Who is this relevant to?

Readers choosing a strictly sugar-free option

You want the total amount of sugars to fall within the limit for ‘sugar-free’. A statement about added sugar alone isn’t enough.

Hotel guests looking for something to have with their coffee

You want to take something you can eat without preparing it. Packaging, storage instructions, portion size and any allergens all matter.

Shoppers keeping an eye on added sugar

You don’t need to choose a strictly sugar-free option, but you want to distinguish added sugars from the total sugars in a currant bun containing dried fruit.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a firm requirement. If it isn’t, compare similar currant buns per 100 g, then check whether the packaging and storage instructions suit your stay.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Genuinely sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is allowed only when the product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I want to eat strictly sugar-free, the total sugar value must meet that limit. For around 50% of consumers, this is the top priority.
Added sugar Compare total sugars per 100 g, and also check the ingredients list and, if stated, the amount of added sugars. I want to know how much sugar was added during production, without overlooking the sugars in currants and raisins. Around 30% of consumers give this distinction the highest priority.
Packaging and storage Check the packaging and storage instructions. If you have an allergy, also read the allergen information for the specific product. For coffee in my hotel room, I want something I can eat without any preparation and to know how to store the rest. For around 20% of consumers, practical use matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’

    Currants and raisins contain sugars naturally. So even without added sugar, a currant bun can contain more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

    First check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Then consider added sugar as a separate factor.

  • Comparing portions only

    Portion sizes vary between products, so portion values alone tell you little about the differences between currant buns.

    Follow the Nutrition Centre’s advice to compare similar products per 100 g, for example for sugars, fibre and salt.

  • Skipping the allergen information

    Wheat and milk are relevant ingredients or allergens in the varieties mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS. Check the ingredients of each product individually.

    If you have an allergy, read the allergen information on the packaging of the currant buns you’re actually buying.

  • Assuming every currant bun contains iodised salt

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bread and bakery products through bakers’ salt. This doesn’t mean that every currant bun contains iodised salt.

    Check the ingredients list for the specific product if this matters to your choice.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists raisin and currant buns in a pack of six.

  • The product information lists 25 g of sugars and 2.2 g of added sugars per 100 g, as well as the ingredients and allergens.
  • With 25 g of sugars per 100 g, this variety does not meet the ‘sugar-free’ limit.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists raisin and currant buns in packs of six, with a 65 g serving size.

  • The product information gives the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g.
  • At 24.0 g of sugars per 100 g, this variety is not sugar-free.

PLUS

PLUS lists, among other products, a jumbo variety and a longer-life variety of currant buns.

  • For its longer-life variety, PLUS recommends storing it in a dry place and freezing it on the day of purchase.
  • According to PLUS, the jumbo variety contains 25.7 g of sugars per 100 g, while the longer-life variety contains 25.5 g per 100 g. Neither is sugar-free.

ALDI

ALDI lists raisin and currant buns in a pack of six.

  • The pack size helps you choose how much to take for your stay.
  • Check the label of your chosen variety for its sugar content and allergens.

Lidl

Lidl lists jumbo raisin and currant buns in a pack of 4 × 100 g, made with butter.

  • The stated size makes it clear how much each bun weighs.
  • Before choosing this variety for a specific dietary preference, check the label for sugars per 100 g and allergens.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will appear here soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can a currant bun be called ‘sugar-free’?

Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So, for a currant bun, check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g in the nutrition table, not just a statement about added sugar.

Are the currant buns mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS sugar-free?

No. Their product information lists 25 g of sugars per 100 g for the variety from Albert Heijn, 24.0 g for Jumbo, and 25.7 g and 25.5 g for the two PLUS varieties. These values are above the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Is less added sugar the same as sugar-free?

No. ‘Of which sugars’ also includes sugars that occur naturally in ingredients such as currants and raisins. If you’re keeping an eye on added sugar, compare both figures separately.

Does every Dutch currant bun contain iodised salt?

You can’t assume that every currant bun does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains when iodine compounds may be present in bread and bakery products through bakers’ salt. Check the ingredients list of the specific product for its composition.

Can I buy currant buns in advance for a hotel stay?

That depends on the storage instructions for the variety. Albert Heijn recommends freezing its currant buns mentioned here on the day of purchase; PLUS recommends storing its longer-life variety in a dry place and also freezing it on the day of purchase. Check the current packaging if you plan to take them with you or store them.