People looking for wholegrains and fibre
You want to choose a wholegrain pretzel for your lunch break. Rather than relying on its colour or seeds, check the product name, ingredients list and, where available, the fibre information.
Who should take care when choosing?
People keeping an eye on their salt intake
If you eat pretzels and other lye-baked goods regularly, compare the salt per 100 g, the weight of the portion you eat and any extra pretzel salt.
People who need allergen information
Before ordering, you need to know whether the pretzel contains ingredients that matter to you, such as wheat or sesame. For unwrapped canteen food, check the allergen information available or ask directly.
What should you look for when buying?
First, check whether the specific pretzel really contains wholegrains. Then consider the salt and portion size; if you have relevant allergies, check the labelling before you buy.
| What to check | What to look for when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrains | Look for the word ‘wholegrain’ in the product name and for wholemeal flour or wholegrain meal in the ingredients list. | I want a pretzel with a clearly identified wholegrain ingredient, rather than just a dark crust. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Salt and portion size | Consider the salt per 100 g alongside the amount you eat. For bake-at-home pretzels, also think about how much of the accompanying pretzel salt you use. | If I eat a larger pretzel or several pieces, I want to be able to estimate the salt in my portion. Around 30% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Allergens | Check the label on packaged products. For unwrapped canteen food, ask about the allergens that matter to you. | Before ordering at the counter, I need clear information about ingredients I must avoid. This information takes priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Assuming a brown or seed-topped pretzel is wholegrain
Colour and toppings don’t reliably show which flour has been used in the dough. If you’re specifically looking for wholegrains, you can’t rely on appearance alone.
Look for a clear wholegrain description and check the ingredients. For unwrapped products, ask for the product information.
-
Comparing only the salt per 100 g
The amount of salt you actually eat also depends on the size of the pretzel and whether extra pretzel salt is used.
Use the salt information to work out how much is in your portion. If salt is supplied separately, decide how much to add.
-
Planning small snack pretzels as a full lunch
A packaged pretzel snack is a different size and style from a filled pretzel or a canteen meal. The wholegrain content alone doesn’t tell you whether the portion will be enough for your lunch break.
If needed, plan a suitable side and continue to take salt and allergens into account when choosing what to have with it.
-
Assuming unwrapped food comes with a full ingredients list
Information at a canteen counter is provided differently from the information on a packet. You can’t check a pretzel for relevant allergens just by looking at it.
Before ordering, ask specifically about the allergens that matter to you and ask to see the information available.
Brands and product ranges to help you choose
Alnatura
Alnatura describes its wholegrain pretzels as small salted pretzels in a 125-g pack. For this variety, Alnatura states that it contains 81% wholemeal wheat flour.
- The wholegrain content and pack size are specified for this particular variety.
- This is a snack-sized product, not a freshly filled canteen pretzel. It contains wheat; Alnatura also notes that it may contain traces of sesame.
Ditsch
Ditsch sells a range of lye-baked goods. The lye pretzel described here weighs 160 g.
- Ditsch provides the weight and ingredients for this pretzel.
- The ingredients list for this variety names wheat flour, not wholemeal flour. It is therefore not a confirmed wholegrain option.
GUT&GÜNSTIG / EDEKA
EDEKA describes a pack of ten frozen lye pretzels, with pretzel salt supplied separately.
- With this bake-at-home option, you can choose how much of the supplied salt to use.
- The ingredients list states wheat flour rather than wholemeal flour. EDEKA gives the salt content as 3.3 g per 100 g.
MEINE BACKWELT / ALDI SÜD
ALDI SÜD includes a lye pretzel in its published MEINE BACKWELT bakery range.
- The lye pretzel is listed as a bakery-counter product.
- The product range name doesn’t confirm that the pretzel contains wholegrains. Check the product name and ingredient information in store for the specific item.
Pretzels for an office break at Joybuy
These packaged pretzel snacks could be a good choice for an office break. The wholegrain content is specified for the wholegrain salted pretzel; for the sesame spelt pretzels, check the pack’s ingredients if you’re looking for a wholegrain option. Both are best treated as a snack or as part of your lunch break.
Image unavailable
Alnatura organic wholegrain salted pretzels, 125 g
A good choice for an office break if you’re looking for a pretzel snack with a stated wholegrain content. Alnatura says this 125-g variety contains 81% wholemeal wheat flour. Check the salt and allergen information on the pack when considering your portion. As a snack, it won’t necessarily replace a full lunch.
Image unavailable
Alnatura organic spelt pretzels with sesame, 125 g
A packaged spelt pretzel snack for your office break. The product name mentions sesame and a pack size of 125 g. If you’re looking for a wholegrain option, check the ingredients list to see whether it contains wholemeal flour and in what proportion. Also check the allergen and salt information on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dark pretzel automatically a wholegrain pretzel?
No. The German Nutrition Society points out that colour can be misleading. Look for a wholegrain description and check which flour is listed in the ingredients.
How do I assess the salt in a lye pretzel?
Use the salt per 100 g to work out how much is in the amount you actually eat. EDEKA states that its bake-at-home lye pretzels contain 3.3 g of salt per 100 g; you can also account for any pretzel salt supplied separately when preparing them.
How can I find out which allergens are in an unwrapped canteen pretzel?
Check the allergen information at the serving counter and ask specifically about any ingredients that matter to you before ordering. For unwrapped food, the information may not be as easy to access as the ingredients list on a packet.
Is a wholegrain pretzel automatically gluten-free?
No. Wholegrain describes how the grain is processed, not whether it contains gluten. The wholegrain salted pretzels described by Alnatura contain wholemeal wheat flour, so check the allergen information for each specific pretzel.