If your child has coeliac disease, choose a croissant whose current packaging clearly states that it is ‘gluten-free’, and make sure it doesn’t come into contact with crumbs from ordinary bread when you pack it. Then compare the other allergens and preparation instructions: the croissants reviewed differ in whether they may contain egg, whether they need to be kept in the freezer and whether they can be stored in a cool, dry place. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends croissants as an occasional choice, not as the basis of a daily school lunch.
For them, it’s not just the ‘gluten-free’ label on the croissant that matters, but also how it’s packed. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that even a crumb containing gluten can be significant for someone with coeliac disease.
As well as gluten, egg, milk, soya or other allergens may affect your choice. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows that the croissants reviewed differ in this respect, so check the packaging of the one you choose.
A gluten-free croissant can add variety, but it’s worth thinking about the rest of the lunch too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that school meals mainly include foods from the Wheel of Five, and describes croissants as an occasional choice.
Start by checking the gluten-free label and any other allergens. Then see whether the storage and preparation instructions suit your school-morning routine, and consider the croissant as part of the whole lunch.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Packing it gluten-free | Check that the current packaging says ‘gluten-free’, and avoid contact with ordinary bread and crumbs. | If my child has coeliac disease, I want to be able to trust the product label and pack the croissant without it touching bread crumbs. This is a top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements for the exact product you’ve chosen. | If my child also needs to avoid certain other allergens, a gluten-free croissant may still not be suitable. Around 27% of consumers give this additional check top priority. |
| Preparation and storage | Compare storage requirements, any equipment needed and instructions for using the product after defrosting. | I don’t always have time to bake it before we leave, so I want to know whether I can store the croissant in advance as instructed. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Its place in the lunch | Check the nutritional information per 100 g or per portion, and plan the rest of the lunch too. | If I pack a croissant, I want to alternate it with other lunch foods rather than use it as the whole meal every day. This matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
According to Jumbo, the Schär croissant contains egg and milk, while Consenza contains egg, milk and soya. The AH croissants are labelled as possibly containing egg.
Check the full allergen information on the current packaging and compare it with the allergens your child needs to avoid.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that even a small amount of gluten, such as a bread crumb, can matter for someone with coeliac disease.
Use a clean work surface and clean utensils when preparing the food, and pack the gluten-free croissant separately from ordinary bread.
The AH croissants need to be baked at home, Schär requires planning for freezer storage, and Consenza can be stored in a cool, dry place. So not every option will fit equally easily into the same morning routine.
Read the storage and preparation instructions before choosing a product. With Schär, also plan how to use it after defrosting: according to Jumbo, it must not be refrozen and should be eaten within one day.
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you what the whole lunch contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends croissants as an occasional choice.
Think about what else will go in the lunchbox, such as fruit or vegetables and a suitable drink, and follow the school’s guidelines.
Albert Heijn describes its part-baked gluten-free croissants as a pack of two 80 g croissants to finish baking at home.
According to Jumbo, Schär’s Croissant à la Française is a gluten-free frozen option, with four croissants in a 220 g pack.
Jumbo describes Consenza’s gluten-free croissants as a pack of three 60 g croissants that can be stored in a cool, dry place.
Check that the current packaging explicitly labels the croissant as gluten-free, and make sure it doesn’t come into contact with ordinary bread when you pack it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that even a stray bread crumb can matter for someone with coeliac disease.
No. According to Jumbo, the gluten-free Schär Croissant à la Française contains wheat starch, egg and milk; other varieties have different allergen information. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
Yes. Check the food and allergy rules at your child’s school or after-school club before packing their lunch. Schools may have their own guidelines on what children can bring in.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends croissants as an occasional choice and advises that everyday school lunches should mainly include foods from the Wheel of Five. So check the nutritional information for your chosen croissant and what else is going in the lunchbox.
Bread made with iodised baker’s salt can be an important source of iodine, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, but not all bread is made with baker’s salt. A croissant labelled ‘gluten-free’ won’t tell you whether it was made with iodised baker’s salt, so check the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen.
