For a sugar-free currant bun for an Asian night, check that the nutritional information lists no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, that’s the limit for making a ‘sugar-free’ claim. If you mainly want to avoid added sugars, ‘no added sugars’ is a different option; check the ingredients list and total sugars too. The standard currant buns from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS included in our research do not meet a strict sugar-free requirement.
For you, ‘less sugar’ or ‘no added sugars’ isn’t enough. You want the nutritional information to show that the currant bun meets the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.
You want to know whether sugar or other ingredients have been added for their sweetness. You can assess sugars that occur naturally in raisins and currants separately by checking the nutritional information.
You’re looking for currant buns to share at a get-together. Before choosing a pack, you want to check that the ingredients and allergen information are suitable for your guests.
First decide whether the currant bun really needs to be sugar-free, or whether you mainly want to avoid added sugars. Then check the nutritional information and, if you’re sharing the buns, the allergen information on the current packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g: for a ‘sugar-free’ claim, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets a limit of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. | For this occasion, I only want to choose a currant bun that really is sugar-free, even if that means leaving a standard option behind. For around 46% of consumers, being strictly sugar-free is the top priority. |
| No added sugars | Read the claim, ingredients list and total sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’. | I want to avoid added sugar, but sugars that occur naturally in currants or raisins are different when I’m making my choice. For around 36% of consumers, avoiding added sugars comes first. |
| Sharing and allergens | Check the current allergen information, packaging and storage advice if you’re buying in advance. | If I’m sharing the buns with guests, I want to choose a practical pack without overlooking their allergens. For around 18% of consumers, easy sharing with an allergen check is the top priority. |
A currant bun can contain sugars from raisins and currants, even when no sugars have been added. The two claims therefore answer different questions when you’re shopping.
If sugar-free is a must, check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. If you want to avoid added sugars, check the claim and ingredients list as well.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 15.9 g of sugars for a 50 g currant bun. For the varieties included in our research, Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list 25 g, 24.0 g and 25.2 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
Compare products on the same basis, ideally per 100 g. If you can’t find a currant bun that meets your strict sugar-free requirement, choose something else for the occasion rather than compromising on that requirement.
The currant buns from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS included in our research contain wheat or other gluten-containing cereals, and milk. Warnings about the possible presence of other allergens may vary between products.
Check the current allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen before buying. If you’re buying loose currant buns, ask the seller for this information.
Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its Rozijnen krentenbollen included in our research. This doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in another variety.
If iodine is relevant to your choice, check the ingredients list on the currant buns you want to buy.
The information below relates to the specific currant buns named for each brand, not every product from that brand. If you have a sugar or allergen requirement, always check the label on the variety you’ve chosen.
AH Rozijnen krentenbollen are white wheat buns with raisins and currants, sold in packs of 6.
Jumbo Rozijnen Krentenbollen are wheat buns with raisins and currants, sold in packs of 6.
PLUS currant buns are sold in packs of 6.
ALDI raisin and currant buns are sold in packs of 6.
Lidl currant buns are sold as oven-fresh bread in packs of 6.
No, the terms don’t mean the same thing. For ‘sugar-free’, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets a limit of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; a currant bun with no added sugars may still contain sugars from raisins and currants. So check the total sugars in the nutritional information.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g so that differences in serving size don’t skew the comparison. If you want to know whether sugar or other sweetening ingredients have been added, check the ingredients list too.
Check the allergen information for each variety you choose. The currant buns from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS included in our research contain wheat or other gluten-containing cereals, and milk; PLUS also lists the possible presence of egg, soya, nuts and sesame, among other allergens.
You can’t assume that every currant bun does. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its Rozijnen krentenbollen included in our research; for another variety, check its own ingredients list.
