Choose an artisan sourdough croissant only if the baker can confirm that the croissant dough itself is made with sourdough starter; seeing sourdough in an ingredients list is not proof. Before taking croissants to a tea-time event at school or a childcare setting, check the allergens for the exact product and ask about the venue’s rules. A standard croissant is an alternative if you’re happy to do without the sourdough.
Before buying, check the allergens in your chosen croissant and ask what rules the school or childcare setting has for food brought in from home. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for non-prepacked products must also be available before purchase.
Ask the baker whether the croissant dough itself is made with sourdough starter. A bakery selling both sourdough bread and croissants does not, by itself, tell you anything about how its croissant dough is made.
If the croissant doesn’t have to be made with sourdough, a standard option may suit you. Just check the allergens, pack size and availability at the shop where you plan to buy it.
Choose this if: it matters to you that the croissant dough itself is made with sourdough starter, and the baker can confirm this for the variety you want.
Bear in mind: a shop selling both sourdough bread and croissants hasn’t necessarily confirmed that its croissants are made with sourdough dough.
Choose this if: a clear label and the inclusion of sourdough as an ingredient are enough for you.
Bear in mind: Jumbo describes its packaged butter croissant with sourdough as an ingredient as a part-baked butter croissant, not as a confirmed artisan sourdough croissant.
Choose this if: you’re happy to forgo sourdough dough and are mainly looking for croissants for tea time.
Bear in mind: check what’s available at your chosen shop; Lidl, for example, says its fresh range can vary between branches.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and venue rules | Read the allergen information for the exact croissant, or ask the baker for it. Also check the school or childcare setting’s rules. | If I’m packing something for school, I want to know in advance whether the croissant is allowed and which allergens it contains. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Sourdough in the croissant dough | Ask whether the dough for this croissant is made with sourdough starter; seeing sourdough listed as an ingredient doesn’t automatically answer that question. | I’m specifically looking for a croissant whose sourdough preparation can be confirmed, not just a product with sourdough on the label. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Planning for a group | Check the pack size, preparation method and availability at your chosen shop. | For a group, I want to know how many croissants I need and whether I can prepare or collect them in time. Around 25% of consumers put this practical planning first. |
Sourdough doesn’t mean a croissant is gluten-free. Jumbo’s butter croissant, which lists sourdough as an ingredient, also contains gluten, milk, spelt and wheat.
Check the allergen information for the exact croissant; don’t rely on the mention of sourdough instead.
Kometen Brood and Oscar Desemcafé list sourdough bread and croissants, but this doesn’t confirm how the dough for a particular croissant is made.
Before ordering, ask whether the croissant dough itself is made with sourdough starter, and ask about the allergens in that variety.
Your planned tea-time gathering can become tricky if the croissants you’ve chosen aren’t available at the shop you had in mind. Lidl says its fresh range can vary between branches.
Check availability at your chosen branch before finalising the treats, and decide in advance which alternative would meet the venue’s rules.
Jumbo lists sourdough as an ingredient in its four-pack of packaged butter croissants.
ALDI offers a fresh butter croissant as a standard option.
Lidl has an oven-fresh bakery range that you can check at your local branch.
Dirk lists several standard croissant varieties in its product range.
PLUS lists croissant dough as well as standard croissant products.
No. Sourdough doesn’t mean a croissant is gluten-free. Jumbo’s butter croissant, which lists sourdough as an ingredient, contains gluten, milk, spelt and wheat. Always check the allergen information for the exact variety.
Yes. In the Netherlands, allergen information for a non-prepacked croissant must be available before purchase. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a seller can provide this information in writing or verbally, as long as it’s clear that you can ask for it.
No. The mention only confirms that sourdough is an ingredient. Jumbo describes the product in question as part-baked butter croissants; if you’re looking for a specific artisan sourdough croissant, ask how the croissant dough is made.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For a packaged product, check the ingredients, or ask the baker which salt is used in the croissant you’ve chosen.
