Families looking for wholegrain ingredients
If wholegrain is a priority for your tea party, a named wholegrain ingredient and a stated percentage are more helpful when choosing than the colour of the pretzel.
Who is this choice important for?
Families who want to compare salt content
If you want to assess salty snacks for children, compare the salt per 100 g – even for pretzels without visible salt sprinkled on top.
Families with relevant grain or sesame allergies
Here, the ingredients and allergen information are the main things to check. Spelt is a type of wheat, while sesame may be an ingredient or appear in a ‘may contain traces’ warning, depending on the pretzel.
What should you look for when buying?
First, check whether the pretzel suits your wholegrain preferences. Then compare the salt content and allergens. Finally, consider the shape and how you’d like to serve it at your tea party.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain base | Check for a specific wholegrain ingredient and, if stated, its percentage. Compare fibre using the nutritional information per 100 g. | If wholegrain is the reason for my choice, I want to be able to check the percentage rather than rely on appearances. For around 36% of consumers, this information comes first. |
| Salt | Compare salt per 100 g; don’t assume that ‘no salt sprinkled on top’ means a low overall salt content. | When choosing salty snacks for children, I want to know the stated amount of salt, even if there are no salt crystals on top. Around 29% of consumers give this comparison the most weight. |
| Allergens | Check the types of grain and sesame in the ingredients list and allergen information; don’t assume spelt is wheat-free. | If a grain or sesame allergy is a concern, I need to check the specific labelling on the pretzel. For around 21% of consumers, checking the ingredients comes first. |
| How it’s served | Check the size of each pretzel and whether it needs preparing for your planned tea party. | If I want to serve the pretzels without any preparation, a suitable small shape matters more to me than a pretzel that needs warming. Around 14% of consumers prioritise convenience. |
Common pitfalls
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Assuming wholegrain means less salt
Wholegrain ingredients and salt content are separate considerations. REWE states that its Freche Freunde pretzels with no salt sprinkled on top contain 2.1 g of salt per 100 g; Bio und Vollwert-Bäckerei Schubert states that its wholegrain spelt pretzel contains 1.4 g per 100 g. The products also differ in shape and ingredients.
Compare the salt per 100 g, then check which ingredients and shape suit your tea party.
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Assuming spelt is wheat-free
Spelt is a type of wheat. So the term ‘wholegrain spelt’ doesn’t make a pretzel a suitable alternative for someone with a wheat allergy.
If an allergy is a concern, check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product, and follow the individual medical advice you’ve been given.
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Overlooking sesame information
For the pretzels considered here, sesame appears as an ingredient in some cases and as a possible trace warning in others. This distinction matters if sesame needs to be avoided.
Check the labelling again each time you buy, and if you have a sesame allergy, use your individual medical advice to determine which warnings are relevant.
Brands to help you choose
Alnatura
The wholegrain pretzels in the 125-g pack are an option if you want the wholegrain percentage to be stated explicitly.
- Alnatura states that this variety contains 81% wholemeal wheat flour.
- The ingredients include wheat and barley malt extract; a possible sesame trace warning is also given. Check the current pack labelling.
Freche Freunde
The organic chickpea pretzels are small pretzel snacks that can be served without preparation and have no salt sprinkled on top.
- REWE states that the 75-g variety contains 27% wholegrain spelt flour.
- Despite having no salt sprinkled on top, REWE declares 2.1 g of salt per 100 g. They contain wheat, spelt and barley, and may contain traces of sesame.
Bäckerei Schubert
The wholegrain spelt pretzel is a larger option for a tea party where you don’t need small pretzel snacks.
- Bio und Vollwert-Bäckerei Schubert states that its 75-g pretzel contains 1.4 g of salt per 100 g.
- The pretzel contains sesame, spelt and barley. If you have a relevant allergy, check these ingredients before choosing it.
Ditsch
The classic pretzel is only an option if wholegrain isn’t a must for your tea party.
- Ditsch publishes the ingredients and nutritional information for its 100-g pretzel.
- The ingredients list starts with wheat flour rather than a stated wholegrain ingredient; the declared salt content is 2.02 g per 100 g.
Packaged pretzels at Joybuy
This selection includes two packaged Alnatura pretzels for a tea party: one variety with a stated wholemeal wheat percentage and one spelt variety with sesame. Compare their labelling if wholegrain, salt or allergens are important to your choice.
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Alnatura organic wholegrain salted pretzels 125 g
For a tea party where a stated wholegrain percentage matters.
Alnatura states that this variety contains 81% wholemeal wheat flour. It contains wheat and barley malt extract; if you have a sesame allergy, pay particular attention to the labelling on the current pack. Compare the salt content per 100 g stated on the pack.
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Alnatura organic spelt pretzels with sesame 125 g
For a tea party where spelt pretzels with sesame are an option.
The pack contains 125 g. Spelt is a type of wheat, not a wheat-free alternative. Before buying, check the full ingredients list, allergen information and nutritional details on the specific pack.
Questions about choosing
Does a wholegrain pretzel automatically contain less salt than a classic pretzel?
No. The wholegrain content doesn’t determine the salt content. Compare the figures per 100 g on the specific products: REWE states that its Freche Freunde pretzels with wholegrain spelt flour contain 2.1 g of salt, while Ditsch states that its classic pretzel contains 2.02 g.
Are wholegrain spelt pretzels an alternative for someone with a wheat allergy?
Spelt is a type of wheat, so you shouldn’t choose it as an alternative for someone with a wheat allergy just because it has a different name. The labelling on the specific product and individual medical advice are what matter.
What does ‘no salt sprinkled on top’ mean on children’s pretzels?
It means there’s no salt sprinkled on the surface; it doesn’t describe the overall salt content. REWE states that its Freche Freunde pretzels with no salt sprinkled on top contain 2.1 g of salt per 100 g.
How do I check allergens in pretzels sold loose?
Before buying, ask for the allergen information for the exact pretzel on offer. For packaged products, check the ingredients list and information on the current pack. This is particularly important if certain grains or sesame are a concern for you.