Parents specifically looking for sourdough
You want a croissant that clearly explains how sourdough is used in the dough. Ask the baker about the specific product, or check the ingredients and product information on the packaging.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents who need to check allergens
If your school has food requirements, or your child needs to avoid certain allergens, the information for the specific croissant matters more than the bakery’s name. Also check what is known about possible cross-contamination.
Parents short on time in the morning
You want to be able to shop in advance or bake something at home. Check whether the croissant is ready to eat or needs preparing; a croissant that’s easy to find isn’t necessarily made with sourdough.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the ingredients and your school’s rules for packed lunches. Then check whether the preparation and nutritional information suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough in the dough | Check whether sourdough is mentioned for the specific croissant. Ask what role it plays in the dough and whether yeast is also used, if that matters to you. | If you’re specifically looking for a sourdough croissant, don’t rely on an artisanal look alone; this is the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the product’s allergen information, ask for it if the croissants are unwrapped, and check your school or class rules. | If your child needs to avoid allergens, you’ll want to know what applies to this croissant and the packed lunch before you pack it; this check is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Preparation and timing | Check whether the croissant is ready to eat, needs defrosting or needs baking. Follow the packaging instructions for bake-at-home products. | If you have little time before setting off, you’ll want to know when the croissant needs to be ready; around 20% of consumers focus most on this. |
| Nutritional information | If it will influence your choice, compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per serving, including fibre, salt and saturated fat. | If you’re choosing a croissant as part of a packed lunch, you’ll want to assess the portion and nutritional value; this is the most important factor for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming sourdough makes a wheat croissant gluten-free
Sourdough doesn’t remove the gluten in wheat. The Voedingscentrum advises that people with coeliac disease need to avoid gluten; possible cross-contamination matters too.
Don’t rely on the word ‘sourdough’ if gluten needs to be avoided. Check the information for the specific product and, if necessary, ask about measures to prevent cross-contamination.
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Confusing sourdough bread in the range with a sourdough croissant
A bakery or shop may sell both sourdough bread and croissants without using the same dough-making process for the croissants.
Ask about the ingredients and dough-making process for the exact croissant you want to buy.
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Checking only the visible ingredients on fresh croissants
For unwrapped or shop-packed products, information about allergens and possible cross-contamination matters too. Jumbo, for example, says it cannot rule out cross-contamination in its fresh in-store products.
Ask the seller for the allergen information for the specific product before packing it for school.
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Treating a bake-at-home croissant as a ready-to-eat product
Defrosting and baking can take time on a morning when you need to get out of the door quickly.
Read the preparation instructions for your chosen product and allow time for this before you leave.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers fresh, bake-at-home and frozen croissants.
- You can browse different preparation options and pack sizes.
- Check whether sourdough is part of the dough and which allergens are listed for the specific croissant you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo provides allergen information for packaged and unpackaged products, including fresh bread rolls.
- For fresh products packed in store, Jumbo lists the allergens present on the label.
- Jumbo says cross-contamination with other allergens cannot be ruled out for these products, so ask for information about the croissant you’ve chosen.
PLUS
PLUS sells croissants and has a separate range of sourdough bread.
- The allergen information for PLUS Roomboter croissant klein lists wheat, milk and egg, and preparation instructions are available.
- The fact that PLUS sells sourdough bread doesn’t tell you whether this butter croissant is made with sourdough.
Lidl
Lidl offers oven-fresh bakery products and says its fresh bread range may vary by store.
- Check with your local store to see which freshly baked products are available.
- Ask about the ingredients and allergens in a specific croissant; ‘oven-fresh’ doesn’t describe a sourdough process.
Dirk
Dirk has a category for rolls and croissants, including butter croissants.
- The category is a good starting point for browsing croissants.
- Check the label or ask in store whether your chosen croissant contains sourdough and which allergens apply.
Croissants for the start of term on Joybuy
You can browse these croissants if you’re looking for a pack for the start of term. Before choosing one for a packed lunch, check the product’s dough-making process, allergens and any preparation instructions.
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g'woon butter croissants, 4 pack, 180 g
A pack of four croissants could be handy if you want to plan portions for the start of term in advance.
The pack contains 4 croissants and weighs 180 g. Before buying, check how sourdough is used in the dough, which allergens are relevant to you and whether the croissants need to be prepared.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sourdough croissant gluten-free?
No, not automatically: a croissant made with wheat contains gluten, even if sourdough is used. The Voedingscentrum stresses that even small amounts of gluten matter for people with coeliac disease, so check the product information and whether cross-contamination is possible.
Where can I find allergen information for an unwrapped croissant?
Ask the seller for the allergen information for the specific croissant. Jumbo, for example, says this information is available for unpackaged fresh bread rolls, but that cross-contamination with other allergens cannot be ruled out.