Shopping for lunchboxes when there’s a known allergen
If a particular allergen must be strictly avoided, the ingredients and possible traces on the specific pack matter more than the portion size.
Who is this selection relevant to?
Shopping to avoid gluten or wheat
If you’re looking for a pretzel alternative with the relevant labelling, check for any other ingredients and traces that matter to you, too. According to REWE’s product information, Schär Salinis contains soya lecithin.
Preparing several lunchboxes
If the allergen information meets your requirements, you can choose between individually wrapped portions and a bag to portion out at home.
What should you look for when buying?
First check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information for the person who’ll be eating them. Then compare the actual pack format with the number of lunchbox portions you need.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Specific allergen | Compare the ingredients and precautionary allergen information on the pack you buy with your individual requirements. | If I need to avoid a particular substance, a handy single bag isn’t enough: possible traces could also affect my decision. Around 42% of consumers would put excluding their specific allergen first. |
| Gluten or wheat | If avoiding gluten, check for the ‘gluten-free’ label; if avoiding wheat, also read the ingredients and any relevant precautionary allergen information. | I’m looking for a pretzel alternative without gluten or wheat, but don’t want to overlook soya or possible traces of sesame. For around 33% of consumers, the relevant gluten-free or wheat-free labelling would be the main buying criterion. |
| Lunchbox portions | Check the number and size of individually wrapped portions, or plan to portion out a larger bag yourself. | Once my allergen requirements are met, I want to know whether I can pack the bags as they are or need to decant them at home. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise portioning. |
Common shopping mistakes
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Choosing the multipack before checking the allergen information
Lorenz Saltletts Mini Pretzels come in three individually wrapped 40-g portions, but that doesn’t change the fact that they contain wheat flour and barley malt extract, or that the manufacturer lists possible traces of milk, egg and sesame.
First compare the ingredients and precautionary allergen information with the specific substance you need to avoid. Then decide whether the individual bags work for your lunchbox plans.
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Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘free from all allergens’
According to Schär, Salinis is gluten-free and wheat-free. However, REWE’s product information lists soya lecithin, and possible traces of sesame may also matter.
Use the gluten-free label to assess the gluten content, and check separately for any other allergens that matter to you.
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Relying on online ingredient information instead of the pack
Lorenz notes that packs with different labelling may be available in shops. So, when shopping, the ingredient list on the product you actually buy is the one to rely on.
Check the pack when you buy it or when it arrives, especially if the packaging has changed.
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Overlooking storage instructions when portioning
A larger bag needs to be opened and divided between several lunchboxes. For ja! Mini Pretzels, REWE advises storing them in a dry place, protected from heat and light.
Follow the instructions on your bag and put the pretzels into clean, airtight containers.
Key brands to know
Lorenz / Saltletts
Lorenz offers Saltletts Mini Pretzels in a 3 × 40-g multipack, with portions kept separate.
- Three individually wrapped 40-g portions make it easier to pack several lunchboxes.
- According to Lorenz, this product contains wheat flour and barley malt extract; it may also contain traces of milk, egg and sesame. Always check the ingredient list on the pack you buy.
Schär
Schär Salinis is a pretzel alternative that the manufacturer describes as gluten-free and wheat-free.
- The gluten-free and wheat-free labelling gives you a starting point if you need to avoid these substances.
- The 60-g pack described by REWE is not a confirmed multipack. It contains soya lecithin; possible traces of sesame should also be considered.
ja! bei REWE
ja! Mini Pretzels in a 250-g bag could be suitable for portioning out at home for several lunchboxes.
- Once you’ve checked the allergen information, you can divide the contents of the bag into portions yourself.
- REWE lists wheat flour as an ingredient, along with possible traces of sesame, milk and soya. This is not a confirmed multipack of individually wrapped portions.
Pretzel snacks on Joybuy
This selection includes pretzels, pretzel sticks and pretzel crackers in the pack sizes shown. For a lunchbox, it’s worth considering whether you want to portion the snacks out yourself, as well as checking the allergen information. Pack size alone doesn’t mean the product is a multipack with individually sealed portions.
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Lorenz Saltletts Mini Salted Pretzels 150 g
For lunchboxes with mini pretzels, check whether you’ll need to portion out the contents of the 150-g pack yourself. If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and possible traces on the specific pack; the pack size doesn’t confirm that the portions are individually sealed.
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Lorenz Saltletts Classic Salted Pretzel Sticks 250 g
If you’d rather pack pretzel sticks than pretzels in your lunchbox, compare the 250-g pack with the portion size you need. Before buying, check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information, as well as the actual inner packaging if you need separate portions.
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Lorenz Saltletts KnusperCracker Pretzel Crackers 200 g
If you’re looking for pretzel crackers rather than traditional pretzels, you could portion out the 200-g pack yourself. If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and possible traces on the specific pack; the weight doesn’t tell you whether it contains individually wrapped lunchbox portions.
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Jeden Tag Salted Pretzels 250 g
If you’re preparing several lunchbox portions yourself, compare the 250-g pack with what you need. Before choosing, read the ingredients and precautionary allergen information on the pack, and check that its packaging suits the way you plan to portion it.
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Jeden Tag Salted Pretzel Sticks 250 g
If you’re dividing pretzel sticks between several lunchboxes yourself, the stated pack size of 250 g gives you a useful comparison. Check the allergen information on the pack, and if you need individually wrapped portions, don’t rely on the total weight alone.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find allergen information on packaged pretzel snacks?
Check the ingredient list on the specific pack. According to the German Food Federation, the 14 allergens that must be declared are highlighted there. Also read any precautionary statements about possible traces if they’re relevant to your requirements.
Does ‘may contain traces of sesame’ mean sesame is an ingredient?
No. A precautionary statement refers to possible accidental presence, not sesame as an ingredient in the recipe. It neither confirms that sesame is present nor rules out its presence; consider the information in light of your individual requirements.
Is ‘gluten-free’ enough if you have a wheat allergy?
No. If you have a wheat allergy, the label alone doesn’t replace checking the ingredients and possible traces of wheat. The European Union defines ‘gluten-free’ as containing no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the finished food; any other allergens that matter to you must be checked separately.
Is the Lorenz 3 × 40 g multipack suitable for every allergy?
No. Individually wrapped portions don’t tell you whether the product is suitable for your specific allergy. According to Lorenz, Saltletts Mini Pretzels in this multipack contain wheat flour and barley malt extract; the manufacturer also lists possible traces of milk, egg and sesame.
What should I bear in mind when portioning snacks from a larger bag?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy and use clean, airtight containers. For ja! Mini Pretzels, REWE advises storing them in a dry place, protected from heat and light.