If you’re specifically looking for a wholegrain pretzel for a sweet breakfast, start by checking the product name and ingredients list. Individual wholegrain ingredients don’t necessarily make a pretzel a clearly wholegrain choice. The Bäckerei Kircher sesame wholegrain pretzel lists wholegrain spelt flour and a grain mix made up of 100 % spelt; however, this alone doesn’t tell you the wholegrain content of the entire dough. Also compare salt information and check the ingredients and allergens for each specific product.
If you want to enjoy a pretzel with jam, nut butter or fruit spread and are specifically looking for a wholegrain option, check which grain the product is made from. The product information from Bäckerei Kircher and Bäckerei Schubert is more useful for this than the colour or seeds on the pretzel.
The salt in a pretzel still matters, even with a sweet topping. Bäckerei Schubert lists 1.4 g of salt per 100 g for its wholegrain spelt pretzel; Ditsch lists 2.02 g per 100 g for its pretzel. These figures refer to different products and, on their own, say nothing about their wholegrain content.
When it comes to spelt, other cereals containing gluten or sesame, check the information for the specific product rather than relying on a brand’s general profile. Bäckerei Schubert also warns that its wholegrain spelt pretzel may contain traces of other allergens.
When choosing a pretzel for a sweet breakfast, first decide whether an explicitly wholegrain recipe is important to you. Then compare the salt information and check the ingredients of the specific product.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain content | Read the product name and ingredients list. Distinguish a clearly labelled wholegrain pretzel from a pretzel that contains individual wholegrain ingredients. A stated grain mix doesn’t automatically tell you the wholegrain content of the dough. | If wholegrain is my top priority for a sweet breakfast, I want to be able to see what grains the pretzel is made from. For around 44 % of shoppers, checking for wholegrain comes first. |
| Salt content | Compare the salt information per 100 g and take the serving size into account. For pretzels to bake at home, check whether the salt is supplied separately. | A sweet topping doesn’t change the fact that I want to keep an eye on the pretzel’s salt content. Around 33 % of shoppers put comparing salt first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current information for the specific product for cereals containing gluten, sesame and any precautionary allergen statements. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the recipe matters more than the pretzel’s name. Checking ingredients and allergens comes first for around 23 % of shoppers. |
The Bäcker Bachmeier organic pretzels listed by REWE contain wholegrain oat flour and wholegrain rye sourdough, but organic wheat flour is the first ingredient and they are described as organic pretzels. According to the German Food Federation, ingredients are listed in descending order by weight.
If you’re specifically looking for wholegrain, compare the product name, ingredients and any quantity information rather than relying on a single wholegrain ingredient.
Bäckerei Schubert lists 1.4 g of salt per 100 g for its wholegrain spelt pretzel; Ditsch lists 2.02 g per 100 g for its pretzel. The topping doesn’t change the figures for these products.
Compare salt per 100 g and the size of the pretzel. If salt is supplied with a pretzel for baking at home, follow the pack instructions to decide whether to sprinkle it on.
The Bäckerei Kircher sesame wholegrain pretzel contains spelt and sesame. Bäckerei Schubert also lists sesame and cereals containing gluten for its wholegrain spelt pretzel, as well as possible traces of other allergens.
Check the current labelling for each pretzel individually. If you have a relevant allergy, the words ‘wholegrain spelt’ aren’t enough to help you decide.
The sesame wholegrain pretzel is an option if you’re looking for an explicitly listed wholegrain ingredient and information about the grain mix.
The wholegrain spelt pretzel comes with ingredient and nutritional information, making it easier to compare this specific product.
The pretzel is a point of comparison with clearly labelled wholegrain pretzels, not an equivalent wholegrain option.
The organic pretzels listed by REWE are frozen pretzels for baking at home, with individual wholegrain ingredients.
Look for a clear product name and read the ingredients list rather than judging by colour or seeds. According to the German Food Federation, ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. The Bäckerei Kircher sesame wholegrain pretzel lists wholegrain spelt flour; the Bäcker Bachmeier organic pretzels listed by REWE do contain wholegrain ingredients, but organic wheat flour comes first.
No. Spelt is a cereal that contains gluten. The Bäckerei Schubert wholegrain spelt pretzel and the Bäckerei Kircher sesame wholegrain pretzel are therefore not gluten-free alternatives. Also check the allergen information for each pretzel.
Yes. A sweet topping doesn’t change the salt content of the pretzel. Bäckerei Schubert lists 1,4 g of salt per 100 g for its wholegrain spelt pretzel, while Ditsch lists 2,02 g per 100 g for its pretzel. Remember to compare serving sizes too.
Prepare pretzels for baking at home according to the instructions for the specific product, and make sure they’re cooked through before eating. EDEKA describes a preparation step for its pretzels that uses the coarse salt supplied with them. Check whether salt is included with your pack and follow the preparation instructions.