Choose a croissant for its wholemeal base only if the specific variety is labelled as wholemeal; seeds or a brown colour aren’t proof. If you mainly want a clearly labelled wholemeal option on a weekday, an explicitly labelled wholemeal roll is an alternative, although it won’t have the same shape or taste as a croissant. For either choice, compare the nutritional information for the exact product per 100 g.
You want to know whether the grain ingredient in your breakfast is genuinely wholemeal, rather than judging by the seeds or colour. The wording on the packaging and the fibre content per 100 g can help you assess different options.
You want breakfast to fit into your morning routine. Check the cooking instructions for your chosen croissant or roll, and compare nutritional values on a like-for-like basis: per 100 g of the product, either prepared or unprepared.
You like choosing a croissant for its taste, but also want to check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of that particular variety.
First decide whether a verifiably wholemeal base or the croissant itself matters more to you. Then check whether the preparation method and label of your chosen product suit your breakfast routine.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base and fibre | Look for the term wholemeal on the exact product and compare its fibre per 100 g with a similar option. | If I mainly want a wholemeal base, seeds on a croissant aren’t enough for me to choose it. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Weekday preparation | Read the cooking instructions and check whether the nutritional values are for the prepared or unprepared product. | On a busy morning, I want a product that fits into my routine; this is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Taste and labelling | Read the ingredients and allergen information, and compare fibre, sugars, salt and saturated fat per 100 g. | If I mainly want a croissant that suits my taste, I also check what’s in the variety I’ve chosen. This combination matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
Visible seeds and the term ‘multi-seed’ don’t mean that all the grain ingredients are made from wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can be labelled wholemeal when 100% of its grain ingredients consist of wholemeal flour.
Check the wording and ingredients for the exact product, and compare fibre per 100 g.
Butter doesn’t tell you how much fibre a croissant contains. And the nutritional values for one variety don’t automatically apply to another.
If a wholemeal base is your main priority, compare your chosen croissant with an explicitly labelled wholemeal roll. Use the information per 100 g for both products when comparing nutritional values.
PLUS lists iodised salt among the ingredients in its butter croissants. That tells you nothing about the ingredients of another croissant.
If the type of salt used matters to your choice, read the ingredients list for the variety you’re buying.
Allergen information varies by product: PLUS lists wheat, milk and egg, among other allergens, for a small butter croissant. Nutritional values may also be given for the prepared or unprepared product.
If you have an allergy, check the current packaging and use the same basis and unit when comparing products.
Albert Heijn offers croissants in several varieties, including a multi-seed croissant.
Jumbo’s bake-at-home range lets you consider croissants and explicitly labelled wholemeal rolls as different breakfast options.
The product information for PLUS butter croissants lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Dirk offers croissants and other bake-at-home products, including wholemeal baguettes.
Lidl describes a butter croissant that’s available in store.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can be labelled wholemeal when 100% of its grain ingredients consist of wholemeal flour. So check the wording for the croissant you’ve chosen rather than relying on its colour or seeds.
No. ‘Multi-seed’ on its own doesn’t mean that all the grain ingredients are made from wholemeal flour. Look for the term wholemeal on the packaging or product page, and compare fibre per 100 g.
Compare similar products per 100 g, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, so differences in portion size don’t skew the comparison. Also check whether the values are for the prepared or unprepared product.
Don’t assume it does without checking the label. PLUS lists iodised salt in its butter croissants, but the ingredients in that variety don’t tell you what’s in another croissant.
Check the allergen information for the exact variety: PLUS product information lists wheat and milk in its butter croissants, and egg in a small butter croissant too. If you have an allergy, always check the current packaging.
