Guests with coeliac disease
As well as an explicit gluten-free label, serving food separately is important. The German Coeliac Society points out that crumbs, flour dust and contaminated utensils can trigger symptoms.
Who is this choice important for?
Hosts catering for several guests
If you’re preparing snacks for a New Year’s Eve get-together, you can portion out mini pretzels separately. Larger, fresh pretzels, on the other hand, need to be ordered and prepared at the right time.
Guests with questions about oats or other allergens
If you’re serving gluten-free oat pretzels, ask the person concerned in advance whether they can tolerate oats. Depending on the product, ingredients and may-contain information for soya, sesame, egg or mustard may also be relevant.
What should you consider when buying and serving?
For a shared New Year’s Eve buffet, first check which specific product is labelled as suitable for your guests and how you’ll keep it separate from other snacks until serving. The format, timing and other ingredients will then help you decide what to choose.
| Criteria | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and serving separately | Look for an explicit “gluten-free” statement on the specific pack; plan to use separate bowls and clean utensils. | I don’t want to risk crumbs from other pretzels getting into my snack at a shared buffet. For around 42% of consumers, keeping food separate comes first. |
| Format and preparation | Check that the pack size suits the number of portions you need; for fresh pretzels, consider the shelf life, delivery time and whether they can be baked at home. | When I’m hosting several guests, I need a snack I can prepare in good time and serve in suitable portions. Around 33% of consumers give this priority. |
| Oats and other allergens | Check in advance whether oats are tolerated, and read the ingredients and may-contain information on the pack you choose. | Even when a product is labelled gluten-free, I need to know whether it contains oats or another allergen that may affect me. For around 25% of consumers, this additional check is their top buying priority. |
Which mistakes can you avoid?
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Assuming “vegan” or “wheat-free” means “gluten-free”
These claims are no substitute for a gluten-free label. For example, the pretzel described by Ditsch lists wheat as an allergen.
If you’re catering for guests with coeliac disease, choose only a specific pack labelled gluten-free and check its information again before serving.
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Putting gluten-free pretzels in a shared snack bowl
The German Coeliac Society says that crumbs, flour dust and contaminated utensils can trigger symptoms. Choosing a gluten-free product alone won’t prevent this problem at a buffet.
Keep it separate until serving, and use its own bowl and clean utensils that haven’t been shared.
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Serving gluten-free oat pretzels without checking first
Hammermühle points out that people with coeliac disease can vary in how well they tolerate gluten-free oats. Information about other allergens also differs between products.
Ask the person concerned in advance. If you’re unsure whether they can tolerate oats, consider an explicitly labelled gluten-free option without oats, provided its other ingredients are suitable too.
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Ordering fresh pretzels without a schedule
Hammermühle states that its fresh bakery pretzels take 3–8 days to arrive and keep for only a few days. Make sure both work with the date of your celebration.
Allow extra time for delivery before 31 December, and follow the manufacturer’s storage and baking instructions.
Brands to consider
Schär
Schär’s Salinis are small, salted pretzels labelled gluten-free.
- Salinis come in a 60-g pack and can be portioned without baking.
- According to the manufacturer, they contain soya lecithin and may contain traces of sesame. If you’re serving several guests, remember to work out how many packs you’ll need.
Hammermühle
Hammermühle offers gluten-free organic oat mini pretzels and fresh bakery pretzels that can be baked at home.
- The two formats suit different serving preferences: small pretzels for nibbling or larger pretzels to bake at home.
- For its oat pretzels, the manufacturer notes that people’s ability to tolerate oats varies. Its fresh bakery pretzels have a short shelf life and may contain traces of soya and mustard.
REWE frei von
The gluten-free organic pretzel sticks are an alternative savoury snack, but they’re not pretzels.
- According to REWE, the sticks are made with oat and rice flour and come in a 100-g pack.
- The product may contain traces of egg, sesame and soya. You’ll also need to check whether oats are tolerated.
Suitable products at Joybuy
Suitable products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can I identify a gluten-free pretzel for a guest with coeliac disease?
Look for an explicit “gluten-free” statement on the specific pack. Don’t assume a standard pretzel is suitable based on what you think it contains; also check for any other ingredients and may-contain information that matters to your guest.
Can I serve a regular Ditsch or ALDI pretzel?
If you’re catering for a guest with coeliac disease, don’t assume these pretzels are suitable unless the specific product is labelled gluten-free. The Ditsch pretzel described lists wheat as an allergen. For its pretzel, ALDI SÜD refers shoppers to the product information in store; the product may also come from different suppliers at different times.
Are gluten-free oat pretzels suitable for everyone with coeliac disease?
No. Each person’s ability to tolerate gluten-free oats needs to be checked individually. Hammermühle notes that people vary in how well they tolerate its gluten-free oat pretzels and recommends seeking medical advice before eating them.
When should I order fresh gluten-free pretzels for New Year’s Eve?
For Hammermühle’s fresh bakery pretzels, you’ll need to allow for the manufacturer’s stated delivery time of 3–8 days and their short shelf life. Build in extra time before 31 December, and follow the product instructions for storage and baking.