A premium croissant is better suited to a planned special lunch than to the usual nursery lunch: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s example policy lists croissants as an occasional weekly choice and recommends choosing mainly products from the Wheel of Five. Only choose a product if the latest allergen information meets the individual requirements and the preparation method is practical for the team. Even with a plant-based croissant, you still need to check the label.
Nursery staff and purchasing teams need to compare the information for the exact croissant with each child’s individual dietary and allergy requirements. This information is also needed for unpackaged products. The NVWA explains how allergen information must be made available to consumers.
If you want to serve a croissant as an occasional addition, distinguish this from the usual lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s example policy lists a croissant as an occasional weekly choice, so check your plan against the setting’s food or treat policy.
For a team baking croissants just before lunch, the product format makes a difference. PLUS gives a baking time of 4–6 minutes for its part-baked butter croissants; according to the instructions, the Délifrance frozen croissants in the PLUS range take 18 minutes.
Start with the individual allergy requirements and the nursery’s lunch policy. Then compare the portion size and preparation method of the exact croissant you want to serve.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and requirements | Compare the allergen information for the exact product with the child’s written individual requirements. For an unpackaged croissant, check what information the supplier makes available. | If a child has a recorded allergy, I want to know before buying whether this croissant meets their individual requirements. Around 50% of consumers put this check first. |
| Special lunch | Check the planned occasion against the food or treat policy and see whether the size is suitable for the group. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s example policy lists croissants as an occasional weekly choice. | For a special lunch, I’m looking for a suitable portion, without treating the croissant as the usual basis for lunch. For around 30% of consumers, this is their first consideration. |
| Preparation and stock | Read the baking and storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen; plan the oven time and quantities before lunch. | With little time before serving, I need to know whether baking fits into our schedule. Around 20% of consumers put this practical consideration first. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s example policy, a croissant is an occasional weekly choice, while a usual lunch consists mainly of products from the Wheel of Five.
Plan the croissant occasion carefully and check it against your own food or treat policy beforehand.
The plant-based croissant described by Jumbo contains wheat and gluten and may contain milk. The product name alone therefore doesn’t tell you whether it meets an individual allergy requirement.
Check the allergen declaration on the current packaging and compare it with the written requirements for the child concerned.
PLUS gives a baking time of 4–6 minutes for its part-baked butter croissants. According to the product instructions, the Délifrance frozen version takes 18 minutes to bake without defrosting first.
Choose a product format that suits the available oven space and serving time, and read the storage instructions before buying too.
The instructions for the Délifrance version mentioned also say not to refreeze thawed croissants. Bear this in mind when deciding how many to buy.
The exact product and the information available at the time of purchase determine whether it meets your allergen requirements. Albert Heijn notes that product information may change; Lidl says its range can vary between branches.
On the day you buy, check the packaging, shelf label or current product page, and follow the setting’s documented procedures.
These examples show the different product formats you can compare. Always check the information for the exact product; a brand name alone says nothing about whether it’s suitable for a child.
Albert Heijn describes an AH Luxe butter croissant weighing 90 g per piece, for a lunch occasion planned separately.
Jumbo offers butter, frozen and plant-based croissant options, among others.
PLUS’s part-baked butter croissant and a separate Délifrance frozen version are examples of products with different preparation methods.
Lidl describes a butter croissant that is only available in store.
These butter croissants are an option to consider for a planned special lunch. Before serving, compare the latest packaging with the nursery’s food policy and each child’s individual allergy requirements.
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Worth considering for a planned special lunch, provided the latest allergen information meets the individual requirements.
Not as an obvious everyday lunch staple if the setting follows the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s example policy. It lists croissants as an occasional weekly choice and recommends choosing mainly products from the Wheel of Five. For a special lunch, your own food or treat policy will determine whether a croissant is suitable.
Check the allergen information for the exact croissant and compare it with the written individual requirements. For a prepacked product, this information is on the label; according to the NVWA, suppliers must also make allergen information available for unpackaged products. Ask for it before choosing an unpackaged option.
Baking time depends on the product you choose: PLUS gives a baking time of 4–6 minutes at 200 °C for its part-baked butter croissants, while the Délifrance frozen croissants take 18 minutes at 185 °C without defrosting first, according to their instructions. Read the instructions for the product you’re actually buying before planning lunch.
