If you have coeliac disease, first check the gluten-free label on the packaging. Then think about how you’ll store and serve breakfast in a shared kitchen. If you’re considering oats, check that they’re suitable for the person eating them. And if there are no cooking facilities, the preparation method matters too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check the current packaging for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol; don’t rely on the main ingredient alone. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to guess whether a pack is suitable just because it’s made with maize or rice. For around 25% of consumers, a clear gluten-free label is the top priority. |
| Shared kitchen | Check whether you can store the pack separately and use clean bowls and spoons. | If others are eating bread, I want to prepare my breakfast without shared crumbs. Around 25% of consumers prioritise storing and serving food separately. |
| Oats | For oat products, check for a gluten-free label and ask in advance whether the person eating them can tolerate oats. | When it comes to oats, I want to know whether they’re suitable for the person eating them. This check is the most important factor for around 25% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Check whether the product can be eaten cold or needs a pan or microwave. | Without a pan or microwave, I want a breakfast I can prepare cold. For around 25% of consumers, the preparation method is the deciding factor. |
If you have coeliac disease, you also need to consider the risk of gluten contamination during production and processing. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights this in particular when it comes to oats.
Check the current packaging and choose a product with a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol.
Crumbs on a chopping board or a shared knife could end up in your gluten-free breakfast.
Store the pack separately and use clean or separate bowls, spoons and other serving utensils.
The Dutch Coeliac Society says that a small number of people with coeliac disease also react to pure oats.
Ask in advance whether oats are suitable. If you’re not sure, choose an oat-free alternative with a gluten-free label and follow the person’s existing dietary advice if needed.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn points this out in its product information.
Use the product page to find an option, but check the label on the pack you actually buy and use.
Albert Heijn offers a range of breakfast options under AH Glutenvrij, including cornflakes, muesli and oat products.
Albert Heijn lists Zonnatura gluten-free apple and cinnamon muesli and multiseed oatmeal as separate breakfast options.
The Schär Cornflakes described by Albert Heijn are a maize-based option with a gluten-free label.
Albert Heijn includes Freee Gluten-free Chocolate Stars and Cinnamon Hoops in its breakfast cereal selection.
Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if, as sold to the final consumer, it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Check the current packaging: ingredients that seem gluten-free on their own are not the same as a gluten-free label on the product.
Don’t assume they are without checking. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, oats can come into contact with gluten during harvesting, transport, storage or processing. So choose oats with a gluten-free label, ideally bearing the Crossed Grain symbol. The Society also says that a small number of people with coeliac disease react to pure oats.
Keep the product well sealed and stored separately, and use clean bowls, spoons and work surfaces. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises taking care to keep the kitchen gluten-free. Avoid shared chopping boards, knives and jars of spreads that may contain crumbs from gluten-containing bread.
Check the packaging of the product you buy and use. Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and dietary or allergen information can change when a product is updated.
Look for cornflakes, muesli or granola that can be served cold, as long as the pack you choose has a suitable gluten-free label. For oat products, check that oats are suitable for the person eating them. And even when serving breakfast cold, make sure you use clean, separate utensils.
