Who should take care when choosing?

Breakfast shoppers keeping an eye on portion size

You want to add a sweet topping to a pretzel and get an idea of how much the pretzel and topping together will contribute to your meal.

Shoppers checking salt and ingredients

You compare salt levels or check the ingredients and allergen information before choosing a packaged or loose pretzel.

Shoppers short on time in the morning

You’re looking for a pretzel you can top with something sweet without baking, or you’re planning ahead for the preparation time needed for frozen pretzels.

What should you look for when buying?

First, choose a suitable size and type of product. Then compare nutritional values on the same basis and take your planned topping into account.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Energy and portion size Compare kcal per 100 g only when the products are in a comparable state, and bear in mind the weight of each pretzel and the amount of sweet topping. If I’m eating the whole pretzel, I want to know how large my portion will be with the topping. For around 40% of consumers, checking energy and portion size would be the main priority.
Salt and allergens Check the salt information and whether any salt supplied with the pretzels is included; check the ingredients and allergen information if needed. If I need to watch my salt intake or avoid certain ingredients, I need information about the specific pretzel. Around 30% of consumers would put salt or allergens first when choosing.
Preparation and toppings Choose between ready-baked pretzels and frozen ones to bake at home; with a plain pretzel, you can choose the sweet topping yourself. In the morning, I either want to eat straight away or plan time for baking and add my own topping afterwards. For around 30% of consumers, this practical flexibility would be the main consideration.

What are common comparison mistakes?

  • Comparing unbaked and baked pretzels directly

    REWE gives the nutritional values for its Beste Wahl frozen pretzels as unbaked dough without added salt. The figures for the Ditsch pretzel, on the other hand, are for the baked product. So the figures are based on different product states.

    Where possible, compare pretzels in the same state, and check how any salt supplied with frozen products is accounted for.

  • Looking only at the figures per 100 g for an XXL pretzel

    According to EDEKA, its EDEKA Herzstücke XXL pretzel weighs 295 g. If you eat the whole pretzel, you’ll be having more than the amount described by the figures per 100 g.

    Check the weight of the pretzel and decide how much you actually want to eat.

  • Not counting the sweet topping

    The nutritional information for a plain pretzel doesn’t describe the finished meal with jam, nut butter or another topping.

    If you want to estimate the whole portion, choose the pretzel and the amount of topping together.

Brands and product ranges to help you choose

Ditsch

Ditsch describes a ready-baked pretzel weighing 100 g.

  • For this product, Ditsch lists 271 kcal and 2.02 g of salt per 100 g, along with ingredients and allergen information.
  • These figures apply to the pretzel described, not to every product in the range.

REWE Beste Wahl

Pretzels in this range are sold frozen for baking at home, with the salt supplied separately.

  • The packaging information helps you plan the baking and when to add the salt before breakfast.
  • According to REWE, the nutritional values are for unbaked dough without added salt, not for a ready-baked, salted pretzel.

EDEKA Herzstücke

EDEKA describes an XXL pretzel to bake at home in this range.

  • For the XXL version, EDEKA lists a weight of 295 g, as well as nutritional values and preparation instructions.
  • Its large size is important when planning your portion; EDEKA also notes that the product may not be available in every store.

MEINE BACKWELT / ALDI SÜD

ALDI SÜD stocks a freshly baked Swabian-style pretzel in its bakery range.

  • For the pretzel described, ALDI SÜD lists 314 kcal and 1.6 g of salt per 100 g.
  • According to ALDI SÜD, the pretzel may come from different suppliers, so check the information for the product on offer.

LIDL Unser Brot

Lidl uses bake-at-home pretzels in a recipe for a sweet breakfast.

  • The recipe shows one way to prepare them with additional ingredients.
  • The nutritional values for the whole recipe aren’t the nutritional values for one plain pretzel bought on its own.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Relevant products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I compare the calorie information for different pretzels directly?

Only if the serving basis and product state are comparable. REWE gives the figures for its Beste Wahl frozen pretzels as unbaked dough without added salt, while Ditsch gives figures for a baked pretzel. Also check the weight of the pretzel if you want to know what your portion includes.

What should I look for in a pretzel’s salt content?

Check the amount of salt per 100 g, the size of your portion and, for frozen products, whether any salt supplied with the pretzels is included in the figures. Ditsch lists 2.02 g of salt for its ready-baked 100 g pretzel; EDEKA lists 4 g per 100 g for its XXL pretzel. These figures relate to different products, so don’t compare them without considering the portion size.

Is the Nutri-Score enough to help me choose a pretzel for breakfast?

No. To assess your portion, you’ll also need information on nutritional values, the weight of the pretzel and its topping. The Verbraucherzentrale notes that using the Nutri-Score is voluntary. When comparing products, also check whether the nutritional values are for baked or unbaked pretzels.