Protein pretzels are a targeted extra option for a conference when guests want a savoury snack with a stated amount of protein per pack. Regular savoury snacks are suitable when that isn’t a priority. Compare the protein and salt content of the portion you’ll actually serve, and check the ingredients and allergen information. Individually wrapped packs make it easier to match the information to each snack, while an open snack station requires allergen information to be easy to access.
For them, the amount of protein in each pack served is more useful than the figure per 100 g alone. However, a protein snack isn’t automatically necessary: according to the German Nutrition Society, healthy adults who exercise for no more than five hours a week do not have increased protein requirements.
You need to be able to match ingredients and allergen information to the specific options on offer. At an open snack station, this information should be easy for guests to access.
If guests mainly want pretzels or other savoury nibbles during the break, a protein option isn’t essential. For classic products, too, the information on the specific pack determines the ingredients and nutritional values.
If protein is a priority, start with the amount per portion served. For an open buffet, you’ll also need a practical way to manage allergen information and serving. And remember: a pretzel snack labelled vegan isn’t automatically gluten-free.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per portion | Protein in g per pack served or pre-portioned amount; for a ‘high in protein’ claim, the percentage of the energy value that comes from protein. | If I specifically want a savoury snack with a stated amount of protein, what matters to me is the contents of the portion I receive. For around 44% of consumers, this protein profile is the main priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list and allergen information for the specific option ordered; consider vegan labelling separately from gluten. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I must be able to read the information on the pack, even for a vegan protein pretzel. For around 33% of consumers, dietary and allergen requirements like these come first. |
| Serving and salt | Individual packs or bulk packs for your planned serving setup; salt in g per portion served. | If I’m organising a snack station, I need portions whose contents and information can be clearly matched. Serving logistics are the main concern for around 23% of consumers. |
A higher protein content doesn’t mean a protein snack is necessary for everyone attending. The German Nutrition Society says healthy adults who exercise for no more than five hours a week do not have increased protein requirements.
Offer protein pretzels as a clearly labelled option alongside other snacks, rather than basing the entire selection on them.
A 100 g portion won’t necessarily be served at the buffet. HEJ states that Protein Pretzels Classic contain 18.2 g of protein and 2.77 g of salt per 70-g pack.
Compare the protein and salt content of the portions guests will actually receive.
The HEJ option described as vegan contains spelt and barley. Vegan labelling also doesn’t answer the question of whether traces of other allergens may be present.
Check the current ingredients list and allergen information for each option, and make the information accessible when serving snacks from an open station.
Lorenz notes that packs with the previous and new labelling may be available at the same time. The information on the pack delivered is what matters for the products you serve.
Check the labels before the event and make sure the information at the snack station matches them.
These examples show different types of products and serving formats. Nutritional values and allergen information apply to the specific option mentioned, not to the brand as a whole.
Protein Pretzels Classic are a pretzel snack labelled vegan, available in a 70-g individual pack.
Classic pretzels for a shared snack station; the Cocktail Mix is also available in a 600-g pack.
Protein Crunch Vanilla is a crunchy snack alternative if the pretzel shape isn’t essential.
Plant-based Protein Pretzels in a 1.75-oz pack.
Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, at least 20% of a product’s energy value must come from protein for it to be labelled ‘high in protein’. The number of grams per pack answers a different question: how much protein is in the portion served. That figure alone doesn’t show whether the product meets the requirement for the claim.
No. Being physically active doesn’t, by itself, make a protein snack necessary. According to the German Nutrition Society, healthy adults aged 19 to under 65 who exercise for no more than five hours a week do not have increased protein requirements. For those who train more, factors such as training level and goals also matter.
Make allergen information easy to access for every option served openly, and clearly match it to the relevant snack. Check the labels on the packs delivered. The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce notes that food labelling in Germany’s hospitality sector must include information in German.
No. HEJ Protein Pretzels Classic are described as vegan, but contain spelt and barley. For a specific product, check the ingredients and allergen information rather than assuming that vegan labelling means it is gluten-free.