If you’re looking for a wholemeal croissant for a fibre-conscious retired household, choose a product that is explicitly labelled wholemeal: seeds in the name are no proof of that. Then compare fibre, saturated fat and salt per 100 g and per portion. If the croissant is mainly intended as a treat, you could also consider a plain or multiseed version without mistaking it for wholemeal.
If you pay close attention to fibre at breakfast, a verifiable wholemeal label is more useful than a brown colour or visible seeds alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights fibre and adequate fluid intake as considerations in the diets of older people.
When shopping for someone with a reduced appetite or existing dietary or swallowing requirements, a wholemeal label is not the only selection criterion. Check the portion and nutritional information too, and take account of the requirements that apply to that person.
If the croissant is for breakfast or a visit, taste and ease of preparation may guide your choice. Even so, check the allergens, portion size and preparation instructions for the product you choose.
First decide whether the croissant itself needs to be wholemeal. Then compare the nutritional information and check that the portion and preparation suit the person who will be eating it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal or multiseed | Look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label on the product. If you’re buying an unpackaged croissant, ask about its ingredients if necessary; ‘multiseed’ alone does not confirm that it is wholemeal. | I want clear proof that the croissant itself is wholemeal, rather than choosing based on visible seeds. For around 40% of consumers, this certainty comes first. |
| Nutritional value | Compare fibre, saturated fat and salt on the same basis: per 100 g and for the portion being eaten. | If you’re buying breakfast for an older household, you’ll want to weigh up fibre alongside the rest of the nutritional information. For around 30% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
| Portion and preparation | Check the weight of each croissant and, for a bake-at-home or frozen product, follow the preparation instructions for that specific product. | When I’m shopping for someone else, I want to know whether the portion and preparation are practical. Around 20% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Availability | Check the current range and the label on the croissant you can actually buy. | I want to be able to find a croissant without assuming every store stocks the same varieties. For around 10% of consumers, availability matters most. |
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that, for a product labelled ‘wholemeal’, the grain ingredient must consist of 100% wholemeal flour. The name ‘multiseed’ says nothing about the proportion of wholemeal flour.
Check the wholemeal label on the product on offer and, if in doubt, ask the baker about its ingredients.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, an average 45 g croissant contains 1.1 g of fibre, as well as 5 g of saturated fat and 0.53 g of salt. These figures describe an average croissant, not every variety on the shelf.
For the croissant you choose, check the saturated fat, salt and portion size too. Compare different products using the same weight basis.
If someone has a reduced appetite or existing dietary or swallowing requirements, whether a portion is suitable may depend on more than the type of grain used.
When shopping, take account of the requirements that already apply to the person who will be eating it; don’t judge suitability by the product name alone.
Ingredients vary from product to product. PLUS lists iodised salt in its bake-at-home butter croissants; this tells you nothing about the ingredients in other croissants.
If the type of salt used matters to your choice, read the ingredients list for the specific product.
These examples can help you distinguish between product names and types of croissant. Check the ingredients of each individual croissant on its own label.
Albert Heijn lists an AH Multiseed Croissant with sunflower seeds and linseed.
Jumbo lists butter and plant-based croissants, as well as wholemeal products in its range of bake-at-home rolls.
PLUS provides product information and preparation instructions for its butter croissants.
Dirk lists several plain croissants and separately mentions a wholemeal roll.
ALDI lists butter croissants and describes its wholemeal breads as being made with 100% wholemeal flour.
Lidl lists a butter croissant in its range.
No. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the grain ingredient in a product labelled ‘wholemeal’ must consist of 100% wholemeal flour. The name ‘multiseed’ does not confirm this, so check the label on the croissant itself.
First check whether the croissant is explicitly labelled wholemeal, then compare fibre, saturated fat and salt per 100 g and per portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives figures of 1.1 g of fibre, 5 g of saturated fat and 0.53 g of salt for an average 45 g croissant; the values for a particular branded product may differ.
No. If personal dietary or swallowing requirements apply, the product must be suitable for them. Alongside the type of grain, consider the portion, ingredients and whether the product is practical and suitable.
You can’t assume that every croissant does. PLUS lists iodised salt in the ingredients of its bake-at-home butter croissants; for another product, check its own ingredients list.
Read the latest allergen information for the specific croissant, even if you’ve previously bought a different variety from the same brand. Ingredients such as wheat and milk are found in the butter products described here, but ingredients vary from product to product.
