Who is this choice important for?

Brunch shopper with a strict organic requirement

For a special breakfast or brunch, you want the croissant itself to be demonstrably organic. Check the details on the packaging; a premium look doesn’t prove that it’s certified.

Shopper with dietary requirements

You’re looking for a croissant that fits a plant-based, gluten-free or wheat-free diet. Check its organic status, ingredients and allergens separately.

Premium shopper without a strict organic requirement

For a special meal, you’ll focus on size, preparation and flavour. Also compare the nutritional information for the options you’re considering, without treating ‘premium’ as a nutritional benefit.

What should you look for when buying?

First, check that the croissant itself meets your organic requirements. Then look separately at dietary suitability, preparation and nutritional information.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Organic certification Check whether the croissant itself is labelled organic. For a pre-packaged product from the EU, look for the EU organic logo, the control code and the origin statement. For my brunch, I want to be sure the croissant itself is organic, not just the topping. For around 40% of consumers, this certification is the most important factor.
Diet and allergens Read the ingredients, the allergens listed and any ‘may contain’ warning for the option you’ve chosen. If I need to avoid animal-derived ingredients or certain allergens, the exact ingredients determine my choice. Dietary suitability comes first for around 30% of consumers.
Preparation and size Compare fresh, bake-at-home and frozen options, and check the number of items, the weight and the preparation instructions. I want to serve the croissants at the right time for a special meal, without choosing a pack that doesn’t suit the number of guests. For around 20% of consumers, this practical consideration takes priority.
Portion and nutritional value Compare the portion size and nutritional information per portion and per 100 g, including saturated fat and salt. When comparing options, I want to know what’s in one croissant and how large the portion is. For around 10% of consumers, this is the most important question when buying.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming premium or plant-based means organic

    These terms don’t confirm that a croissant is organically certified. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo should also be accompanied by a control code and an origin statement.

    Check the organic label on the croissant’s own packaging, not just on an ingredient or topping.

  • Only checking the front of the pack for dietary requirements

    A plant-based, gluten-free or wheat-free label doesn’t rule out other allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens are listed in the ingredients information.

    For the exact option you’ve chosen, also check the allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning.

  • Assuming organic means a particular nutritional value

    The organic label doesn’t tell you how much saturated fat or salt a croissant contains. These values can vary by product and portion size.

    If the nutritional content matters to your choice, compare the information per portion and per 100 g.

  • Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt

    The type of salt used can vary. Brood.net, an information source from the Dutch baking industry, describes the use of iodised baker’s salt in connection with an agreement; the name ‘croissant’ doesn’t tell you which ingredient has been used.

    If the type of salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for the specific product.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s croissant range includes options such as butter and multiseed croissants.

  • The options offer different starting points for a special meal.
  • Check the organic label on your chosen croissant separately; its range category doesn’t confirm organic certification.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers butter, bake-at-home and plant-based croissant options.

  • The ingredients and allergen information for Jumbo’s plant-based croissant can help you assess that option.
  • The plant-based label doesn’t confirm organic status; this option is also labelled as potentially containing milk.

Lidl

Lidl has an organic range that includes items such as butter and breakfast products.

  • The range can help you put together the rest of an organic breakfast.
  • An organic ingredient or topping doesn’t make a separately purchased croissant organic.

ALDI

ALDI lists individual butter croissants and also has an organic range.

  • Buying an individual croissant is an alternative to choosing a pack containing several.
  • The fact that ALDI has an organic range doesn’t confirm that its butter croissant is organic.

PLUS

PLUS lists a butter croissant to bake at home and also stocks organic products.

  • For the bake-at-home option, you can check the ingredients and preparation instructions before buying.
  • The references to butter and iodised salt for this option don’t constitute organic certification.

Dirk

Dirk has separate categories for croissants and for organic bread, toppings and biscuits.

  • These categories let you browse croissants and organic extras for the same meal.
  • Having an organic category alongside the croissant range says nothing about the certification of a particular croissant.

Croissants at Joybuy

Related products will appear soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I recognise an organic croissant?

Check the organic label on the croissant itself. For a pre-packaged organic food from the EU, the European Commission advises looking for the EU organic logo, the control body code and the origin statement for the agricultural ingredients.

Is a plant-based croissant also organic?

No, plant-based doesn’t automatically mean organic. To check its organic status, look at the information on the packaging. For dietary suitability, check the ingredients and allergens separately.

Which allergens should I check in a croissant?

Always check the allergen information for the specific croissant, as ingredients vary between options. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed in the ingredients information; also check any ‘may contain’ warning if traces are relevant to you.

Does every Dutch croissant contain iodised baker’s salt?

Don’t assume so. Brood.net, an information source from the Dutch baking industry, describes the use of iodised baker’s salt in connection with an agreement. Check the ingredients list for your chosen croissant to see which type of salt is listed.

Does the organic certification mark tell me anything about fat and salt?

No, the mark describes the organic production method, not the nutritional value of the croissant. To compare nutrition, check the information per portion and per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides average values for a croissant, but those for a specific product may differ.