For a Carnival group that includes people avoiding gluten or wheat, pretzels clearly labelled as suitable are a better option than traditional wheat pretzels. Whether Schär Salinis or Hammermühle organic oat pretzels are suitable for individual guests also depends on the ingredients, precautionary allergen information and, in the case of oats, personal tolerance. A vegan label alone doesn’t answer these questions.
For these guests, the clear labelling on the specific pack is what matters. Schär describes its Salinis as gluten- and wheat-free; Hammermühle also labels its organic oat pretzels as gluten-free and wheat-free, but notes that people with coeliac disease may tolerate gluten-free oats differently.
If you’re providing snacks for a group, check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information separately for each product – for example, for soya, sesame, milk or egg. The Verbraucherzentrale (German consumer advice centre) explains that allergens present in packaged foods are highlighted in the ingredients list.
Classic mini pretzels can be a good option for sharing or taking on the go, provided their listed ingredients and any possible traces are suitable for everyone concerned. Lorenz offers Saltletts Mini Brezel in 40-g and 150-g packs, among other sizes.
First, find out which ingredients individual guests need to avoid when planning your Carnival snack table. Then check the other allergen information, and only then choose a pack size that’s easy to carry or serve to share.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and wheat | Look for an explicit gluten- or wheat-free label on the pack; if it contains oats, consider whether the person can tolerate them. | If I need to avoid wheat or gluten, I don’t want to choose a traditional pretzel just because of its shape. This may be the top priority when buying pretzels for around 36% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Check highlighted allergens in the ingredients list separately from any warnings about possible traces. | If I have a soya or sesame allergy, a gluten-free label alone doesn’t tell me what I need to know. Other specific allergens are likely to be a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Vegan recipe | Check the vegan claim against the ingredients list and any milk and egg warnings; if you have allergies, also check for possible traces. | I’m looking for a plant-based pretzel or a recipe without added milk or egg, but I won’t assume that it’s free from other allergens. This could be the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Sharing and portioning | Compare pack sizes, how easy they are to carry and the salt content per 100 g. | I want to be able to transport pretzels for my group and serve them separately, while keeping the amount manageable. This is likely to be the first thing around 14% of consumers consider. |
Vegan pretzels may contain wheat or barley. Lorenz also warns that its vegan Saltletts Mini Brezel may contain traces of milk, egg and sesame.
Treat the vegan claim, ingredients list and precautionary allergen information as separate details. If guests have allergies, check in advance which information they need to know.
Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens: Schär Salinis contain soya lecithin and may contain traces of sesame. Hammermühle warns that its organic oat pretzels may contain traces of soya.
After checking the gluten-free label, look for any other ingredients and precautionary allergen information that may be relevant to your guests.
Without the original packs, it can be difficult to match ingredients and allergen information to the right snack at the table.
Serve products separately and label them clearly. Keep the original packaging with the product information in case anyone has questions.
The salt content is also important when planning how much to serve. The figure per 100 g doesn’t automatically reflect how much an individual guest will eat.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and consider how much you plan to put out for sharing.
The information below relates to specific pretzel products from each brand, not their entire range. Always check the details on the pack you choose when shopping.
Salinis are small salted pretzels with a clear gluten- and wheat-free label.
The organic oat pretzels are a mini pretzel option made with oats and clearly labelled as gluten-free.
Saltletts Mini Brezel are classic mini salted pretzels, available from Lorenz in a range of pack sizes.
These frozen pretzels are ready to bake, making them an option if your group would prefer to serve warm pretzels rather than ones ready to eat straight from the pack.
These mini pretzels may suit Carnival guests who don’t need to avoid gluten or wheat and are looking for a vegan snack to take on the go. If guests have other allergies, the information on the specific pack is what matters.
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For guests who don’t need to avoid gluten or wheat and are looking for vegan mini pretzels to take on the go or share.
150-g bag. Lorenz describes this product as vegan; it contains wheat and barley malt extract, and may contain milk, egg and sesame. If you have allergies, check the information on the specific pack.
No. If someone has an allergy, a vegan label doesn’t replace checking for possible traces. Despite its vegan recipe, Lorenz warns that Saltletts Mini Brezel may contain traces of milk and egg, so check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information on the specific pack.
The classic Lorenz and EDEKA products described here contain wheat, so they aren’t gluten-free. For guests with this dietary restriction, look for a product clearly labelled gluten-free and check its other ingredients.
Not necessarily. Hammermühle labels its organic oat pretzels as gluten-free, but notes that people with coeliac disease may tolerate gluten-free oats differently. Before you buy, check with the guests concerned to see whether oats are suitable for them.
Check the ingredients list and any warnings about possible traces on the specific pack. The Verbraucherzentrale (German consumer advice centre) explains that allergens present in packaged foods are highlighted in the ingredients list; a general claim such as “vegan” doesn’t answer questions about other allergens.
Serve pretzels with different ingredients and allergen information separately, and keep the original packaging in case anyone has questions. Also follow the storage instructions on the packs rather than putting all the varieties together in an unlabelled bowl.