If you have coeliac disease, only choose breakfast cereal whose current packaging explicitly states that it is gluten-free; maize as the main ingredient isn’t enough. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that, under EU rules, the term ‘gluten-free’ may only be used for products containing less than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Then compare the nutritional information and check whether your chosen product is available for your weekend breakfast.
You’re looking for an explicit gluten-free statement on the specific product, rather than relying on an ingredient such as maize. If you’re choosing oats, check for a gluten-free statement too and, ideally, the Crossed Grain symbol, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Society.
Once you’ve checked that it’s gluten-free, you’ll want to compare sugar, fibre and salt per 100 g. This also helps you see how the stated serving size compares with what you put in your breakfast bowl.
You want to know whether a familiar brand name is suitable for the exact product you’re considering. That isn’t always the case: Kellogg’s lists wheat and barley in Special K Original, while Albert Heijn describes Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt as a product made from wholegrain wheat.
Start by checking the gluten-free statement on the current packaging. Only then compare nutritional values and practical details, such as pack size and availability.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free statement | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging; if you’re choosing oats, ideally look for a product with the Crossed Grain symbol too. | When I’m buying cereal for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to base my choice on the grain alone. Around 50% of consumers put an explicit gluten-free statement first. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugar, fibre and salt per 100 g, and check the stated serving size. | Once I’ve checked that it’s gluten-free, I want to know how different cereals fit into my usual breakfast. For around 30% of consumers, comparing nutritional information is the top priority. |
| Availability and use | Check current stock and pack size before planning to serve a product at the weekend. | I want to be able to prepare a bowl of cereal without basing my breakfast plans on an item that’s no longer available to order. For around 20% of consumers, this practical consideration comes first. |
The fact that cereal is mainly made from maize doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the finished product meets the requirements for a ‘gluten-free’ statement. The Dutch Coeliac Society specifies a limit of less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product.
When buying cereal, check for an explicit gluten-free statement on the current packaging.
Oats can come into contact with gluten-containing grains during production and processing. EU regulations therefore set specific requirements for oats in products sold as gluten-free.
For oat flakes, choose a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free; the Dutch Coeliac Society also recommends looking for the Crossed Grain symbol.
According to Kellogg’s, Special K Original contains wholegrain wheat and barley. Albert Heijn describes Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt as a product made from 100% wholegrain wheat. Neither product is suitable as a gluten-free choice for someone with coeliac disease.
Read the ingredients and check the gluten-free statement for the exact variety you want to buy.
Jumbo states that its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Cornflakes and Consenza Pure & Free Glutenvrije Cornflakes are no longer part of its online range. The product information is still useful for comparing features, but it’s not a reliable basis for placing an order.
Before buying, check current availability and read the packaging again when your order arrives, including the allergen information.
A brand name doesn’t tell you whether every variety is gluten-free. The features listed here apply to the specific product or range, not to the brand’s entire selection.
Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Cornflakes as a 200 g gluten-free product.
Jumbo’s product information for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Cornflakes 200 g states that it is gluten-free and carries the Crossed Grain symbol.
Jumbo describes Consenza Pure & Free Glutenvrije Cornflakes 250 g as suitable for a wheat-free and gluten-free diet.
Check the exact variety when choosing Kellogg’s; a familiar cereal brand isn’t automatically a gluten-free option.
Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt is a different type of breakfast product from cornflakes and should be assessed separately.
No. Maize as an ingredient isn’t enough to make cornflakes suitable for someone with coeliac disease. Check for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ statement on the current packaging; according to the Dutch Coeliac Society, within the EU this statement may only be used for products containing less than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
Yes, provided the specific oat product is explicitly labelled gluten-free and the oats meet the requirements for gluten-free products. EU regulations set requirements for the production and processing of these oats to prevent contamination with gluten-containing grains; the Dutch Coeliac Society also recommends looking for the Crossed Grain symbol. Oat flakes and porridge oats are different products, so check the packaging of the variety you’re actually buying.
Once you’ve checked that they’re gluten-free, compare sugar, fibre and salt on the same basis, ideally per 100 g, and check the serving size too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends reading the ingredients in breakfast cereals, as some varieties have added ingredients such as sugar, honey or chocolate.
No. Check that the product is currently available and read the packaging of the pack you receive. Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, while Jumbo states that two of the gluten-free cornflake products mentioned are no longer part of its online range.
