Who is this choice relevant to?

People buying for someone with coeliac disease

An explicit gluten-free label on the finished product takes priority over a low sugar content. Check the label on the packaging again every time you buy it.

People keeping an eye on sugar

Compare the sugar content per 100 g, and distinguish between ‘no added sugar’ and ‘sugar-free’. If coeliac disease is also a consideration, first check whether the cornflakes are labelled gluten-free.

People comparing products between shops

A familiar product name or an old product page isn’t enough when you’re buying again. Check current availability and read the label on the pack you’re buying.

What should you look for when choosing?

For cornflakes when you have coeliac disease, a gluten-free label is the first requirement. Then compare the sugars per 100 g and check the current packaging when you buy.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free suitability Look for the words ‘gluten-free’ on the finished product. Don’t rely solely on maize as an ingredient or on a low sugar content. When I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I want to check the gluten-free label first, even if I’m also watching sugar. For around 46% of these consumers, gluten-free suitability would be their first purchasing priority.
Sugars and claims Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim for cornflakes is limited to a maximum of 0,5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugar’ is a different claim. When I can choose between cornflakes labelled gluten-free, I want to compare their sugar content accurately. For around 36% of these consumers, sugar content would be the main priority.
Current label and availability Check that the product is available, then check the gluten-free label, ingredients and nutritional information on the pack again. When I’m buying again, I want to know whether the pack is still available and whether its label still suits my needs. For around 18% of these consumers, checking current availability and the label would come first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a maize-based product is gluten-free

    Kellogg's lists barley malt extract in its Corn Flakes. Jumbo says that Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet may contain cereals containing gluten. Having maize in the product name doesn’t change this information.

    If you have coeliac disease, choose cornflakes with an explicit gluten-free label and check it on the current packaging.

  • Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can only be used for cornflakes containing a maximum of 0,5 g of sugars per 100 g. Jumbo lists 1,0 g per 100 g for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet, despite the statement that no sugar has been added.

    Check the ‘of which sugars’ line per 100 g and treat the two claims as separate pieces of information.

  • Relying on an old product page

    Jumbo says that Lekker Vrij van Gluten Cornflakes is no longer available online. Ingredients and nutritional information on packaging can also change.

    Check availability before you shop, and read the label on the pack itself when you buy it.

Brands to consider

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Cornflakes as a gluten-free product in a 200 g pack.

  • The explicit gluten-free label makes it clear which product detail you can check on the pack.
  • Albert Heijn lists 4,1 g of sugars per 100 g; gluten-free doesn’t mean sugar-free.

Schär

Holland & Barrett sells Schär Corn Flakes as a gluten-free product in a 250 g pack.

  • The gluten-free label gives you a clear starting point when checking the packaging for coeliac disease.
  • Holland & Barrett lists 4,2 g of sugars per 100 g, so this product doesn’t meet the legal limit for a sugar-free claim.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten

Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten Cornflakes as a 200 g gluten-free own-brand option.

  • The product page lists 4,0 g of sugars per 100 g and shows the crossed-grain symbol.
  • Jumbo says that this product is no longer available online, so check current availability before relying on it.

Smaakt

Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet is a maize flake option for people comparing sugar content, but not for those looking for a confirmed gluten-free choice.

  • Jumbo lists 1,0 g of sugars per 100 g and says that no sugar has been added.
  • The same product information warns that it may contain cereals containing gluten. With 1,0 g of sugars per 100 g, it also doesn’t meet the legal limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Kellogg's

Kellogg's Corn Flakes shows why you need to check the ingredients and nutritional information of standard cornflakes separately.

  • The brand lists the ingredients and sugar content, so you can assess this information on the label.
  • Kellogg's lists barley malt extract and 8,0 g of sugars per 100 g for this product; don’t choose it as a gluten-free alternative if you have coeliac disease.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are maize cornflakes automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease?

No. Maize as an ingredient doesn’t confirm that the finished cornflakes are gluten-free. Choose a pack labelled ‘gluten-free’. Under Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this label can only be used when the finished product contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.

Does ‘no added sugar’ also mean ‘sugar-free’?

No, these are different claims. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, ‘sugar-free’ can only be used for cornflakes containing a maximum of 0,5 g of sugars per 100 g. Jumbo lists 1,0 g per 100 g for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet, even though no sugar has been added.

What information should I compare on the packaging?

If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label first, then compare the sugars per 100 g in similar cornflakes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g. Also read the ingredients and other nutritional information on the pack you’re buying.

Can I choose unsweetened cornflakes with a gluten warning if I have coeliac disease?

Not as a replacement for cornflakes with an explicit gluten-free label. Jumbo says that Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet may contain cereals containing gluten; its lower sugar content doesn’t remove that warning.