Who is this choice for?

Budget shopper planning several lunches

You want to choose a pack that suits the number of lunches you have planned. A multipack is only practical if you’ll finish the croissants, so check the number of pieces and the total weight.

Lunch planner who values everyday nutrition

You’re looking for a regular lunch staple and want to know whether a croissant fits the bill. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown or wholemeal bread for a healthy lunch, partly because of its fibre; you can enjoy a croissant for a change.

Shopper with allergy or plant-based requirements

You need to be able to check the ingredients and any possible traces of allergens in the exact product. Even if a croissant is marketed as plant-based, you’ll still need to check for ingredients such as wheat and possible traces of milk.

What should you look for?

First decide whether the croissant is an occasional change or the basis of your everyday lunch. Then compare the portion size and packaging. If you have dietary requirements or allergies, always read the information for the product you’ve chosen.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important for?
Everyday lunch Check fibre, saturated fat and salt per 100 g and per portion. If you’re choosing a regular lunch staple, compare it with wholemeal bread too. If I usually eat the same lunch, I want to know whether a croissant is suitable or better as an occasional change. For around 42% of consumers, their everyday lunch choice comes first.
Number of portions Check the number of pieces and the total weight; choose a pack whose portions you’ll use. Sometimes I only need one croissant and don’t want to be left with the rest of a multipack. For around 33% of consumers, the right number of portions is the deciding factor.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients, allergens and possible traces listed for the exact product. If you’re buying an unwrapped pastry, ask the shop for product information. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in a plant-based option and what it may have come into contact with too. For roughly 25% of consumers, this is their main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Treating a croissant as the equivalent of wholemeal bread for lunch

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a 45 g croissant contains 1.1 g of fibre, 5 g of saturated fat and 0.53 g of salt. The Centre recommends brown or wholemeal bread as a healthy lunch option, partly because of its fibre.

    Enjoy a croissant for a change. If you want to make it a meal, consider adding vegetables and a source of protein too.

  • Assuming ‘multiseed’ or ‘plant-based’ means it’s more nutritious

    Those words alone don’t tell you how much fibre, saturated fat or salt a product contains. For example, the AH Meerzaden croissant lists 8 g of saturated fat and 1.18 g of salt per 100 g, while the Jumbo Croissant Plantaardig lists 11.2 g of saturated fat and 1.38 g of salt per 100 g.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion you eat. If a Nutri-Score is shown, use it to compare products within the same category, rather than as a standalone verdict on your lunch.

  • Buying more croissants than you’ll use

    A pack containing several pieces won’t suit every lunch plan. If you only need one croissant, the remaining portions may go unused.

    Check the number of pieces before you buy and choose a pack you expect to finish.

  • Overlooking allergens in a plant-based croissant

    The Jumbo Croissant Plantaardig contains wheat and may contain traces of allergens including milk. Jumbo provides allergen information for its fresh products sold without packaging, but cannot rule out cross-contamination.

    Read the latest information for the exact product. For unwrapped products, ask the shop for allergen information.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn stocks fresh, bake-at-home and frozen croissants, including a multiseed option.

  • For the AH Meerzaden croissant, Albert Heijn lists the ingredients, allergens and 3.6 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The same product contains 21 g of fat, including 8 g of saturated fat, and 1.18 g of salt per 100 g. So ‘multiseed’ alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s right for your lunch.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists both butter and plant-based croissants, including multipacks.

  • The product information for the Jumbo Croissant Plantaardig lists nutritional values per 100 g, including 1.7 g of fibre.
  • This option also contains 1.38 g of salt per 100 g. Jumbo cannot rule out cross-contamination with allergens in its fresh products sold without packaging.

PLUS

PLUS stocks, among other options, an individual small butter croissant and packs of butter croissants.

  • PLUS lists a Nutri-Score for its packaged butter croissants and allergens for the individual small option.
  • Both of the products mentioned have a Nutri-Score of E. According to PLUS, the individual small croissant contains wheat, egg and milk.

Dirk

At Dirk, you can choose between an individual 65 g butter croissant and a pack of four butter croissants weighing 180 g in total.

  • The different pack sizes let you choose based on how many croissants you need.
  • Always check the label of the option you’ve chosen for nutritional values and allergen information.

ALDI

ALDI lists an individual fresh butter croissant as an in-store product.

  • An individual croissant is a good choice if you want to buy one rather than a multipack.
  • If they matter to you, check the ingredients and allergens in store before choosing.

Lidl

Lidl lists a butter croissant that’s only available in store.

  • The product description lists butter as an ingredient.
  • Check the ingredients and allergen information for the in-store product before deciding whether it meets your requirements.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a croissant suitable as an everyday lunch staple?

A croissant is better as an occasional change than as an everyday lunch staple. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a 45 g croissant contains 1.1 g of fibre, 5 g of saturated fat and 0.53 g of salt. The Centre recommends brown or wholemeal bread as a healthy lunch option, partly because of its fibre.

Is a multiseed or plant-based croissant automatically a better choice for lunch?

No. Check the nutritional information for the exact product. The AH Meerzaden croissant lists 3.6 g of fibre, 8 g of saturated fat and 1.18 g of salt per 100 g. The Jumbo Croissant Plantaardig lists 1.7 g, 11.2 g and 1.38 g per 100 g respectively; the product names alone don’t tell you about these differences.

When should I choose an individual croissant instead of a multipack?

Choose an individual croissant if you only need one and are unlikely to use the rest of a multipack. If you’re planning several lunches, check the number of pieces and the total weight of the pack.

What should I check if I have an allergy?

Check the ingredients, allergens and possible traces listed for the exact product. ‘Plant-based’ doesn’t mean a croissant is free from wheat or possible traces of milk. If you’re buying an unwrapped pastry, ask the shop for allergen information. Jumbo says it cannot rule out cross-contamination in these fresh products.