If you specifically want to serve a wholemeal croissant at an Italian evening, only choose a product if its description and ingredients list confirm that it is wholemeal. Seeds or a darker colour aren’t enough: the AH Meerzaden croissant contains seeds, but isn’t described as wholemeal and, according to Albert Heijn, lists wheat flour as its first ingredient. If the croissant shape matters less to you than choosing a product that is clearly wholemeal, you could also consider a bread roll labelled as wholemeal.
You’re looking for a bread product for your Italian evening that really is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Dutch bakery industry, the product description and ingredients list matter more than the colour or visible seeds when identifying wholemeal bread.
You’re choosing the croissant shape or a seeded variety to serve, and accept that this doesn’t automatically make it a wholemeal option. The AH Meerzaden croissant is one such seeded variety; Albert Heijn lists wheat flour as its first ingredient.
You want to know which ingredients and allergens are in the exact product before you buy it. Check the label on any alternative bread roll too: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, key allergens are clearly indicated there.
First decide whether wholemeal is essential for your Italian evening, or whether you mainly want to serve a croissant. Then compare the labels and preparation instructions for the products you’re actually considering.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal description | Check the product name and the types of flour in the ingredients list; seeds alone don’t confirm that a product is wholemeal. | If wholemeal is a requirement, I don’t want to judge by the colour or seeds in a croissant. Around 36% of consumers put a clearly wholemeal option first. |
| Croissant shape | Choose between a plain or seeded variety, and check whether the product is ready to serve or needs baking. | For me, a croissant is what belongs at the table, even if that means I don’t choose a wholemeal product. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens and nutritional information | Read the allergen information and, if you wish, compare fibre, fat and salt per 100 g. | When I’m choosing for guests with a known food allergy, I need to be able to check first whether the product is suitable for them. This check matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability and preparation | Check what you can buy and how long the packaging says it takes to defrost or bake. | I want to be able to serve the bread on time without having to change my oven schedule. This practical consideration comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
Seeds and a brown colour don’t tell you which types of flour have been used. The AH Meerzaden croissant isn’t described as wholemeal and, according to Albert Heijn, lists wheat flour as its first ingredient.
If wholemeal is essential, check both the product description and the ingredients list before choosing.
Whether iodised salt is listed varies from product to product; the croissant shape alone tells you nothing about the salt used.
Check the ingredients list if this matters to your choice. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in the AH Meerzaden croissant.
Fat, salt and portion size may matter too. For the AH Meerzaden croissant, Albert Heijn lists 3,6 g of fibre, 21 g of fat and 1,18 g of salt per 100 g.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the products you’re choosing between, and think about how much you want to serve.
A bake-at-home product needs preparation. PLUS says its small butter croissant needs 20 minutes to defrost and around 14 minutes to bake.
Read the preparation instructions before buying, and choose a product that suits the time and oven space you have available.
The AH Meerzaden croissant is worth considering if you’re looking for a seeded croissant and want to compare its ingredients and nutritional value.
Jumbo offers a range of croissants, including butter, frozen and bake-at-home varieties.
The small butter croissant from PLUS is an example of a product where preparation is part of the choice.
Dirk offers croissants as well as separate wholemeal rolls.
ALDI lists butter croissants, Italian rolls and wholemeal bread as separate products.
Lidl provides general information about products made with whole grains, which may be useful if you’re looking for a wholemeal bread product.
Don’t treat the AH Meerzaden croissant as a confirmed wholemeal croissant: it isn’t described as wholemeal and, according to Albert Heijn, wheat flour is the first ingredient. The seeds it contains and the listed 3,6 g of fibre per 100 g don’t change its product description.
Choose a bread roll or bread product clearly labelled as wholemeal if that matters more to you than the croissant shape. Check its ingredients and allergens too; a plain bread roll or a seeded croissant won’t necessarily meet the same requirement.
Read the allergen information on the packaging of the exact product. PLUS lists ingredients including wheat, milk and egg for its small butter croissant; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, key allergens must be clearly shown on the label.
Check the ingredients list to see how the salt is described. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in the AH Meerzaden croissant; don’t assume the same applies to another product just because it’s a croissant.
