If you’re catering for a guest with coeliac disease, choose a croissant clearly labelled gluten-free, and prepare and serve it separately from regular croissants. Schär offers four frozen croissants per pack, while Consenza offers three croissants that you can heat before the buffet. Also check the label for other allergens: both products contain egg and milk, and Consenza also contains soya.
You want to offer a gluten-free croissant without it coming into contact with crumbs from regular bread on a shared buffet. According to the Voedingscentrum, even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms in someone with coeliac disease.
You want to know how many croissants come in each pack and when to store or heat them. Jumbo’s product listings describe Schär as a frozen product with four pieces, and Consenza as a pack of three that can be prepared in the oven or microwave.
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether a croissant is suitable for other declared allergies too. The allergens and possible traces listed by Jumbo differ between Schär and Consenza, so compare the current label with the information provided by the guest concerned.
First, work out how you can prepare and serve the gluten-free croissants separately. Then match the number of pieces, storage requirements and any other allergens to your guest list.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving gluten-free food | Check the gluten-free label on the packaging and plan to use clean utensils, a separate plate and dedicated serving tongs. | If regular croissants are being served too, I want to stop crumbs getting onto the portion for my guest with coeliac disease. Safe gluten-free serving is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Portions and preparation | Compare the number of pieces per pack with the storage and heating instructions. Schär has four frozen croissants; Jumbo lists Consenza as a pack of three, prepared in the oven or microwave. | When I need to prepare several portions at once, I want the packaging and preparation method to fit the buffet schedule. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Ask about any separate allergies and check both the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces on the current label. | If my guest has another allergy as well as coeliac disease, I need to be able to check whether each product’s label is suitable. This additional check matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
Even after you’ve bought them, crumbs from regular bread can get onto gluten-free croissants via a baking tray, plate or serving tongs. The Voedingscentrum points out that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms in someone with coeliac disease.
Prepare the gluten-free portions with clean utensils and serve them on a separate, clearly identifiable plate with their own tongs.
Allow time for separate preparation and provide extra serving utensils.
According to Jumbo’s product listings, both Schär and Consenza croissants contain egg and milk; Consenza also contains soya. The warnings about possible traces also differ.
Ask guests which allergens they need to avoid and compare their answers with the label on the pack you actually buy.
A gluten-free range doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether a specific croissant is gluten-free. For a guest with coeliac disease, the product’s own label is what matters when choosing.
Before you buy, check that the specific croissant is labelled gluten-free and read the accompanying allergen information.
Croissant à la Française Glutenvrij is a good fit if you have freezer space and need four pieces per pack.
The gluten-free croissants in a pack of three offer a different approach to portions and storage from the Schär frozen variety mentioned above.
AH Glutenvrij croissants are another option to assess by checking the current packaging and the preparation method available.
Prepare and serve them separately, using clean utensils, a separate plate and dedicated serving tongs. This is particularly important for a guest with coeliac disease: according to the Voedingscentrum, even a stray bread crumb can cause symptoms.
The Schär and Consenza varieties mentioned here are not: according to Jumbo, both contain egg and milk. Consenza also contains soya, so check the current label on the pack you choose for all declared allergies.
No, don’t assume that it does. According to the Nederlands Bakkerij Centrum, the use of iodised baker’s salt is not required by law. If iodine is a concern for a guest, check the ingredients list for the specific croissant or ask the manufacturer.
