the ingredients in the buns matter to you, read the information on the packaging you choose. Compare, for example, fibre, sugars, fat and salt per 100 g and, where listed, per portion; a product name doesn’t tell you everything.
If you’re buying the buns before your picnic, check the date and storage advice on the packaging. PLUS and Jumbo advise storing theirs in a cool, dry, dark place; on its product page, Jumbo states that its mini butter and raisin buns have a shelf life of 8+ days.
First decide how many small buns you want to share out, then compare the ingredients, nutritional information and storage advice for the options available to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing out portions | Compare the number of buns and their weight, or the stated portion size. Don’t rely on ‘mini’ alone. | If I’m packing for a group, I want to share out the buns without cutting them and know how many I need. For around 46% of consumers, this convenience when portioning comes first. |
| Label and nutritional information | Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare fibre, sugars, fat and salt per 100 g and, if listed, per portion. | If someone in the group has an allergy, I want to be able to check what’s in this particular option. For around 27% of consumers, checking the label is the priority. |
| Storage and taking them with you | Check the date and storage advice on the packaging, and whether the option you’ve chosen is available at your shop. | If you’re buying in advance, you’ll want to take the buns with you on picnic day and keep them dry and protected on the way. For around 27% of consumers, planning ahead comes first. |
A small size alone tells you nothing about the weight of each bun or its nutritional value. For its mini option, which is no longer stocked, Albert Heijn listed a 40 g portion; don’t use that figure for other products.
Before comparing options, check the packaging for the number of buns, the weight and the nutritional information per 100 g or per portion.
The mini options we looked at list wheat or gluten and milk or milk ingredients. Warnings about other allergens can also vary from product to product.
If you have a relevant allergy, read the full allergen information on the current packaging. Don’t choose based solely on the name or an old product page.
Albert Heijn marks the mini option we looked at as no longer stocked; Jumbo no longer lists its previous wholemeal mini option as available online; and Lidl describes its mini wholemeal raisin buns as available in store only.
Before you shop, check whether the option you want is available at your local shop or for your chosen delivery slot.
The mention of iodised salt on the product page for one former Albert Heijn option tells you nothing about the label on another mini currant bun.
If the type of salt used matters to you, check the ingredients on the packaging you’re buying.
PLUS lists a bag of mini currant and raisin buns containing nine buns.
Jumbo lists mini butter and raisin buns in a pack of nine.
ALDI lists mini butter and raisin buns in packs of nine, as well as regular raisin and currant buns in packs of six.
Lidl lists 360 g mini wholemeal raisin buns as an in-store product.
Albert Heijn marks the nine-bun mini raisin and currant option we looked at as no longer stocked.
Don’t assume they are: the Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS options we looked at list wheat or gluten and milk or milk ingredients. For the option you’re actually buying, read the full allergen information on the current packaging, including any warnings about other allergens.
Keep them dry and protect them from being squashed on the way; also follow the storage advice on the packaging. PLUS and Jumbo advise storing theirs in a cool, dry, dark place. Jumbo states a shelf life of 8+ days for its mini butter option on the product page, but be sure to check the date on your pack.
Not without comparing it against your own priorities when shopping. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal, you can consider the option Lidl lists as an in-store product; then compare its ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging with those of other options.
Check the allergen information for the specific product you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that sellers must inform customers about allergens present; an old product listing is no substitute for current product information.
