Evening snackers looking for fibre
You’re after something bread-like for late in the evening and want to check whether the grain ingredient is wholemeal. You can then check the fibre content in the nutrition information.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers comparing portions and nutritional values
You don’t want to rely on the front of the pack alone, but would rather compare croissants for fibre, salt and saturated fat per 100 g. Then you can decide how much you actually want to eat.
Shoppers who need to check allergens
Before buying, you need up-to-date information about ingredients and allergens, such as cereals containing gluten, milk or egg. If you’re buying a loose croissant, ask in store for this information.
What should you look for when choosing?
The product label tells you whether you can consider a croissant wholemeal; the nutrition table can then help you compare products. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if all the grain ingredient is made from wholemeal flour.
Croissant labelled as wholemeal
When: you want the texture of a croissant and the current product information explicitly labels it as wholemeal.
Consider: the wholemeal label alone doesn’t tell you how much fibre, salt or saturated fat the product contains.
Seeded croissant
When: you’re mainly looking for a croissant with seeds.
Consider: seeds don’t tell you whether the flour used is wholemeal, so don’t treat this label as a wholemeal claim.
Wholemeal bread product
When: a verifiable wholemeal label matters more to you than choosing a croissant.
Consider: a bread roll or cracker won’t have the same texture; compare the nutritional values and portion size here, too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for a wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g in similar products. | If I choose a croissant as a fibre-conscious snack, I want to know whether the flour is genuinely wholemeal. Around 40% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Portion size and nutritional values | Compare salt and saturated fat per 100 g, then consider how much you want to eat. | For a late-night snack, I don’t want to compare nutritional values using different portion sizes shown on packs; around 30% of consumers prioritise portion size and nutritional values. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current label or ask in store about allergens if you’re buying a loose croissant. | If I need to avoid an allergen, I need product information before choosing a croissant. Around 30% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming seeded means wholemeal
A croissant with seeds may also contain flour that isn’t wholemeal. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority links the term wholemeal to the grain ingredient, not to the presence of seeds.
Look for an explicit wholemeal label and read the ingredient information. Only then compare the fibre shown in the nutrition table.
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Looking at fibre alone
The fibre figure alone won’t tell you how similar products compare for salt, saturated fat or portion size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g.
Use the same basis to compare nutritional values, then consider the portion you want to eat.
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Using a range page for allergen information
If you need to avoid allergens, the current information for the specific product is what matters. For loose croissants, this information can be provided in store.
Before buying, read the label on the pack or ask for allergen information if you’re buying a loose croissant.
Relevant shops and brands to explore
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s croissant range includes, among other options, an AH Meerzaden croissant.
- A useful place to start if you want to browse different types of croissant.
- The name Meerzaden doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal; check the current product information and nutritional values.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers, among other options, butter, plant-based and bake-at-home croissants in a range of pack sizes.
- Worth considering if you’re looking for a bake-at-home option or a different croissant pack.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional values for each product; the varieties mentioned aren’t automatically wholemeal.
Lidl
Lidl describes a Meerzadencroissant made with several types of seed.
- A specific option to explore if you’re looking for a croissant with seeds.
- Several types of seed don’t confirm that the flour is wholemeal; check the current ingredient information.
Dirk
Dirk lists regular croissants and wholemeal rolls as a separate bread product.
- You can weigh up a croissant against a different type of bread product.
- A wholemeal label on a roll doesn’t apply to the croissants; assess each product separately.
Bread alternatives on Joybuy
These products are bread alternatives for anyone who wants to look beyond croissants for a late-night snack. Compare their individual product information; a rye bread bun and a loaf labelled Whole Wheat aren’t interchangeable with croissants.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun 500 g
A rye bread bun to consider if you’d rather have a bread-like snack than a croissant. Check the pack for a wholemeal label and fibre per 100 g if these are important to your choice.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g
A bread alternative labelled Whole Wheat if a croissant isn’t your priority. Allow time to defrost, bake and cool if you want to eat it late in the evening; also check the current nutritional information and allergens on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Is a seeded croissant automatically wholemeal?
No. The term seeded doesn’t tell you whether the grain ingredient is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, all the grain ingredient must be made from wholemeal flour for a product to be called wholemeal. So check the current product label and ingredient information.
How do I compare croissants with different portion sizes?
Compare similar croissants per 100 g, then decide how much you want to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this basis for comparison; when making your choice, look beyond fibre to salt and saturated fat, too.
Where can I find allergen information for a loose croissant?
Ask in store for allergen information about the croissant before buying it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between the information shown on the label of pre-packed products and the information that must be available for unpackaged foods.