If you have coeliac disease, choose porridge oats with a current gluten-free declaration or a recognised gluten-free mark; the Dutch Coeliac Association prefers oats bearing the Crossed Grain mark. If you also want them to be strictly sugar-free, check the total sugars: under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a product making this claim can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The gluten-free oats discussed here list 0.8 to 1 g per 100 g, so they do not meet this limit.
Oats being an ingredient is not enough on its own to determine whether a product is suitable. The Dutch Coeliac Association recommends choosing oats bearing the Crossed Grain mark where possible. Also check the gluten-free declaration and allergen information on the packaging.
You’re looking for more than just a product with no added sugars. In the EU, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is only permitted for products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information is what matters.
You may be comparing a product made with oats alone with varieties containing ingredients such as seeds or quinoa. Read the full ingredients list and the nutritional information per 100 g: the product name alone doesn’t tell you what’s in it.
If you have coeliac disease, start by checking the gluten-free declaration on the current pack. Then compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g with the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. After that, the ingredients and preparation instructions can help you choose between suitable options.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Especially relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free for coeliac disease | Look for an explicit gluten-free declaration or a recognised mark, and read the allergen information. ‘100% oats’ is not enough to confirm that a product is suitable. | When I’m buying porridge oats for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on oats as an ingredient if cross-contamination is possible. Gluten safety is the deciding factor for around 46% of consumers. |
| Strictly sugar-free | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g with the limit of 0.5 g. ‘No added sugars’ does not mean the same as ‘sugar-free’. | When I’m specifically looking for sugar-free porridge oats, I want to know whether the total sugar content meets the limit for that claim. Strictly sugar-free products are the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and how you’ll use it | Read the ingredients and preparation instructions. Decide whether you want oats alone or additional ingredients such as seeds and quinoa. | For my everyday breakfast, I want to be able to choose between a simple oat base and a mix with extra ingredients. The ingredients are the most important factor for around 18% of consumers. |
This tells you what the ingredient is, not whether cross-contamination has been avoided. Product information for regular Brinta and Quaker porridge oats warns that they may contain wheat and rye, and wheat and barley, respectively.
If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, check the current gluten-free declaration or mark, and read the allergen information on the pack.
A product can contain no added sugars and still have naturally occurring sugars. In the EU, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is only permitted when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Check the total amount listed under ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, even if the front of the pack says there are no added sugars.
The ingredients and nutritional information on a product page can contradict each other. For Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Porridge Oats, the stated sugar content does not appear to match the ingredients list.
When making your final choice, use the ingredients, allergen declaration and nutritional information on the pack you buy or receive.
These examples relate to the specific porridge oat varieties mentioned, not every product made by each brand. Always check the label on the specific pack you’re buying.
AH Glutenvrij Volkoren havermout is a variety listing gluten-free wholegrain oats as its ingredient.
The gluten-free multi-seed porridge oats combine oats with ingredients including linseed, chia seeds and quinoa.
Leev Nederlandse havermout is a gluten-free wholegrain oat option. Joybuy’s product information relates to a 450 g pack.
The regular Brinta Porridge Oats referred to here list 100% oats as their ingredient.
The regular Quaker Porridge Oats referred to here are labelled ‘no added sugars’.
According to Jumbo, the porridge oat variety mentioned has a gluten-free declaration and the Crossed Grain mark.
Not automatically. Check that the specific porridge oats are explicitly labelled gluten-free or carry a recognised gluten-free mark. The Dutch Coeliac Association prefers oats bearing the Crossed Grain mark. Product information for regular Brinta and Quaker porridge oats warns that they may contain cereals containing gluten.
Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim means a product can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ does not rule out naturally occurring sugars. For example, Quaker Porridge Oats are labelled ‘no added sugars’ and contain 1.1 g of total sugars per 100 g.
No. The stated sugar content of these varieties is above the EU limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Albert Heijn lists 1 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Glutenvrij, Jumbo lists 0.8 g per 100 g for Zonnatura Multi-seed, and Joybuy lists 1 g per 100 g for Leev Nederlandse havermout. Check the nutritional information on the current pack before choosing.
Check the gluten-free declaration, allergen information, full ingredients list and ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the pack you receive. This means you can base your choice for coeliac disease, and any decision about a sugar-free claim, on the same product variety and its current nutritional information.
