If you’re buying cereal for someone with coeliac disease, start by checking the gluten-free label on the current packaging. If you also want no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, the gluten-free granolas with no added sugars discussed here aren’t suitable: they contain 1.9 or 4.0 g of sugars per 100 g. If naturally occurring sugars are acceptable to you, you can compare these products further by looking at their nutritional information and allergens.
An ingredients list alone isn’t enough to establish whether oats are gluten-free. The Voedingscentrum advises checking the ‘gluten-free’ label or Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging. Also check for any other allergens that are relevant to the person eating the product.
If naturally occurring sugars aren’t a concern for you, ‘no added sugars’ may suit your preferences. Still check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutritional information: this tells you the total amount of sugars in the product.
If you have a relevant nut, peanut or soya allergy, you’ll need to check the exact variety, even when choosing gluten-free granola. Read both the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging.
First, check that the exact product packaging carries a gluten-free label. Then compare the sugars per 100 g and check for any other allergens.
| What to look out for | What to check when buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging, even if the product contains oats. | When I buy cereal for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to guess whether it’s suitable based on oats or an ingredients list. Around 42% of consumers put this confirmation first. |
| Total sugars | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Distinguish between a limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g and a ‘no added sugars’ label. | If you’re following a limit for total sugars, you don’t want to accidentally choose a product that only contains no added sugars. Around 33% of consumers consider this distinction their main concern. |
| Other allergens | Check which allergens the exact variety contains and what it may contain. | If I have another allergy, I want to know whether this particular granola contains peanuts or nuts, for example. Around 25% of consumers say this check is the most important factor in their decision. |
A product can have no added sugars and still contain naturally occurring sugars. The Holie’s granolas Buckwheat & Nuts and Peanut Chocolate listed by Jumbo contain 1.9 and 4.0 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
Decide which requirement matters to you, then check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g.
According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can come into contact with gluten during production or processing. So the presence of oats alone doesn’t tell you whether a cereal product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Check for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging you’re buying.
A sugar label tells you nothing about gluten or other allergens. Jumbo lists wheat and gluten-containing cereals among the ingredients in Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Naturel. Gluten-free granola may also contain peanuts or nuts.
First check the gluten-free label and any relevant allergens for the exact variety. Then compare the nutritional information.
The Gluten Free Granola Buckwheat & Nuts and Peanut Chocolate products listed by Jumbo are examples of granola labelled gluten-free and with no added sugars.
The Zero Sugar Added label doesn’t make the Naturel and Nuts & Seeds varieties checked suitable as a gluten-free option for someone with coeliac disease.
Albert Heijn’s range of gluten-free cereals includes granola, porridge oats, muesli and cornflakes.
No. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t rule out naturally occurring sugars. The European Commission explains that this label means that no sugars or other ingredients have been added for their sweetening properties. So if you’re following a limit for total sugars, also check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.
Don’t choose oat products just because oats appear on the ingredients list. The Voedingscentrum highlights the risk of gluten contamination and advises people with coeliac disease to look for a confirmed gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
No. Jumbo lists 4.0 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety, even though the granola has no added sugars. If naturally occurring sugars are acceptable to you, also check the current gluten-free label and allergen information on the packaging.
Read the allergen information for the exact granola variety, including any ‘may contain’ statements. According to Jumbo’s product listings, Holie’s Buckwheat & Nuts contains almonds and hazelnuts, while Peanut Chocolate contains peanuts. A gluten-free label doesn’t replace this check.
