Who are these options relevant to?

Consumers with a strict sugar requirement

You want to know whether a currant bun can genuinely be described as sugar-free. The total amount of sugars per 100 g matters here, not just the amount of added sugar.

Consumers comparing regular currant buns

You’d like to have a currant bun on pea soup day and consider the ingredients, added sugars, fibre and the size of each bun when making your choice.

Consumers who also check salt or allergens

You take the rest of the meal into account, or need to check which allergens a product contains. The current packaging will help you assess the currant bun itself.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is an absolute requirement. If it isn’t, compare regular currant buns per 100 g, then consider your portion and the rest of your meal.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Genuinely sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The EU ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If sugar-free is an absolute requirement for me, ‘less added sugar’ isn’t enough. Around 50% of consumers put this strict sugar requirement first.
Nutrition information and portion size Compare total sugars, any added sugars and fibre per 100 g; then check how many grams one bun weighs. When choosing a regular currant bun, I want to compare the nutrition information without mixing up different portion sizes. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this comparison.
Salt, iodine and allergens Check the salt content and ingredients list for the currant bun; check the allergen information and, if relevant, which type of salt was used. With pea soup, I want to know how much salt the currant bun adds, or I need to check the ingredients for allergens. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘less added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    Sugars from raisins and currants count towards the total amount of sugars. So a product with less added sugar may still exceed the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    If sugar-free is an absolute requirement, use the total sugars per 100 g as your starting point and check the ingredients list too.

  • Comparing nutrition values per bun only

    Buns don’t always weigh the same: Albert Heijn and Jumbo list 65 g per bun, while the Voedingscentrum’s general value for a currant bun is based on a 50 g portion. This means values per bun aren’t directly comparable.

    Compare products per 100 g first, then check the weight of the bun you plan to eat.

  • Overlooking the salt content of the currant bun

    According to the product information, the varieties mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain 0.9 g, 1.02 g and 0.94 g of salt per 100 g respectively. If your pea soup contains salty ingredients, it’s worth taking the salt in the bun into account too.

    Check the salt content on the packaging of the currant bun you buy and consider it alongside the rest of your meal.

  • Assuming every currant bun contains iodised baker’s salt

    According to the Dutch baking industry, using iodine-enriched baker’s salt is not a general legal requirement. The agreement on baker’s salt applies to participating Dutch bakeries that produce for the Dutch market.

    If you want to know which salt is in a specific currant bun, check the ingredients list on the packaging.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

The product information for AH Raisin Currant Buns lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.

  • According to Albert Heijn, this variety contains 25 g of sugars, 2.9 g of fibre and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g.
  • With 25 g of sugars per 100 g, this variety isn’t sugar-free. Its ingredients include sugar, dextrose and glucose syrup.

Jumbo

Jumbo Raisin Currant Buns are described as a pack of 6, with nutrition information per 100 g and per 65 g bun.

  • Having both figures makes it possible to check the value per 100 g and per bun separately.
  • According to Jumbo, this variety contains 24.0 g of sugars and 1.02 g of salt per 100 g. Also check the allergens listed when you buy it.

PLUS

PLUS Currant Buns – Fresh for Longer are described as a pack of 8, with ingredients and nutrition information.

  • PLUS lists both total sugars and added sugars per 100 g, and states that the buns contain 3.3 g of fibre.
  • With 25.5 g of total sugars per 100 g, this variety isn’t sugar-free. The ingredients information lists wheat, rye, milk and lactose, among other ingredients.

Lidl

Lidl describes its currant buns as a pack of 6.

  • The product description helps you identify the pack of currant buns.
  • Check the packaging in store if you want to choose based on sugar, salt or allergens.

ALDI

ALDI describes its Raisin and Currant Buns as freshly baked bread, sold in store in packs of 6.

  • The product description makes clear what type of bun it is and how many come in a pack.
  • Check the current packaging in store if you need to meet a sugar-free requirement or check for allergens.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

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

Under European nutrition claim rules, ‘sugar-free’ can be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. According to their product information, the standard varieties described from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain between 24.0 and 25.5 g of sugars per 100 g, so they don’t meet this limit.

Is less added sugar the same as sugar-free?

No. ‘Sugar-free’ refers to the total amount of sugars in the product. Sugars from raisins and currants count towards this, so compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check the ingredients list too.

What should I look for if I’m allergic to wheat or milk?

Check the allergen information on the current packaging of the currant bun you want to buy. The varieties described from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list wheat and milk or milk ingredients. Information about possible traces also varies from product to product.

Is iodised baker’s salt required in Dutch currant buns?

No. According to the Dutch baking industry, there’s no general legal requirement to use iodine-enriched baker’s salt. The agreement on baker’s salt applies to participating Dutch bakeries that produce for the Dutch market. Check the ingredients list if the type of salt used matters to your choice.