For a busy school morning, a ready-to-eat croissant is a good choice if you don’t want to plan any preparation. If you choose bake-at-home croissants, allow time to follow the instructions for that particular product. Looking for medium-sliced bread for a regular school lunch? Compare wholemeal or brown bread rather than croissants. Whatever you choose, check the latest allergen information and your school’s food policy.
Check that the ingredients and allergens in the exact product are suitable for what your child can eat and comply with the school’s rules. Even if a croissant is labelled gluten-free, check the other allergen information too.
You’ll want to know whether a croissant can be packed straight away or whether you need to plan ahead for defrosting and baking. Preparation instructions vary by product.
You may be looking for medium-sliced bread for sandwiches rather than a croissant. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre classifies croissants as small bread rolls, so if you’re choosing sliced bread for lunch, compare wholemeal and brown bread as separate options.
First, check whether allergens or school rules limit your options. Then consider whether you have time to prepare anything in the morning and whether you’re looking for a croissant or sliced bread for lunch.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Read the latest ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product. Check the school’s rules too, if needed. | When I pack something for school, I want to check first that the ingredients meet my child’s needs and comply with the school’s rules. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Ready to eat or bake at home | Check whether preparation is needed. If it is, look at the defrosting and baking times and what equipment you’ll need. | On a busy morning, I don’t want to discover just before we leave that a croissant still needs to go in the oven. That’s why around 29% of consumers prioritise convenience in the morning. |
| Croissant or bread for lunch | Decide whether you want small rolls or medium-sliced bread. If you’re choosing bread, check the packaging to see whether it’s wholemeal or brown. | For a regular school lunch, I’m looking for bread I can fill, not a croissant to use instead. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Portion size and storage | Compare the number of items, the weight and the storage and usage instructions after opening. | If I’m buying for more than one school day, I want to choose a suitable pack size and know what needs to be used after opening. This is the first consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
A croissant labelled gluten-free may still contain other allergens. For example, the Schär product shown by Albert Heijn lists egg and milk, and may contain traces of hazelnuts, mustard and soya.
Before packing it, check the latest packaging for that exact product, including the full allergen information.
Preparation can vary considerably. PLUS says one butter croissant needs 4–6 minutes in the oven, while its small croissant needs to defrost for 20 minutes before baking.
Read the instructions before you buy and allow time for preparation, or choose a product whose packaging says it’s ready to eat.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre classifies croissants as small bread rolls. If you’re looking for medium-sliced bread, that’s a different product from individual croissants.
Decide first whether you want croissants or sliced bread for lunch, then compare products in that category.
Alongside regular croissants, it offers a frozen bake-at-home Schär croissant labelled gluten-free.
Offers croissants in different pack sizes and formats, including Danerolles croissant dough.
Includes a cheese croissant as an example of a savoury filled option.
Offers a fresh butter croissant sold individually.
Offers butter croissants for baking at home, as well as a small croissant with separate defrosting and baking instructions.
Its croissant range includes individual butter croissants, multi-packs and different brands.
These products are croissants to consider when planning a school morning. Check each pack to see whether the croissant is ready to eat or needs to be prepared first. Medium-sliced bread for lunch is a separate choice.
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For a morning when you haven’t planned to use the oven, check the latest packaging to see whether this croissant is ready to eat.
This product weighs 85 g. When checking allergens, look for wheat, egg and milk. The product information lists E102 and E110 and warns that these colourings may adversely affect children’s activity and attention. Check the latest packaging before packing the croissant for school.
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If you’d like to take several croissants with you, check the packaging before buying to see whether this variety needs to be baked and how long it takes.
The pack contains 4 pieces. Check the allergen information for wheat and possible traces of sesame, lupin, milk and soya.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens in pre-packed foods must be clearly identifiable in the ingredients list. Check the latest packaging for the exact product you want to send to school.
No. The Schär croissant labelled gluten-free and shown by Albert Heijn also lists egg and milk, and may contain traces of hazelnuts, mustard and soya. Check the full allergen information on the pack you choose.
Before you buy, read all the preparation steps for the exact product, including any defrosting and preheating instructions. PLUS gives different instructions for two croissants: one needs 4–6 minutes in the oven, while the other needs to defrost for 20 minutes before baking.
Don’t assume it does. If iodised salt is important to your purchase, check the ingredients list for the croissant you choose.
