If you’re choosing a croissant for someone with coeliac disease, first look for a gluten-free label and check the latest ingredient and allergen information on the packaging. When preparing and serving it, avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even small amounts of gluten can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease. Then compare the preparation and storage instructions to find the right option for your breakfast or brunch. Lactose-free or vegan doesn’t mean you can overlook other allergens.
You’re looking for a croissant with a gluten-free label, and checking how to avoid cross-contamination during preparation. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease.
You’re buying for yourself or guests who need to avoid not only gluten, but perhaps eggs, milk, soya or nuts too. In this case, a gluten-free label isn’t enough: ingredients and warnings vary from one croissant to another.
You want to serve croissants without making the dough yourself. The appliances you have available – an oven, air fryer or microwave – and the space in your freezer will help determine what to buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check for a gluten-free label and read the latest packaging information. At home, avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs. | If I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to check the gluten-free label and serve the croissant without it touching ordinary bread. Gluten safety is the top priority for around 45% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the specific packaging; don’t assume that lactose-free or vegan means free from all allergens. | If someone also has an egg or milk allergy, I don’t want to rely on the words ‘gluten-free’ alone. Additional allergens are the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Preparation and storage | Compare the appliance required, the number of croissants in the pack, and the instructions for freezing or using them after defrosting. | When I’m hosting a brunch, I want to know whether I can prepare the croissants straight away or need to defrost them first. Preparation and stock are the biggest considerations for around 22% of consumers. |
A gluten-free croissant may still contain other allergens. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows that the ingredients and warnings listed vary between products.
Check the latest ingredient and allergen information every time you buy, especially if you’re buying for someone with multiple allergies.
According to Jumbo, Schär lists gluten-free wheat starch and also lists wheat as an allergen. The considerations for coeliac disease are therefore different from those for a wheat allergy.
Check both the gluten-free label and the separate allergen information on the latest packaging. Don’t judge whether a product is suitable for a wheat allergy based on the gluten-free claim alone.
According to the product information, Schär’s frozen version must not be refrozen after defrosting and should be used within one day. Albert Heijn says its croissants for baking at home aren’t suitable for freezing at home.
Choose a pack that suits the number of people you’re serving, and plan when you’ll prepare or defrost the croissants.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt. This doesn’t mean that every gluten-free croissant contains iodised baker’s salt.
If you need product-specific information about iodine, ask the manufacturer; don’t assume an exact amount based on the general rule.
Albert Heijn describes its gluten-free croissants for baking at home as a pack of two, which can be prepared in an oven or air fryer.
Jumbo describes Croissant à la Française as a gluten-free frozen option, with four croissants weighing 220 g in total.
Jumbo lists Consenza gluten-free croissants in a pack of three, each weighing 60 g, with instructions for preparing them in an oven or microwave.
It can be, if the product meets the requirements for a gluten-free label; wheat is still a separate allergen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority makes this distinction on the label, and Jumbo lists both gluten-free wheat starch and wheat for Schär’s croissant. Check the latest packaging; if you have a wheat allergy, the same croissant needs to be assessed separately.
Yes. Make sure the gluten-free croissant doesn’t come into contact with ordinary bread or bread crumbs. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease, so use clean utensils and a clean plate.
No. Albert Heijn describes its gluten-free croissants as vegan and lactose-free, but also says they may contain egg. For every relevant allergy, read the ingredients and warnings on the latest packaging.
You can’t tell from the general rules on baker’s salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt. To find out whether a particular croissant contains iodine, and how much, you’ll need product-specific information from the manufacturer.
