Who will find this comparison helpful?

People keeping to a calorie budget

You’d like to fit in a pretzel, so you’re checking not only the kcal per 100 g but also the weight of each pretzel, its toppings and how much you plan to eat.

People who enjoy a savoury snack

You’re looking for a snack to enjoy on the go or at your desk, and want to keep an eye on both the salt content and how much you eat from an open pack.

People checking ingredients and allergens

The label on the specific product helps you decide whether a pretzel is suitable for you. As well as the ingredients, information about possible traces may also be relevant.

What should you look for when buying pretzels?

Start by comparing the type of pretzel and its energy per 100 g. For your calorie budget, the amount you actually eat is what matters next – particularly with large individual pretzels or snack packs.

Plain or frozen soft pretzels

A good choice if: You’d like a soft pretzel and are looking for an option with a lower declared energy value per 100 g. EDEKA lists GUT&GÜNSTIG soft pretzels at 209 kcal per 100 g, while Ditsch lists its soft pretzel at 271 kcal per 100 g.

Bear in mind: The size of each pretzel and its toppings affect the energy in your portion. Frozen pretzels need to be prepared according to the instructions on the pack.

Crunchy salted pretzels

A good choice if: You’re specifically after a crunchy snack and would like to take out a portion from the pack before you eat.

Bear in mind: The snack products covered here declare 389 to 408 kcal per 100 g. Compare their energy and salt values with the portion you plan to eat, rather than looking only at pack sizes.

Criteria What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Energy in your portion Compare kcal per 100 g with the weight of each pretzel or the stated portion size; remember to allow for butter and other toppings. If I’m fitting a pretzel into my calorie budget, I want to know how much the whole pretzel adds, not just 100 g. This is a priority for around 42% of consumers.
Salt and how much you snack on Check the salt per 100 g and decide how much you’ll take from a snack pack. When I’m snacking without thinking, I don’t want to lose track of how much I’ve eaten or the salt content. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack, or check the information at the point of sale. Before comparing nutritional values, I need to know whether the ingredients and allergen information are suitable for me. This is a priority for around 25% of consumers.

Common misconceptions

  • Assuming a lower kcal value means ‘low calorie’

    A difference between pretzel products is simply a comparison. Each product covered here declares well over 40 kcal per 100 g; the Verbraucherzentrale gives this figure as the threshold for describing solid foods as ‘low energy’.

    Compare the stated kcal per 100 g with the weight of your portion, rather than relying on a general impression created by the product name.

  • Looking only at the value per 100 g

    With one large pretzel or several mini pretzels, the amount you eat can differ considerably from 100 g. In that case, the value in the table doesn’t tell you how much energy is in your snack.

    Check the weight of each pretzel or weigh out the amount you plan to eat before applying the nutritional values to it.

  • Overlooking the salt in pretzels

    Depending on the product, the crunchy salted pretzels covered here declare between 4,4 and 4,51 g of salt per 100 g, according to information from EDEKA and ALDI SÜD, among others.

    Compare the salt value for the specific product and, with soft pretzels, remember to check whether salt is supplied separately.

  • Relying on online information instead of the current label

    The specific version you buy matters, particularly when it comes to ingredients and allergens. EDEKA notes that online information may differ from what’s on the packaging.

    Check the information on the specific pack or, for loose products, ask at the point of sale.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Ditsch

Soft pretzels in a range of varieties, including plain pretzels and an XL butter pretzel.

  • Ditsch declares 271 kcal per 100 g for its soft pretzel and 327,8 kcal per 100 g for its XL butter pretzel.
  • These values apply to the varieties named, not the entire range. The XL butter pretzel also contains milk ingredients as well as wheat.

GUT&GÜNSTIG (EDEKA)

The products covered here are frozen soft pretzels for baking and crunchy salted pretzels.

  • EDEKA declares 209 kcal and 3,3 g of salt per 100 g for its soft pretzels, and 408 kcal and 4,4 g of salt per 100 g for its salted pretzels.
  • These values are for different types of product. EDEKA also notes that online information may differ from what’s on the pack.

Snackline

Mini pretzels as a crunchy snack in the REWE range.

  • REWE lists 389 kcal and 4,5 g of salt per 100 g for the Snackline Mini Pretzels covered here.
  • The product contains wheat; according to the product information, it may contain traces of milk and sesame. For a portion comparison, the amount you actually take out of the pack is what counts.

SUNSNACKS (ALDI SÜD)

Classic salted pretzels in a 250-g pack.

  • ALDI SÜD declares 397 kcal and 4,51 g of salt per 100 g for the salted pretzels covered here.
  • The pack size isn’t the same as a portion size; base your nutritional comparison on the amount you plan to eat.

Joybuy products on this topic

Relevant products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are pretzels low in calories?

You can’t tell from the type of pretzel alone. The products covered here range from 209 to 408 kcal per 100 g. The weight of each pretzel and how much you eat also matter when choosing.

Which pretzels should I compare first if I’m watching my calorie intake?

Start by comparing the energy values for plain or frozen soft pretzels with those for crunchy salted pretzels. EDEKA declares 209 kcal per 100 g for the frozen soft pretzels covered here, while the crunchy products from various suppliers range from 389 to 408 kcal per 100 g. The portion you plan to eat can affect the difference in practice.

What should I look out for with frozen soft pretzels?

Prepare them according to the instructions on the specific pack. If salt is supplied separately, you can decide how much to use before baking. For a nutritional comparison, check the values for the product as prepared or unprepared, as specified on the packaging.

Which allergen information is important for pretzels?

Check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product, particularly for wheat and any other ingredients or possible traces. The varieties covered here differ: for example, the Ditsch XL butter pretzel also contains milk ingredients, while the Snackline Mini Pretzels covered here are labelled as possibly containing traces of milk and sesame.

Is the Nutri-Score enough to help me choose pretzels?

No. Don’t use it as a substitute for nutritional information and portion size. The Verbraucherzentrale recommends using the Nutri-Score mainly to compare products in the same category or for the same purpose. For your pretzel portion, kcal and salt per 100 g, as well as ingredients and allergens, are also relevant.