Looking for wholegrain breakfast flakes for a quick bowl with milk or yoghurt? Start by checking the grain base, then compare similar products per 100 g for fibre, sugars and salt. Bran flakes may suit you if fibre is your priority. If you’re looking for a variety with no added sugars, check the sweeteners and other ingredients too. If you have an allergy, always read the latest label, including any warnings about cross-contamination.
You want to put together a quick bowl of flakes on a weekday morning, and you’re mainly checking whether they’re made with wholegrain cereal and how much fibre they contain per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that wholegrain cereal products contain more fibre than products made with refined flour.
You eat flakes with milk or yoghurt, but want to find out which sugars and sweetening ingredients they contain first. Compare similar breakfast cereals per 100 g, then read the ingredients list.
If wheat, barley or possible cross-contamination is a concern for you, read the latest label before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that allergens must be clearly stated on the label.
Start with the ingredients to check that the flakes really do contain wholegrain cereal. Then compare similar products per 100 g; use the serving size on the pack mainly to plan your own breakfast.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain cereal and fibre | Check the wholegrain claim and cereal base in the ingredients list; compare the fibre per 100 g in similar flakes. | If flakes are a regular feature on my breakfast table, I want to know that I’m choosing a wholegrain variety and how much fibre it contains. For around 42% of consumers, this combination matters most. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare sugars per 100 g and check the ingredients list for added sources of sugar and sweeteners. | I want to limit added sugars without assuming that a claim on the front tells me everything about the ingredients. Around 33% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| How you’ll eat it and serving size | Check the stated serving size and pack; always use the same 100 g basis when comparing nutritional values. | On weekdays, I want a simple breakfast I can make with milk or yoghurt, with a portion I can plan. This practical need comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
Flakes can be made from different grains. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Bran flakes volkoren contains 74% wholegrain wheat and 15 g of fibre per 100 g. The Kellogg's Cornflakes listed by Albert Heijn are made with maize and contain 3 g of fibre per 100 g; they’re not necessarily a wholegrain alternative.
Look for an explicit wholegrain claim and check the ingredients and fibre per 100 g before treating two packs as alternatives to each other.
A claim about fibre or added sugars doesn’t tell you everything else that’s in the flakes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises comparing similar breakfast cereals per 100 g for sugars and fibre, among other things.
Compare the nutritional information for two similar products, then check the salt and ingredients too.
The Albert Heijn and Jumbo varieties described here list wheat and barley. A wholegrain claim doesn’t make a product suitable for someone who needs to avoid these ingredients.
Check the latest ingredients list every time you buy, and read any warnings on the pack if cross-contamination is a concern for you.
AH Bran flakes volkoren is a bran flakes variety sold in a 500 g pack.
Jumbo Special Flakes is a variety made with wholegrain wheat and rice, sold in a 350 g pack.
In the range mentioned here, All-Bran Flakes and regular Cornflakes are different types of product.
First, compare similar flakes per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking at sugars and fibre, among other things. Then read the ingredients list to identify the cereal base and any sweetening ingredients.
No, that claim doesn’t tell you everything about the product. For example, according to Jumbo, Jumbo Special Flakes also contains maltitols, 7.2 g of fibre and 1.15 g of salt per 100 g. Compare this information with what matters to you for this breakfast.
Yes, if the product’s serving suggestion says so. For AH Bran flakes volkoren, Albert Heijn suggests a 40 g serving with milk, yoghurt, quark or a plant-based alternative, among other options. Check the pack of your chosen flakes for the relevant instructions.
Check the latest ingredients list for any grains that are a concern for you, particularly wheat and barley in the wholegrain varieties discussed here. Also read any warnings about cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be clearly stated on the labels of prepacked foods.
