If you’re buying for a guest with coeliac disease, choose a croissant whose current packaging clearly says ‘gluten-free’, and check the other allergens before serving it. Then consider when you plan to serve it: the Consenza croissants listed by PLUS can be stored in a cool, dry place and warmed up, while Schär Croissant à la Française is a frozen option with a jam filling, so you’ll need to plan ahead.
You’re looking for a croissant with a clear gluten-free label on the current packaging. Ask about any other allergies too, and check the ingredients and allergen information before serving. The Voedingscentrum distinguishes between gluten and other allergens.
You want to be able to warm the croissants shortly before serving. PLUS lists both oven and microwave instructions for its Consenza pack; check which instructions suit the equipment you’re using.
You have freezer space and can prepare for serving in advance. Schär describes Croissant à la Française as a frozen croissant with a jam filling; follow the instructions on the packaging you buy.
First, check that the croissant and its allergen information are suitable for your guest. Then compare the preparation and storage instructions with when you plan to serve your drinks nibbles.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and other allergens | Check the current packaging for the gluten-free label, ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings. | If a guest has coeliac disease or another allergy, I want to know before serving whether this particular croissant is suitable for them. Around 50% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Preparing just before serving | Check the instructions for your pack and make sure your oven or microwave has the specified settings. PLUS gives instructions for Consenza: 10 minutes at 200 °C in the oven or 20 seconds at 800 W in the microwave. | If drinks are starting soon, I want to know whether I can prepare the croissants in time with the equipment I have. Around 30% of consumers put this preparation first. |
| Storage and pack size | Compare the storage instructions and pack sizes: PLUS lists Consenza as 3 pieces and 180 g; Jumbo lists Schär Croissant à la Française as a frozen product with 4 pieces and 220 g. | If I’m buying in advance, I want to have enough room to store the product and choose a suitable number of croissants. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
The Consenza croissants listed by PLUS contain egg and soya and may contain traces of lupin, nuts and sesame. So a gluten-free label won’t answer every question about allergens.
Ask about all relevant allergies and read the information on the pack you’re actually serving.
Schär Croissant à la Française needs freezer space. Its jam filling also makes it a different choice from an unfilled croissant served with savoury drinks nibbles.
Decide in advance whether you have freezer space and whether a sweet, filled croissant suits your drinks spread; follow the pack instructions when preparing it.
Product information can change. Particularly if a guest has an allergy, the information on a product page you viewed earlier is no substitute for checking the current packaging.
Check the ingredients and allergen information again on the product you receive or choose in store.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through bakers’ salt. The rule does not mean that iodised bakers’ salt is used in every croissant.
Check the ingredients on the pack you choose if the use of iodised salt matters to your decision.
PLUS lists Consenza Croissants in a pack of 3 pieces and 180 g, to be stored in a cool, dry place. Jumbo also includes the croissants in its gluten-free bakery range.
According to Schär, Croissant à la Française is a frozen, jam-filled gluten-free croissant. Jumbo lists a pack of 4 pieces and 220 g.
Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Croissants as a separate product.
Jumbo lists both Consenza Glutenvrije Croissants and Schär Croissant à la Française in its gluten-free bakery range.
PLUS lists Consenza Croissants in a pack of 3 pieces and 180 g, with storage and preparation instructions.
No. ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t mean that other allergens are absent. The Consenza croissants listed by PLUS contain egg and soya and may contain traces of lupin, nuts and sesame; check the current packaging for any allergens relevant to your guests.
For its pack of 3 pieces and 180 g, PLUS gives instructions to heat them in the oven for 10 minutes at 200 °C or in the microwave for 20 seconds at 800 W. Follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
Yes. Schär describes Croissant à la Française as a frozen product, and Jumbo lists the pack of 4 in its frozen range. When choosing, also consider the jam filling and follow the pack instructions for preparation.
No, that doesn’t follow from the rule. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products only through bakers’ salt, with a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. It does not require iodised salt to be used in every croissant. Check the ingredients of the product you choose if this is relevant to your decision.
