Who should read this?

Parents planning lower-calorie breaks

If you’re packing a pretzel in your child’s lunchbox, compare the energy per 100 g and per pretzel. Check butter pretzels, sweet pretzels and crunchy salted pretzels separately from plain pretzels.

Families keeping an eye on salt

As well as energy, you check the stated salt content and want to decide for yourself whether to use the separately supplied pretzel salt on pretzels you bake at home.

Families checking ingredients and allergens

If certain ingredients need to be avoided, check the information for the specific product. If you’re buying loose pretzels, ask about allergen information before you buy.

What should you look for when buying?

First, compare the energy using the same measure and check the weight of each pretzel. Then consider salt, ingredients and what else you’re packing for the break to find a pretzel that suits your family’s school-day routine.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Energy and portion size kcal per 100 g and weight per pretzel; compare products before and after baking separately. When I choose a pretzel for the lunchbox, I want to know how much energy the actual pretzel contains. Around 36% of consumers would consider energy and portion size their main reason for choosing a product.
Salt Salt per 100 g and, where applicable, any pretzel salt supplied separately. If I’m packing other salty foods for the school break, I want to take the pretzel’s salt content into account. For around 29% of consumers, salt would be their main consideration when choosing.
What else to pack for the break Whether to pack a drink and other food to go with the pretzel. On a longer school day, a pretzel shouldn’t make up the whole break. Around 21% of consumers would focus mainly on what they could add to the snack.
Ingredients and allergens Ingredients and allergen information for the specific product; ask for details if buying loose pretzels. If I need to avoid certain ingredients because of an allergy, I need reliable information about the pretzel before I buy it. For around 14% of consumers, checking this would come first.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming every pretzel is low in calories

    Toppings, recipes and pretzel size all affect the energy per portion. What’s more, figures for unbaked pretzels ready for baking aren’t directly comparable with figures for fully baked pretzels.

    Compare kcal per 100 g for products in the same state of preparation. If there’s no figure per pretzel, work it out using the weight of each one.

  • Overlooking salt when checking calories

    The Gut & Günstig salted pretzels listed by EDEKA24 contain 4.5 g of salt per 100 g; according to Ditsch, its pretzel contains 2.02 g per 100 g. So it’s worth checking the salt content even when comparing similar types of pretzel.

    Check the salt per 100 g and, for pretzels ready for baking, see whether the salt is added separately.

  • Packing just one pretzel for a long school day

    A pretzel on its own doesn’t offer the same variety as a break with other foods. The German Nutrition Society emphasises that children and teenagers need enough energy at school.

    Depending on how long the school day is, pack a drink and something to go with the pretzel, such as fruit or vegetable sticks.

  • Relying on the product name alone when buying loose pretzels

    The word ‘pretzel’ doesn’t tell you which grains or other allergens a particular product contains. When buying at a bakery counter, the information you need may not be displayed next to the baked goods.

    If you have an allergy, ask specifically about the ingredients and allergen information for the pretzel on offer before you buy it.

Brands to consider

Ditsch

Ditsch offers plain pretzels as well as butter and sweet varieties. For a meaningful comparison, check the details for each individual product.

  • According to Ditsch, its pretzel weighs 100 g and contains 271 kcal and 5.4 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Ditsch Sweet Pretzel and the XL Butter Pretzel have different nutritional values; the figures for the plain pretzel don’t apply to these varieties.

REWE Beste Wahl

These frozen pretzels are sold ready to bake, with the pretzel salt supplied separately.

  • The separate salt sachet lets you decide whether to add salt when preparing the pretzels at home.
  • REWE states that the unbaked pretzel dough contains 213 kcal and 1.2 g of salt per 100 g, without added salt. These figures aren’t for the fully prepared pretzel with extra salt.

MEINE BACKWELT

ALDI SÜD’s own brand includes freshly baked goods, including a pretzel.

  • ALDI SÜD states that this pretzel contains 314 kcal, 1.6 g of salt and 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • ALDI SÜD notes that figures may vary between suppliers. Check the information for the pretzels at your local store.

Gut & Günstig

The packaged salted pretzels are crunchy, long-life pretzel snacks and aren’t the same as a fresh pretzel.

  • The pack information lets you compare products per 100 g and portion them by weight.
  • EDEKA24 states that the salted pretzels contain 397 kcal and 4.5 g of salt per 100 g.

SUN SNACKS

ALDI Nord describes this own-brand product as a crunchy salted pretzel snack and labels it vegan.

  • The product name makes clear that these are salted pretzels for snacking, not a fresh pretzel.
  • If you’re choosing based on energy and salt, check the nutritional information on the specific pack. ‘Vegan’ tells you nothing about calories or allergens.

Joybuy products

Products to match your needs coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is one pretzel enough for a school break?

A pretzel can be part of a school break, but on a longer school day you should also pack a drink and other food. The German Nutrition Society emphasises that children and teenagers need enough energy during the school day.

How do I compare fresh and frozen pretzels?

First, compare the measure used and whether the nutritional information is for the product before or after baking. REWE explicitly gives its figures for frozen pretzels as unbaked and without added pretzel salt; figures for fully baked pretzels describe a different state.

What should I know about pretzel salt?

Check the stated salt content and whether salt is added during preparation. REWE Beste Wahl’s pretzels ready for baking come with the pretzel salt separately, so you can decide whether to add it.

How can I check allergens in pretzels from a bakery counter?

Before you buy, ask for the allergen information for the specific pretzel on offer. If you need to avoid certain grains or other ingredients, the general name ‘pretzel’ isn’t enough.