Who is this guide for?

People who need to avoid gluten

For a snack on the go or at work, choose a pretzel clearly labelled gluten-free. Other ingredients and precautionary allergen information also matter when making your choice.

People with other allergies or intolerances

If you need to avoid milk, eggs, soya, sesame, mustard or wheat, for example, the words ‘gluten-free’ aren’t enough on their own. Check the information for the specific variety you’re considering.

People eating alone with different portion needs

A ready-to-eat pack could be just right for a small snack. If you’d like your pretzel to make more of a light meal, you’ll also need to think about how many you get, whether they need baking and what to do with any leftovers.

What should you look for when buying?

First, check the ingredients you need to avoid. Then decide whether you’d prefer a ready-to-eat snack pack or a larger fresh pretzel.

Criterion What to check Who it matters most to
Gluten-free Look for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label and read the ingredients for the specific variety. If you need to avoid gluten, ‘vegan’ isn’t enough to help you choose. For around 33% of consumers, gluten-free status is the top priority.
Other allergens and traces Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and precautionary ‘may contain’ information against the foods you need to avoid. If you need to avoid several ingredients, checking for gluten won’t tell you whether, for example, the product contains soya or may contain traces of sesame. Other allergens are the main consideration for around 27% of consumers.
Milk, eggs and vegan recipes Check the relevant product information and ingredients; don’t assume that ‘vegan’ means ‘gluten-free’. If your main concern is a recipe without animal ingredients, or specific information about milk or eggs, check for that exact detail. It’s the deciding factor for around 20% of consumers.
Portion and preparation Compare the pack weight, number of pretzels, whether they need baking and any storage instructions. If you want a snack with no leftovers, you’ll need a different pack size than if you’re having a light meal. Preparation is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common selection mistakes

  • Assuming ‘free from’ or ‘vegan’ means free from all allergens

    These labels don’t automatically cover every allergen: according to REWE, Schär Salinis contain soya lecithin and may contain traces of sesame. Ditsch XL Butter Pretzels contain wheat and milk, according to Ditsch.

    Make a list of the ingredients you need to avoid and check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information for each variety individually.

  • Choosing an unwrapped bakery pretzel without checking its allergen information

    In Germany, allergen information must also be provided for loose products. You can only tell whether a particular pretzel is suitable for your needs by checking its information.

    Before you buy, ask for the allergen information for that specific variety and, if needed, whether the recipe has changed.

  • Expecting a large pack of fresh pretzels to be a small single portion

    Hammermühle’s fresh baker’s pretzels come in a pack of two, with a total weight of 380 g. Hammermühle recommends eating them within two days of opening or freezing them.

    Compare the number of pretzels with what you need, and if you’re buying a larger pack, plan what you’ll do with the second pretzel.

  • Choosing gluten-free oats without checking your individual requirements

    Hammermühle labels its organic oat pretzels gluten-free, but notes that people with coeliac disease may tolerate gluten-free oats differently.

    If you have specific requirements around oats, take them into account when choosing your pretzel.

Relevant brands and product ranges

Schär

Salinis are gluten-free salted pretzels in a 60 g pack, ready to eat as a snack.

  • REWE labels this variety gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free, and says it contains no added milk or eggs.
  • The ingredients include soya lecithin; according to REWE, the product may contain traces of sesame.

Hammermühle

The range includes ready-to-eat organic oat pretzels and larger fresh baker’s pretzels.

  • Hammermühle labels its 80 g organic oat pretzels gluten-free and vegan. The manufacturer also says its fresh baker’s pretzels are gluten-free and vegan.
  • The organic oat pretzels may contain traces of soya, while the fresh baker’s pretzels may contain traces of soya and mustard. The fresh variety comes in a pack of two, so you’ll need to plan for preparation and leftovers.

REWE frei von

The organic pretzel sticks are a packaged gluten-free snack option in a 100 g pack.

  • REWE labels its organic pretzel sticks gluten-free, vegan and lactose-free.
  • According to REWE, they may contain traces of egg, sesame and soya.

Ditsch

The XL Butter Pretzel is a fresh pretzel that isn’t labelled gluten-free.

  • Ditsch lists wheat and milk as allergens for this variety. This doesn’t tell you anything about other Ditsch products.

MEINE BACKWELT / ALDI SÜD

ALDI SÜD describes its individually sold pretzel as a vegan option for a convenient single portion.

  • The documented pretzel is sold individually and described as vegan.
  • The product may come from different suppliers. Check the information on the pretzel in store; ‘vegan’ does not mean ‘gluten-free’.

Joybuy products on this topic

Relevant products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a gluten-free pretzel suitable for people with other allergies?

Not necessarily: ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t answer questions about soya, sesame or other allergens. Under EU Implementing Regulation No 828/2014, a food can contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten to be labelled ‘gluten-free’ when sold. You’ll still need to check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information for anything else you need to avoid.

Is allergen information available for unwrapped bakery pretzels?

Yes. In Germany, allergen information must also be provided for loose products. The Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety explains this requirement; ask at the counter for the information on the specific pretzel.

Is ‘vegan’ enough if you follow a gluten-free diet?

No. A vegan label says nothing about the gluten content. Look for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label and check the product information. For exact details about its vegan MEINE BACKWELT pretzel, ALDI SÜD advises checking the product in store.

What should I do with a second fresh gluten-free pretzel?

For its fresh baker’s pretzels, Hammermühle recommends using the pack within two days of opening or freezing any pretzels you have left. Before you buy, consider whether two pretzels are right for your portion needs.

Are gluten-free oats suitable for everyone with coeliac disease?

Not necessarily: Hammermühle notes that people with coeliac disease may tolerate gluten-free oats differently in its gluten-free organic oat pretzels. Take your personal requirements around oats into account rather than assuming they’re suitable just because they’re labelled gluten-free.