Choose a croissant for an organic diet when the current packaging or product page displays the organic label or the EU organic production logo. Plant-based, gluten-free and lactose-free are separate characteristics. If they matter to your choice, check the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional information too.
You’re looking for a croissant whose organic credentials are clear from the current packaging. According to the Dutch government, ‘organic’ is a protected label; a plant-based or artisanal appearance doesn’t prove anything about its organic status.
You may be looking for a plant-based, gluten-free or lactose-free croissant. Check for that characteristic separately on the packaging, along with the ingredients and allergen information. None of these characteristics on its own confirms that a product is organic.
You want to know how a croissant fits into your diet. Check the portion size and compare the nutritional information per 100 g. For reference, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 5 g of saturated fat, 0.53 g of salt and 1.1 g of fibre, among other values, for an average 45 g croissant; the product you choose may differ.
Start with the characteristic that matters most to you. Organic credentials, dietary requirements, nutritional values and preparation each call for a different check on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic credentials | Look for the organic label or the EU organic production logo on the current packaging or product page. | If I choose organic, I want to be able to verify its credentials before weighing up other characteristics. For around 36% of consumers, this is said to be the most important requirement. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings; check any plant-based, gluten-free or lactose-free claim separately. | If I want to avoid an ingredient, the croissant I choose needs to meet that specific requirement. Dietary suitability is said to come first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Nutritional values and portion size | Compare saturated fat, salt and fibre per 100 g, among other values, then consider the portion you’ll actually eat. For bake-at-home products, compare values based on the same preparation method. | At breakfast, I want to compare how much I eat with the nutritional information. For around 21% of consumers, this is said to be the main reason for their choice. |
| Preparation and availability | Check whether the croissant is fresh, frozen or ready to bake, and read the preparation and storage instructions. If ordering online, check the current product status. | If I want to serve croissants at a particular time, the preparation required and their availability matter. For around 14% of consumers, this is said to be their top priority. |
A plant-based label refers to a different characteristic from organic credentials. According to the Dutch government, ‘organic’ is a protected term; a plant-based or general sustainability claim is no substitute for that label.
If you’re choosing organic, first check for the current organic label or the EU logo. Then assess separately whether the ingredients meet your other requirements.
Albert Heijn’s product page lists AH Biologisch Croissants as no longer in its range. So, seeing a product name on a page doesn’t mean you can order those croissants.
Check the current product status just before buying. If you choose an alternative, check its packaging again for the organic label, ingredients and allergen information.
Organic describes how a product is produced, not how much saturated fat, salt or fibre a croissant contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 5 g of saturated fat and 0.53 g of salt for an average 45 g croissant; these values don’t apply to every product.
Compare the nutritional information for the products you’re considering on the same basis, such as per 100 g, then look at the portion size.
The term ‘medium sliced’ refers to a type of sliced bread, whereas the croissants mentioned are sold as individual products. Unless a specific product is labelled this way, you can’t apply this description to croissants.
If you’re looking for sliced bread for everyday use, assess bread as a separate product category. If you’re looking for croissants, compare the characteristics of the croissants themselves.
A retailer’s organic range or a regular croissant in its selection doesn’t tell you whether that particular croissant is organic. Check the label on the product you want to buy.
Albert Heijn lists several types of croissant and has a product page for AH Biologisch Croissants.
Jumbo lists a plant-based croissant as a separate option for shoppers who pay close attention to ingredients.
PLUS lists both an organic range and separate butter croissants and bake-at-home croissants.
ALDI lists a fresh butter croissant as well as a separate organic range.
Dirk lists a 65 g butter croissant among its rolls.
Check the current packaging or product page for the organic label or the EU organic production logo. According to the Dutch government, ‘organic’ is a protected term; ‘plant-based’ or ‘sustainable’ doesn’t mean the same thing.
No, the organic label doesn’t tell you how much saturated fat, salt or fibre a croissant contains. To find out, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and consider the portion size you choose. The values listed by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for an average croissant may not match those of a specific product.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the croissant you choose, along with any ‘may contain’ warning. For example, PLUS lists wheat and milk for its bake-at-home croissants, while egg is also listed for its small butter croissant. Don’t assume these ingredients apply to another variety.
You can’t assume that every croissant does. PLUS lists iodised salt in its bake-at-home croissants; if this matters to you, check the ingredients list for the product you choose.
No, follow the instructions on the packaging for the variety you choose. Storage, defrosting and baking instructions may vary by product; instructions for a PLUS variety don’t automatically apply to croissants from other brands.
