If a guest needs to avoid gluten, choose pretzels explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information too. If they need to avoid wheat, make sure the specific wheat information is suitable as well. Vegan or lactose-free describes different requirements and doesn’t replace these checks. Classic pretzels are an option for guests who don’t need to avoid these ingredients, as long as their ingredients and allergens are suitable for everyone.
For these guests, look for a clear gluten-free label. Check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information for the specific pretzel too. If wheat also needs to be avoided, take that into account separately.
A vegan or lactose-free pretzel can be a good addition to a shared selection of snacks. These labels alone don’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with a wheat, soya or sesame allergy.
If no one needs to avoid gluten or wheat, freshly bought or oven-baked pretzels could be an option. If you’re serving bake-at-home pretzels, allow time and space in the oven as well as checking the ingredients and allergens.
First, find out what individual guests need to avoid. Then you can decide whether labelled pretzel snacks or classic pretzels are right for your group.
| Requirement | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding gluten or wheat | Look for an explicit gluten-free label. If wheat needs to be avoided, check the ingredients and wheat information too, and take other allergens and precautionary allergen information into account. | If a guest needs to avoid gluten or wheat, I need a pretzel whose labelling matches their specific requirement. For around 50% of consumers, this is their top priority. |
| Choosing vegan or lactose-free | Check the relevant label on the specific product and compare its ingredients and precautionary allergen information with the other needs of your guests. | For a shared snack platter, I’m mainly looking for a pretzel without animal ingredients or one labelled lactose-free. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Serving classic pretzels | Check for wheat and other declared allergens. If you’re serving bake-at-home pretzels, allow for the baking instructions and available oven space. | If no one has a specific requirement to avoid certain ingredients, I’d like to serve warm pretzels at the right time. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this. |
A gluten-free pretzel may contain other ingredients that matter, or carry precautionary allergen information. For example, Schär Salinis lists soya lecithin and may contain traces of sesame.
Ask which specific allergens need to be avoided and check the information on the relevant pack.
These labels refer to different properties. REWE lists Schär Salinis with all three claims, but that doesn’t tell you anything about other pretzels or remove the need to check for soya or sesame.
Check each required property separately on the product you choose.
The classic pretzels described by Ditsch and EDEKA contain wheat. If you serve different types together, guests may find it hard to tell them apart.
Use separate bowls and serving utensils, and keep the packaging handy in case anyone has questions. Check the curry dips for allergens too.
REWE lists Schär Salinis as gluten-free, wheat-free, lactose-free and vegan salted pretzels.
REWE lists the Bio Hafer Brezeln as gluten-free and vegan, with no added wheat.
Ditsch offers a classic pretzel for guests who don’t need to avoid gluten or wheat.
The pretzels described by EDEKA are designed to be oven-baked, making them a good option if you’d like to serve warm pretzels.
No. Vegan means that a product contains no animal ingredients; it doesn’t tell you how much gluten it contains. Choose a pretzel explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information on the specific pack too.
The pretzels described by Ditsch and EDEKA contain wheat, so they’re not suitable for anyone avoiding gluten. The EDEKA product also contains soya; always check the product information for other products individually.
Serve the option chosen for each guest separately from other pretzels, using dedicated serving utensils. Keep the product packaging handy, and check the ingredients in the curry dips and other snacks too.
Not simply because they’re labelled gluten-free. The consumer advice centre Verbraucherzentrale generally considers gluten-free specialist products unnecessary for people without gluten-related problems. When choosing pretzels for curry night, focus on your guests’ specific needs and the information provided for each product.