For a family breakfast that includes someone with coeliac disease, only buy breakfast cereals whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the official Crossed Grain symbol. Then compare pack size and nutritional information. Ordinary cornflakes are not automatically suitable, and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says you should also check for the symbol on oat flakes. In a mixed household, store your gluten-free supplies separately and use clean utensils.
If someone in your household has coeliac disease, choosing breakfast cereal starts with checking the label. If other family members also eat gluten-containing products, storing and serving food calls for extra care. The Netherlands Coeliac Society advises keeping gluten-free products separate.
If you eat breakfast cereal regularly, compare pack sizes and shelf life once you’ve checked that it’s labelled gluten-free. Also think about where you can store opened packs away from gluten-containing products.
Once you’ve narrowed down your gluten-free options, comparing ingredients and the fibre, sugar and salt content per 100 g can help you choose. If you have coeliac disease, check that oat flakes carry the official Crossed Grain symbol first.
If someone has coeliac disease, check the actual pack first. Only once a product meets this requirement should pack size and nutritional information influence your choice.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the official Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging. Check the ingredients and allergen information too. | If someone with coeliac disease is eating with us, I want to choose breakfast cereal by checking the pack, not just by looking at the name cornflakes. For around 50% of consumers, clear gluten-free labelling comes first. |
| Pack size and storage | Compare the size and shelf life of suitable packs, and make sure you can store your gluten-free supplies separately. | When we eat breakfast cereal often, I want to have enough in stock without opened packs ending up among gluten-containing products. Around 30% of consumers prioritise having a convenient supply above all else. |
| Nutritional information and taste | Compare ingredients and the fibre, sugar and salt content per 100 g. For oat flakes, check the symbol too. | When several gluten-free products are suitable, I want to know which ingredients and breakfast style will work for our family. This comparison matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
The name cornflakes doesn’t confirm that a pack is suitable for someone with coeliac disease. According to the Netherlands Coeliac Society, ‘gluten-free’ means the product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kilo.
Check every pack for gluten-free labelling or the official Crossed Grain symbol, even if you’ve bought the same product before.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated by gluten-containing grains. That means not every pack of oat flakes is a suitable alternative for someone with coeliac disease.
In this situation, only choose oat flakes whose packaging carries the official Crossed Grain symbol. If you experience symptoms when eating oats, speak to a healthcare professional or specialist dietitian.
In a household where people also eat gluten-containing breakfast products, crumbs and shared spoons can contaminate your gluten-free supplies. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a breadcrumb can make a difference.
Store gluten-free packs separately and keep them tightly closed. Make sure everyone uses clean utensils.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn therefore advises checking the packaging when you buy a product, even if you’ve looked at it online.
Check the latest nutritional information on every new pack. If anything is different or unclear, ask the retailer or manufacturer to clarify.
Albert Heijn’s gluten-free range can be part of your usual family shop.
Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten Cornflakes in a 200 g pack in this range.
Consenza lists gluten-free cornflakes in its specialist range. Jumbo lists Consenza Pure & Free Gluten-free Cornflakes in a 250 g pack.
An Albert Heijn product listing describes Schär Cornflakes as gluten-free and wheat-free.
No. The Netherlands Coeliac Society explains that ‘gluten-free’ means the product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kilo. If someone has coeliac disease, check for this labelling or the official Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging.
Not necessarily. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, only choose oat flakes whose packaging carries the official Crossed Grain symbol. Oat products can be contaminated by gluten-containing grains.
Store packs tightly closed and separately from gluten-containing products, as advised by the Netherlands Coeliac Society. When serving, use clean hands, a clean worktop and clean utensils to stop crumbs getting into your gluten-free supplies.
Check the current packaging and, if you’re unsure, ask the retailer or manufacturer to clarify before choosing the product. Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change.
