Who is this choice relevant to?

Fibre-conscious barbecue shopper

You want to know whether a bread product is genuinely wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal means the whole grain; visible seeds alone don’t mean the same thing.

Host catering for different bread preferences

You want to serve croissants without assuming that every guest will have a wholemeal option. A separate wholemeal bread product gives guests another choice.

Label and allergen checker

You’re buying for several people and want to check the ingredients and allergens for each product before serving. Croissants can contain gluten-containing cereals, milk or eggs, among other ingredients; recipes vary.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking for a wholemeal label if that’s essential to your choice. Then compare the nutritional information and consider how much preparation the bread will need for your barbecue.

What to consider What should you check? Who is it important for?
Genuinely wholemeal Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging and read the ingredients; ‘multiseed’ alone doesn’t confirm that a product is wholemeal. If I specifically want to bring a wholemeal croissant, a scattering of seeds shouldn’t mislead me. For around 50% of consumers, checking that a product is wholemeal comes first.
Nutritional information Compare fibre, salt, saturated fat and energy on the same basis, preferably per 100 g; check the serving size too. I want to compare types of bread for the same menu without focusing on fibre alone. Around 30% of consumers give this consideration top priority.
Preparation and guests Check the preparation instructions, number of pieces and allergen information for the product you choose. When I’m shopping for guests, I want to know what I need to prepare in advance and what everyone can eat. For around 20% of consumers, this planning matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming multiseed means wholemeal

    A croissant with seeds doesn’t have to be made with wholemeal flour. Albert Heijn lists wheat flour as the first ingredient in its AH Meerzaden croissant, so the name ‘Meerzaden’ doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal.

    Let the wholemeal label and ingredients guide your choice. If you’d also like to serve croissants, choose a separate bread product labelled as wholemeal if needed.

  • Looking only at the fibre content

    The fibre content doesn’t tell you how much salt or saturated fat a product contains. According to Albert Heijn, the AH Meerzaden croissant contains 3,6 g of fibre and 1,18 g of salt per 100 g; these figures apply to this specific product.

    Compare the nutritional information for the products you’re considering on the same basis, such as per 100 g, then check the portions you’ll need for your menu.

  • Leaving preparation and allergens until serving time

    Part-baked products need preparing and take up space while you’re cooking. Allergens also vary between croissants: PLUS lists wheat, eggs and milk, among other allergens, for its small butter croissant.

    Read the instructions and allergen information on the packaging before you buy. If anyone has a food allergy or other dietary requirements, agree on a suitable alternative with them.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

The AH Meerzaden croissant is sold individually, with ingredients, allergens and nutritional values listed.

  • Albert Heijn lists 3,6 g of fibre and 1,18 g of salt per 100 g for this product.
  • ‘Meerzaden’ and wheat flour as the first ingredient don’t confirm that it’s a wholemeal option.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers croissants and separate wholemeal rolls to bake at home in its bread range.

  • These two types of product let you put together a menu with croissants and a separate wholemeal roll.
  • Check the name of the croissant you choose; the availability of wholemeal rolls doesn’t make the croissant wholemeal.

Lidl

Lidl lists a butter croissant, with links to its ingredients and allergen information.

  • Use this product information to check what it contains before serving.
  • The name ‘butter croissant’ doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal; check the packaging for that information.

ALDI

ALDI lists a butter croissant as well as a separate wholemeal roll.

  • You could serve the roll as a separate bread option alongside the croissant.
  • The label ‘Volkoren bol’ (wholemeal roll) doesn’t describe the butter croissant.

PLUS

PLUS offers croissants to bake at home and a small butter croissant, with product information on ingredients and preparation.

  • The nutritional values and ingredients, including wheat flour, are listed for the croissants to bake at home.
  • Plan how to prepare the variety you choose, and don’t treat a butter croissant as wholemeal unless it’s labelled as such.

Dirk

Dirk offers croissants alongside separate wholemeal rolls in its bread category.

  • This gives guests two clearly different bread options to choose from.
  • Check the label of each croissant if you specifically want it to be wholemeal.

Bread to serve alongside croissants on Joybuy

These bread products are intended as separate options to serve alongside regular croissants, not as wholemeal croissants. Check the packaging to make sure the wholemeal label, serving style and preparation suit your barbecue.

Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g

A bread option to serve alongside croissants if you’d also like to offer guests wholemeal wheat bread.

The product name gives the weight as 550 g. Allow time for thawing and baking when planning; follow the packaging for the baking time.

Check the allergen information on the packaging for your guests, and only compare nutritional values if the basis they’re given for is clear.

View on Joybuy
Bolletje Rye Bread Bun 500 g

Bolletje Rye Bread Bun, 500 g

A separate rye bread option to serve alongside croissants for guests who’d also like a wholemeal bread choice.

The product name gives the weight as 500 g. Check the packaging to see whether it’s labelled as wholemeal and whether you’ll receive rolls or sliced bread; this makes a difference when serving.

Check the allergen information and the basis for the nutritional values before comparing this product with other types of bread.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a croissant is wholemeal?

Look for an explicit wholemeal label and check the croissant’s ingredients list. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal grain products are made from the entire grain; seeds or a brown colour don’t prove that they are.

Is a multiseed croissant wholemeal too?

Not necessarily: ‘multiseed’ describes something different from ‘wholemeal’. According to Albert Heijn, the AH Meerzaden croissant lists wheat flour as its first ingredient, so its name alone doesn’t confirm that it’s a wholemeal croissant.

Which allergens should I check when buying croissants for guests?

Check the allergen information for every croissant you choose, particularly for gluten-containing cereals, milk and eggs if these are relevant to your guests. For example, PLUS lists wheat, eggs and milk for its small butter croissant; don’t assume another variety has the same ingredients.

Does every croissant contain iodised salt?

Don’t assume so; check the ingredients list for the specific product. The product information for the AH Meerzaden croissant and PLUS croissants to bake at home lists iodised salt, but that doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in other croissants.