For your hotel breakfast buffet, choose cereals whose on-pack claims match what you want to offer your guests. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘no added sugar’ does not mean that a product contains no sugars at all. So don’t use it as a synonym for ‘sugar-free’. You should also check the nutrition information, ingredients and allergen information for each product.
They want a clear option for the buffet, but need to distinguish ‘no added sugar’ from ‘sugar-free’. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product with no added sugar may still contain naturally occurring sugars.
When cereals are served loose, guests need to be able to see which allergens are present in their chosen product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must be available wherever unpackaged products are offered.
For a buffet offering both simple oat products and crunchy cereals, the sugar claim is not the only point of comparison. Check the fibre, fat, ingredients, any sweeteners and the serving size for each product.
Start with the claim you want to use at the buffet. Then compare products for allergens, nutrition information and how you plan to serve them.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Compare the claim on the packaging with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Don’t present ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’. | When I create a buffet label, I want to give accurate sugar information and avoid misleading guests with an overly broad claim. This check is a top priority for around 33% of consumers buying breakfast cereals for a hotel buffet. |
| Allergens | Check the current ingredients and allergen information for each product, and make it available where guests choose their cereals. | With loose buffet products, I want guests to be able to match each product to the right allergen information. Clear information about allergens present is the top priority for around 27% of these consumers. |
| Nutrition information | Compare sugars, fibre, fat and salt per 100 g, and check the ingredients too. A fibre claim does not replace checking the sugars. | When I compare products, I want to look beyond the claim on the front of the pack. Around 27% of consumers give the wider nutritional profile top priority. |
| Buffet presentation | Check whether a product is ready to serve or needs preparation, and whether it works with the milk, yoghurt or other toppings on offer. | I want to give guests a choice without making preparation and information at the buffet impractical. For an estimated 13% of consumers, the buffet experience carries the most weight when choosing products. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, breakfast cereals with no added sugar may still contain naturally occurring sugars. So the two claims don’t mean the same thing to guests.
Use the claim shown on the current packaging on your buffet label, and also check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition information.
A low sugar content doesn’t tell you which ingredients have been used to add sweetness. Albert Heijn says that AH Krokante muesli noten 0% suiker contains maltitols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and any warnings before choosing a product or preparing product information for guests.
At an open buffet, guests can’t always check the packaging for themselves. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says information about allergens present must be available wherever unpackaged products are offered.
Link the current allergen information to each buffet container so it’s clear which product it applies to.
Kellogg’s product information for All-Bran Fibre Plus lists 27 g of fibre and 18 g of sugars per 100 g. For AH Granola koolhydraat verlaagd 0% suiker, Albert Heijn lists, among other things, 16 g of fibre and 36 g of fat per 100 g.
Compare products on the same basis, preferably per 100 g, and consider the full nutritional profile alongside the ingredients.
The differences below apply to the products named, not to each brand’s full range.
Useful for comparing a crunchy option with no added sugar against other buffet products.
Two own-brand products show why the sugar content, sweeteners and other nutrition information each deserve separate consideration.
All-Bran Fibre Plus is a useful reference for comparing fibre and sugars, not for choosing a product with no added sugar.
This selection includes three crunchy Quaker Cruesli varieties labelled Zero Sugar Added, plus an oat product for a different buffet presentation. Check the nutrition and allergen information on each pack you choose before preparing your buffet labels.
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A crunchy option for a buffet where you want to offer a range of flavours. The pack is 400 g; check the current sugar and allergen information before creating a buffet label.
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A crunchy option with apple, pecan and cinnamon in the product name, for anyone looking to offer that flavour combination at the buffet. The pack is 400 g; make a note of the current allergen information for the product.
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A natural cruesli option when you want to offer a different crunchy choice alongside the fruit flavours. The pack is 400 g; check the current claims, nutrition information and allergens on the packaging.
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An oat option for a buffet that also offers a prepared bowl of porridge. The pack is 600 g; allow for preparation and check the current product information before presenting it to guests.
No, the claims don’t mean the same thing. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product with no added sugar may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Check the current packaging and use a claim that accurately describes the product.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between added and naturally occurring sugars, so check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition information too.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says information about allergens present must be available wherever unpackaged breakfast cereals are offered. Make sure guests can match the information to the right buffet container, and update it if the product changes.
No, compare the two figures separately. Kellogg’s lists 27 g of fibre and 18 g of sugars per 100 g for All-Bran Fibre Plus, so a fibre claim is no substitute for checking the sugar content.
Compare the labels with the packaging of the product you’re actually serving. Check the ingredients, nutrition information and allergens again, especially if the packaging or product variant has changed.
