If you have coeliac disease, choose breakfast cereal with an explicit gluten-free statement or a suitable gluten-free certification on the finished product; corn or oats as the main ingredient are not enough. For a weekday breakfast, also compare sugars, salt and fibre per 100 g. Choose oats only if the product is explicitly labelled gluten-free and you tolerate oats.
You want to eat cereal during the week without relying solely on the grain used. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises checking breakfast cereals for a gluten-free logo or an explicit gluten-free statement.
You’re looking for a simple breakfast you can eat regularly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing similar breakfast cereals per 100 g, including their sugar and fibre content.
You’re considering oat flakes or porridge oats. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, oats should be explicitly labelled gluten-free, and a small number of people with coeliac disease also cannot tolerate pure oats.
For coeliac disease, a gluten-free finished product is essential. Beyond that, different consumers prioritise different things when choosing breakfast.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed gluten-free | Look for a gluten-free statement or suitable certification on the current packaging. Check this for oat products too. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to decide whether a cereal is suitable based on the main ingredient alone. Around 50% of consumers prioritise confirmed gluten-free status. |
| Nutritional value for regular use | Compare similar products per 100 g for sugars, salt and fibre, not just per serving. | If I eat the same cereal almost every working day, I want its nutritional make-up to suit my eating habits. Around 30% of consumers prioritise nutritional value. |
| A quick breakfast | Check the serving instructions and portion size on the packaging, as well as the gluten-free statement. | On busy mornings, I want a breakfast I can serve without cooking. For around 20% of consumers, convenience is the main priority. |
The main ingredient doesn’t tell you everything about the other ingredients or the risk of contamination during production. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food may only be labelled gluten-free in the EU if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten when sold to the final consumer.
So check the gluten-free statement on the finished product. For oats, the Dutch Coeliac Society recommends choosing a product with the Crossed Grain certification where possible.
A gluten-free statement tells you nothing about the amount of sugars, salt or fibre in a serving of breakfast cereal.
If you eat cereal regularly for breakfast, compare similar products per 100 g.
Kellogg's Netherlands lists barley malt extract in regular Corn Flakes, and wheat and barley in Special K Original. These ingredients mean the standard versions are not a substitute for cereal explicitly labelled gluten-free.
Read the full ingredients list and, if you have coeliac disease, choose a finished product with a gluten-free statement or suitable certification.
Jumbo says that its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Cornflakes and Consenza Pure & Free Glutenvrije Cornflakes are no longer part of its online range.
Check what’s currently available and read the packaging before buying, rather than relying on an older product listing.
Albert Heijn describes AH Glutenvrij Cornflakes as gluten-free cornflakes for breakfast.
Jumbo’s product page describes its 200 g Lekker Vrij van Gluten Cornflakes as carrying a gluten-free certification.
Jumbo describes Consenza Pure & Free Glutenvrije Cornflakes as a product for a gluten-free diet.
Kellogg's regular Corn Flakes and Special K Original are not confirmed gluten-free options for this breakfast choice.
These two pack options are gluten-free oat granola, not regular cornflakes. They’re most relevant if granola suits your weekday breakfast and you tolerate gluten-free oats.
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Gluten-free granola for an easy breakfast if you tolerate oats; this isn’t cornflakes.
330 g pack. Check the current ingredients and allergen information, especially if peanuts, nuts or soya are relevant to you.
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The same gluten-free granola for anyone who tolerates oats and wants to buy several packs; it’s not a substitute for regular cornflakes if cereal flakes are what you’re looking for.
Six 330 g packs. Check the current ingredients and allergen information, especially if peanuts, nuts or soya are relevant to you.
No. Corn as an ingredient doesn’t guarantee that the finished product is gluten-free. Choose cereal with an explicit gluten-free statement or suitable certification; under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, food sold to the final consumer in the EU can only be labelled gluten-free if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
Choose oat flakes explicitly labelled gluten-free, and consider whether you tolerate oats. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the risk of oats being contaminated with gluten-containing grains, as well as the small number of people with coeliac disease who cannot tolerate even pure oats. If you’re unsure about your own situation, speak to your healthcare professional or a specialist dietitian.
Compare similar gluten-free cereals per 100 g for sugars, salt and fibre. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing labels side by side; also check the ingredients list and the portion you actually eat.
These standard products are not gluten-free substitutes for people with coeliac disease. Kellogg's Netherlands lists barley malt extract in Corn Flakes and wheat and barley, among other ingredients, in Special K Original. If you’re considering a different product, always check its specific packaging.
