If you want a genuinely wholemeal croissant, look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label on the product. Seeds or a brown colour don’t prove that it’s wholemeal. If being able to verify that it’s wholemeal matters more to you than having a croissant, you could choose a wholemeal roll for lunch instead. In either case, compare the nutritional information and check the allergen details if needed.
You’re looking for a lunch product made with verifiably wholemeal grain and don’t want to rely on its colour or seeds alone. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the grain ingredient in a product labelled ‘wholemeal’ must consist entirely of wholemeal flour.
You fancy a croissant, but also check the fibre, saturated fat, salt and the portion you eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g.
You want to check the allergen information before buying, or find out whether baker’s salt has been used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory.
Choose this if: you want to stick with a croissant and the product is explicitly labelled as wholemeal.
Bear in mind: the label alone tells you nothing about how much saturated fat or salt the croissant contains.
Choose this if: being able to verify that your lunch is wholemeal matters more to you than having a croissant.
Bear in mind: a round or pointed roll won’t have the shape and texture of a croissant.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal status | Look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label; don’t treat ‘multi-seed’ or a brown colour as a substitute. | I want to be sure my lunch is wholemeal; otherwise, I’d rather choose a wholemeal roll. For around 50% of consumers, checking this comes first. |
| Lunch style and preparation | Check whether the wholemeal roll is ready to eat or needs to be baked first. | I don’t have much time to pick up lunch and want to know whether I can eat it straight away. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
| Nutritional information and portion size | Compare fibre, saturated fat and salt per 100 g, then consider the portion you’ll eat. | I’d like a croissant, but I also want to weigh up how much fibre, saturated fat and salt my chosen portion contains. For around 25% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
Seeds on a croissant or a darker colour don’t tell you whether the grain ingredient consists entirely of wholemeal flour.
Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and check the ingredients list if you’re unsure. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that the grain ingredient in a wholemeal product must consist entirely of wholemeal flour.
‘Wholemeal’ describes the grain ingredient, not the overall nutritional value. For reference, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that a standard 45 g croissant contains 5 g of saturated fat and 1.1 g of fibre; a particular variety may differ.
Compare the nutritional information for the products themselves per 100 g, and consider how much you’ll actually eat.
The ingredients of an unwrapped product may still matter if you need to avoid an allergen.
Check the current allergen information on the shelf before buying, or ask the shop assistant.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So the product name won’t tell you whether it was used to make a croissant or roll.
If you want to know, check the ingredients information or ask the baker.
Albert Heijn lists a multi-seed croissant in its croissant range.
Alongside croissants, Jumbo offers bake-at-home rolls labelled ‘wholemeal’, including Schnittbroodjes Volkoren.
Lidl’s product page lists a butter croissant and says it’s available in store.
ALDI describes wholemeal bread that, according to its own product information, is made with 100% wholemeal flour.
Dirk lists wholemeal pointed rolls as an option for a filled sandwich.
No. ‘Multi-seed’ doesn’t mean that the grain ingredient consists entirely of wholemeal flour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says it must do so for a product labelled ‘wholemeal’. So check the product name and ingredients.
Compare the nutritional information for the specific products per 100 g, then consider the portion you want to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using the per-100 g figures as a starting point; fibre, saturated fat and salt are all relevant figures to compare.
Ask for the allergen information before buying, or check what details are available by the shelf. Don’t assume it has the same ingredients as a croissant you bought before; check the product you’re choosing now.
No, you can’t tell from the product name whether baker’s salt has been used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says its use isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients information or ask the baker whether baker’s salt has been used.
