Don’t choose a standard currant bun if sugar-free is a strict requirement: the varieties described by Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS contain 24.0 to 25.7 g of sugars per 100 g. If you mainly want to serve the flavour of currants and raisins, compare the total sugars and portion size. If sugar-free is non-negotiable, you’ll need to assess a different type of bun by checking its label.
For you, the total amount of sugars matters, not just the amount of added sugar. Currants and raisins contain sugars themselves; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a 20 g handful of raisins contains 13.8 g of sugars.
You want to serve familiar currant buns at an international food night, so you compare the sugars per 100 g and per bun. You should also check the allergen information on the packaging for your guests.
You want to know whether a bun is wholemeal and how much fibre a portion contains. This is a separate consideration: the term ‘wholemeal’ does not, by itself, tell you how much sugar a product contains.
First decide whether sugar-free is a strict requirement. A standard currant bun may offer the fruity flavour you want, but the sugar levels listed for the supermarket varieties reviewed make them unsuitable if you need a strictly sugar-free option.
When to choose it: Look beyond currant buns if sugar-free is your priority, and check the nutritional information for each individual product.
Trade-off: Without currants and raisins, you’ll miss the distinctive fruity filling of a standard currant bun.
When to choose it: Choose this option if the flavour of currants and raisins matters more to you than a strict sugar-free requirement.
Trade-off: The varieties described by Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS each contain at least 24.0 g of sugars per 100 g.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free | Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g and decide whether the product meets your sugar-free requirement; don’t rely on the product name alone. | If sugar-free is a strict requirement, I don’t want to choose a bun based on a misleading impression created by its fruit filling. Around 50% of consumers make this their priority. |
| Comparing sugars | Compare total sugars per 100 g, then check the value per portion and, if listed, the amount of added sugars. | I want to keep the flavour of currants and raisins, but make an informed choice between the listed sugar levels. For around 30% of consumers, this comparison is their main concern. |
| Fibre and ingredients | Check whether the bun is wholemeal, how much fibre a portion contains and which allergens are listed. | When sharing food with guests, I mainly want to know what type of bun I’m serving and which ingredients might need attention. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Currants and raisins contribute to the total sugars themselves. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 13.8 g of sugars in a 20 g handful of raisins.
If sugar-free is a strict requirement, assess a different type of bun using its own nutritional information rather than making assumptions based on the filling.
A lower amount of added sugars doesn’t automatically mean a low total sugar content. PLUS lists 25.2 g of total sugars and 1.59 g of added sugars per 100 g for its standard currant buns.
Start with the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g, and use added sugars as an additional point of comparison afterwards.
Grain type and sugar content answer different questions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 2 g of fibre for a 50 g currant bun, but that figure doesn’t apply to every individual product.
Check whether a bun is wholemeal and how much fibre it contains if those factors matter to you, and check the sugars separately in the nutrition table.
The Jumbo and PLUS currant buns described list allergens such as wheat and milk. The type of salt used can also vary between products; the Albert Heijn variety described lists iodised salt.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the exact packaging you’re serving, and if a guest has an allergy, discuss the choice with them.
Jumbo lists a pack of six currant and raisin buns.
PLUS lists standard and giant currant and raisin buns, among other options.
The information for AH raisin currant buns provides a specific example of a label with sugar and ingredient details.
ALDI lists a pack of six currant and raisin buns.
Lidl lists a bag of six currant buns as a supermarket product.
Sugar-free is a nutrition claim, not another way of saying ‘lower in added sugar’. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that nutrition claims must be accurate, so if a product carries this claim, check the total sugars listed per 100 g as well.
No. Don’t choose these varieties if you have a strict sugar-free requirement. Jumbo lists 24.0 g of sugars per 100 g, Albert Heijn 25 g per 100 g, and PLUS 25.2 or 25.7 g per 100 g, depending on the variety.
Read the allergen information on every pack you serve. The Jumbo and PLUS currant buns described list wheat and milk, among other allergens; don’t assume another brand or variety has the same ingredients.
You can’t tell from the name ‘currant bun’. The Albert Heijn variety described lists iodised salt; for another product, check its own ingredients list if the type of salt matters to your choice.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you bought. PLUS advises storing its standard variety described in a cool, dry, dark place; check the instructions and date for any other variety.
