For a school lunch, only choose a croissant as a wholemeal option if the specific product is labelled as wholemeal; multiseed or multigrain doesn’t mean the same thing. If verified wholemeal status matters more than the croissant shape, a bread roll clearly labelled as wholemeal is an alternative. In either case, check the latest allergen information and the school’s rules before packing the lunch.
If you’re putting together a school lunch with fibre in mind, the wholemeal label matters more than seeds or a dark colour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain products contain more fibre than white varieties.
If a pupil needs to avoid certain allergens, the latest packaging information and the school’s rules will determine what you can pack. Check for cereals containing gluten and any other relevant allergens for each product.
If the shape and texture of a croissant matter to you, you may prefer it to a wholemeal bread roll. If wholemeal status comes first, a roll is a suitable alternative only if the pupil is happy to eat it too.
First decide whether wholemeal status, allergen checks or the croissant shape matters most; then check the label of the product you’re actually packing.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal status | Look for the wholemeal label on the specific product; if needed, compare fibre content on the same basis, per 100 g. | If I want to make a conscious wholemeal choice for a school lunch, a clear label on the product is more useful than visible seeds. Around 42% of consumers put verified wholemeal status first. |
| Allergens | Read the latest allergen information or ask about it if the product is unpackaged; also check the school’s rules. | If a pupil needs to avoid certain allergens, I want to know what’s in this specific product before packing it. Around 33% of consumers put this check first. |
| Croissant or bread roll | Decide which type of product the pupil wants to eat and whether a roll labelled as wholemeal is an acceptable alternative. | If the pupil wants a croissant in particular, another type of roll needs to suit their lunch too. The croissant shape is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A name that mentions seeds or several grains doesn’t, on its own, mean a croissant is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the grain ingredient in a product called wholemeal must be made from 100% wholemeal flour.
Use the wholemeal label on the specific product as your check; don’t judge its wholemeal status by its colour or visible seeds.
The name ‘croissant’ or ‘wholemeal bread roll’ doesn’t tell you which allergens the individual product contains. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists cereals containing gluten, milk, soya and sesame among the allergens consumers must be informed about.
Read the latest packaging information and ask about allergens in unpackaged products before packing the lunch.
A roll labelled as wholemeal may meet the need for a verified wholemeal option, but it’s still a different product from a croissant.
Talk about what matters for this lunch and choose the alternative only if the pupil wants to eat it too.
Albert Heijn includes the AH Multiseed croissant in its croissant range.
Jumbo offers croissants as well as bread rolls labelled as wholemeal.
PLUS offers Korenlanders Wholemeal Multigrain rolls as an alternative for school lunches.
ALDI describes wholemeal bread as part of its bread range.
Dirk lists croissants and wholemeal rolls as separate product types.
Not necessarily: seeds and several types of grain don’t prove that a product is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the grain ingredient in a product called wholemeal must be made from 100% wholemeal flour. So check the label on the specific product.
No. Check the allergen information for the croissant you want to pack. Read the latest packaging or ask about allergens in an unpackaged product, and take the school’s rules into account.
A bread roll clearly labelled as wholemeal is an alternative if wholemeal status matters more than the croissant shape. Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for that roll too; a wholemeal roll is still a different product from a croissant.
No, you can’t tell from the product name. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes bread made with iodised baker’s salt as an important source of iodine in the Netherlands; if it matters to your choice, ask what type of salt is used in a particular croissant.
