Start with the allergen you need to avoid, not with terms such as premium or made with butter. The standard butter croissants we looked at contain wheat and milk. A croissant explicitly labelled gluten-free may be suitable if you avoid gluten or wheat, but you still need to check for other allergens and warnings. So check the current packaging before comparing flavour, portion size or how easy it is to bake.
An appealing croissant is only an option if its gluten-free or wheat-free label and other allergen information meet your needs. The Consenza croissants we looked at from PLUS are labelled gluten-free, but also contain egg and soya.
Check the label carefully for butter and egg. Even with a plant-based croissant, check whether it may contain milk: the Jumbo version we looked at carries this warning.
Once the ingredients and warnings meet your needs, you can compare portion size, butter or margarine, nutritional information and preparation method. Make sure you check the pack you’re actually buying.
First, decide which allergens you need to avoid completely. Then compare only croissants whose current ingredients and warnings meet your requirements. You can consider flavour and how easy they are to bake after that.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and wheat | Look for an explicit gluten-free or wheat-free label, and read the ingredients and warnings. | If I need to strictly avoid gluten or wheat, a standard croissant made with wheat flour is out. Around 31% of consumers put avoiding these ingredients first. |
| Milk and eggs | Check the ingredients for butter, milk and egg. For plant-based versions, also read any warning about the possible presence of milk. | I don’t want to overlook butter, milk or egg when considering an appealing alternative. Around 31% of consumers prioritise avoiding these ingredients. |
| Cross-contamination and up-to-date information | Read warnings about possible presence and check the packaging. If buying an unpackaged croissant, ask about allergen information before you buy. | If possible cross-contamination matters to me, I need information about the exact croissant I’m buying. This is the main concern for around 23% of consumers. |
| Flavour, portion size and ease of baking | After checking the allergens, compare the portion, type of fat used, nutritional information and preparation method. | I only choose based on flavour and convenience once a croissant meets my needs. Around 15% of consumers prioritise these considerations after that. |
According to Albert Heijn, its luxury butter croissant contains wheat, butter and egg. The product also warns that it may contain almonds and hazelnuts. So a name that tells you something about flavour won’t answer your questions about allergens.
Compare your list of allergens to avoid with the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging.
The Jumbo plant-based croissant we looked at contains wheat and gluten, and warns that it may contain milk. So the product description alone isn’t enough to make your choice.
Even with plant-based products, check all the allergen information on the pack.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. An online listing can help you narrow down your options, but it doesn’t replace checking the packaging you receive or pick up in store.
Read the label again before use, especially if a particular ingredient or warning could affect your decision.
A gluten-free label tells you about gluten, not how much saturated fat or salt a product contains. Compare nutritional information per 100 g and per portion on the same basis.
Only make this comparison between croissants whose allergen profile meets your needs.
The AH Luxe butter croissant we looked at is a single 90 g croissant.
The Jumbo versions we looked at include a butter croissant and a plant-based croissant.
The Consenza croissants we looked at from PLUS are labelled gluten-free and suitable for a gluten-free and wheat-free diet.
These mini croissants are included as a product to assess for ingredients and allergens. Their name doesn’t make them suitable for a particular food allergy; compare the current packaging with the ingredients you need to avoid.
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For people looking for mini croissants who can compare the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the packaging with their needs before eating them.
Pack size: 200 g.
Ask the seller about the allergens it contains before you buy, and about possible cross-contamination if that’s relevant to you. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products is on the label. For unpackaged croissants, the seller must make this information available before purchase.
No. Check the warnings on the current packaging too. The Jumbo plant-based croissant we looked at says it may contain milk, and also contains wheat and gluten.
No. Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from all other allergens. The Consenza croissants we looked at from PLUS contain egg and soya, and warn that they may contain sesame, lupin and nuts.
Treat it as information about possible cross-contamination and consider what it means for the allergen you need to avoid. Read the exact warning on the current packaging. Don’t assume that an allergen won’t be mentioned in a warning just because it isn’t listed as an ingredient.
No, you shouldn’t assume that. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, so check the ingredients list for the croissant in question. Whether iodised salt is listed doesn’t, in itself, tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with a food allergy.
