Who is this relevant to?

If you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free option

You want to choose a currant bun for lunch only if it meets the limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. A statement about added sugars isn’t enough.

If you want to avoid added sugars

You’re happy to have sugars that are already present in ingredients such as currants and raisins, but want to know what has been added to the product. So you compare the ingredients with the nutrition information.

If you choose a lunch roll based on its fibre content

For lunch on the go, you’ll also want to weigh up the fibre content, portion size and storage instructions. A wholemeal roll is a different type of product to compare with a currant bun.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement, or whether you mainly want to avoid added sugars. If fibre and storage matter more, compare a different type of lunch roll too.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important to?
Genuinely sugar-free Check the nutrition information for the exact currant bun: under European rules on nutrition claims, a product can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to be labelled ‘sugar-free’. If you only want to buy a currant bun that meets a strict sugar-free requirement, you need to know the sugar content of that product. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers.
No added sugars Read the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean that the product contains no sugars at all. If you don’t mind sugars from dried fruit, you mainly want to know whether sugars or sweetening ingredients have been added. This is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers.
Fibre and lunch convenience Compare fibre per 100 g, portion size and the storage or freezing instructions on the packaging. For lunch on the go, fibre, portion size and storage may matter more than the taste of a currant bun. Around 25% of consumers prioritise these practical considerations.

Common mistakes

  • Treating ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugars’ as the same thing

    Under European rules on nutrition claims, ‘sugar-free’ means a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A currant bun with no added sugars can still contain sugars from currants or raisins.

    If you have a strict requirement, check the sugar content of the specific product. If you want to avoid added sugars, read the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ figure too.

  • Using a category page as a product label

    A page listing currant buns doesn’t tell you which ingredients, sugar content or allergens are shown on the packaging of a particular variety.

    Check the information for the exact product and read the packaging before eating it, especially if allergens or a strict sugar limit are important to you.

  • Assuming a currant bun and a wholemeal roll are the same kind of product

    Jumbo lists 2.8 g of fibre per 100 g for its raisin and currant buns, and 7.0 g per 100 g for its wholemeal rolls. These are different products; fibre content alone tells you nothing about whether a product can be labelled sugar-free.

    If fibre is important to your lunch choice, compare the nutrition information per 100 g for the products you’re considering.

Brands and shops compared

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has a category for currant buns and muesli buns, including AH raisin and currant buns.

  • You can browse different types of product within the category without treating them as the same kind of roll.
  • Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change. Read the packaging for the variety you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists raisin and currant buns and wholemeal rolls as separate lunch rolls.

  • Jumbo lists 2.8 g of fibre per 100 g for its raisin and currant buns and 7.0 g per 100 g for its wholemeal rolls.
  • This difference in fibre content doesn’t automatically make either product sugar-free; check the sugar content on the packaging for the product you choose.

PLUS

PLUS sells currant buns in different pack sizes, including mini currant and raisin buns.

  • For its ‘stays delicious for longer’ variety, PLUS says you can freeze the buns at home on the day you buy them and use them within a month.
  • If a sugar claim is important to you, compare the sugar content and ingredients of the specific variety.

ALDI

ALDI lists raisin and currant buns and also includes giant raisin buns in its bread range.

  • The different product types give you a choice of rolls and sizes for lunch.
  • If you have a strict sugar-free requirement, assess the exact currant bun using its nutrition information, not the name of the range.

Lidl

Lidl has a page for currant buns and a separate ingredients list for its freshly baked bread range.

  • The ingredients list can help you assess a freshly baked product included in it.
  • Don’t use that list as a substitute for the nutrition information and ingredients of a different, specific currant bun.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugars’?

They are different nutrition claims: under European rules on nutrition claims, ‘sugar-free’ can only be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. ‘No added sugars’ means that no mono- or disaccharides, or other foods used for their sweetening properties, have been added; the product may still contain sugars that are already present in its ingredients.

Is a currant bun with no added sugars also sugar-free?

Not necessarily: currants and raisins can contribute sugars to a currant bun. If you’re looking for a genuinely sugar-free currant bun, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for the specific product.

Should I still check the ingredients and allergens shown online against the packaging?

Yes, check the packaging of the product you’re going to eat. Albert Heijn says that online product information, including details about ingredients, nutritional values and allergens, may change.

Can I freeze currant buns for lunches later on?

It depends on the variety you choose and its storage instructions. For its ‘stays delicious for longer’ currant buns, PLUS says you can freeze them at home on the day you buy them and use them within a month. Check the packaging of other currant buns for their own instructions.