Who is this choice relevant to?

Families looking for wholemeal options

For households wanting to choose a verifiably wholegrain product at home or on the go, it matters whether a roll is genuinely wholemeal or simply looks dark or contains seeds.

Families who like to mix things up

A croissant can be part of a school-holiday lunch. If you’re also looking for a regular lunch staple, bear in mind the distinction the Voedingscentrum makes between croissants as occasional choices and wholemeal or brown bread.

Shoppers who need to check ingredients

If you have allergies or specific dietary requirements, the current ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose are what matter. The product name alone won’t tell you everything.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’d prefer a croissant shape or a lunch staple that’s verifiably wholemeal. Then check the packaging of the product you’re planning to buy.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should consider this?
Verifiably wholemeal Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and read the ingredients. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multiseed’ on its own does not prove that a product is made entirely from wholemeal flour. If I really want wholemeal, seeds or a darker colour aren’t enough. This wholemeal requirement is the deciding factor for around 50% of consumers.
Croissant or bread staple Decide whether the croissant is a change from the usual or your regular lunch staple. The Voedingscentrum lists croissants as occasional choices and mentions wholemeal and brown bread separately in its school lunch guide. For a school-holiday lunch, I want to be able to enjoy a croissant now and then without automatically treating it as my usual bread choice. This is the main consideration for around 38% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list and allergen information. Check the salt information too if it matters to your choice. If ingredients or allergens determine what I can buy, I need information about the specific product. This is the main concern for around 12% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming multiseed means wholemeal

    Seeds on or in a croissant don’t prove that the dough is made from wholemeal flour. For example, Albert Heijn lists wheat flour as the first ingredient in its AH Multiseed Croissant.

    If wholemeal is a must, look specifically for that label and read the ingredients list.

  • Choosing a croissant as your regular wholemeal lunch staple

    The Voedingscentrum lists croissants as occasional choices in its school lunch guide. That’s different from choosing a bread product explicitly labelled as wholemeal.

    Choose a croissant when you fancy a change. For a regular wholemeal bread choice, check the label on a suitable roll or loaf.

  • Assuming every croissant contains baker’s salt

    You can’t tell from the word ‘croissant’ what type of salt was used. The Voedingscentrum specifically highlights baker’s salt as something to consider when choosing bread.

    Check the ingredients of the croissant, or ask about the ingredients if it’s sold loose.

  • Relying on the product name alone

    A name such as ‘multiseed’ doesn’t tell you which allergens the product contains. The ingredients may also change.

    Check the packaging or current product information just before you buy, especially if particular ingredients or allergens matter to you.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

The AH Multiseed Croissant shows why a seeded option isn’t necessarily a wholemeal croissant.

  • Albert Heijn lists the ingredients and nutritional information for this product.
  • Wheat flour is listed as the first ingredient; the name ‘multiseed’ doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal.

Jumbo

In product information from 2023, Jumbo listed a wholemeal roll and a butter croissant as separate bake-at-home products.

  • The distinction between a wholemeal roll and a croissant is useful when choosing a lunch staple.
  • Check the current packaging for the ingredients of any product you’re planning to buy.

Lidl

Lidl describes its Multiseed Croissant as being made with several types of seed.

  • The product name makes it clear that this is a seeded option.
  • Several types of seed don’t, by themselves, confirm that the croissant is wholemeal. Check the product information to find out.

Aldi

Aldi lists croissants and wholemeal bread separately in its bakery range.

  • These different product types give you a choice between a croissant and a wholemeal bread staple.
  • The ‘wholemeal’ label on bread doesn’t automatically apply to a croissant from the same range.

Plus

PLUS shows wholemeal rolls as a bread alternative for a school-holiday lunch.

  • A roll explicitly labelled as wholemeal is another type of product to consider if wholemeal comes first.
  • A wholemeal roll doesn’t have the shape or eating experience of a croissant.

Dirk

Dirk shows a butter croissant and separate wholemeal rolls in its bread range.

  • You can weigh up a croissant treat against a bread option labelled as wholemeal.
  • The wholemeal label on the rolls tells you nothing about the ingredients of the croissant.

A bread alternative on Joybuy

If you’d like to consider a roll instead of a croissant for your school-holiday lunch, you could take a look at this rye bread roll. Check the packaging if the precise wholemeal content or nutritional information will affect your choice.

Bolletje rye bread roll, 500 g pack

Bolletje rye bread roll 500 g

A rye bread roll for anyone looking for an alternative to a croissant for their school-holiday lunch.

Pack size: 500 g. Check the current ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details on the packaging if they matter to your choice.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a multiseed croissant automatically wholemeal?

No. The label ‘multiseed’ doesn’t mean that a croissant is made from wholemeal flour. According to the Voedingscentrum, a product can only be called ‘wholemeal’ if it’s made entirely from wholemeal flour. So check the label and ingredients of the product you choose.

Is a croissant suitable as a regular lunch staple for children?

The Voedingscentrum lists croissants as occasional choices in its school lunch guide, while listing wholemeal and brown bread separately as lunch options. If you’re looking for a regular wholemeal bread staple, choose a bread product explicitly labelled as wholemeal and save croissants for a change.

Can you assume that every croissant contains baker’s salt?

No, you can’t tell from the product name. Check the ingredients list or ask what salt is used if the croissant is sold loose. The Voedingscentrum highlights baker’s salt in bread as something to consider for iodine.

Which allergens should you check in a croissant?

Check the allergen information for the croissant you’re actually buying, as ingredients vary from product to product. Albert Heijn lists milk and cereals containing gluten for its Multiseed Croissant, and also warns that other allergens may be present. Always check the current packaging before making your choice.