People with coeliac disease who check labels carefully
You’re looking for granola with a clear gluten-free label for your weekly shop. Check the current ingredients and allergen information, even when it contains oats.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People who eat nuts and compare sugar levels
You want to compare sugar, fibre and protein across the range of gluten-free granola. These nutritional values don’t, by themselves, tell you whether a product is labelled gluten-free.
Households planning their weekly supplies
You’re checking how much granola is in each bag and whether the size suits how much your household uses, without choosing regular granola containing gluten as a substitute.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check that the granola is suitable for your gluten-free diet and any other allergies you have. Then compare pack sizes and nutritional information for your weekly shop.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check the label and ingredients on the current packaging; also look out for oats and cereals containing gluten. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to know whether the granola I buy is clearly labelled gluten-free. This check comes first for around 42% of consumers. |
| Pack size and weekly supplies | Check the weight of each bag or multipack and choose an amount that suits how much your household uses. | For my weekly shop, I don’t want to buy more bags than my household can use. Around 33% of consumers put planning their supplies first. |
| Nutritional information and other allergens | Compare sugar, fibre and protein per 100 g; check separately which allergens the product contains or may contain. | If I’m also watching my sugar intake or have a nut, peanut or soya allergy, the gluten-free granola I choose must meet those needs too. This is the main additional consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming oat granola is automatically gluten-free
Oats as an ingredient don’t, by themselves, mean a product is labelled gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease, it matters how the oats have been processed and how the finished product is labelled.
Check the gluten-free label and ingredients on the packaging of the bag you’re buying.
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Confusing nutritional values with being gluten-free
Zonnatura lists 21 g of fibre per 100 g for its Almond Cashew granola, but it also lists spelt, wheat and gluten. Nutritional information alone doesn’t tell you whether this granola is gluten-free.
Check the gluten-free label and allergens first; then compare the nutritional values.
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Ignoring how pack size relates to how much you use at home
The AH, Holie’s and Free Of Gluten packs discussed here come in different weights. A bigger bag won’t automatically be a better fit for your weekly supplies.
Think about how much granola your household uses and check the packaging of the product you choose.
A smaller bag may run out sooner if you use the same amount, meaning you’ll need to shop again sooner.
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Treating an online product description as a permanent label
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This is particularly important if you need to avoid ingredients other than gluten too.
Check the information on the physical packaging every time you buy the product.
Brands compared
These examples show why you should check the exact granola and variety, rather than relying on the brand name alone.
AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn describes AH Glutenvrij Granola as gluten-free granola in a 250 g bag.
- Albert Heijn says this granola is produced in a completely gluten-free environment.
- The product information lists oats and almonds, and says the granola may contain soya and various nuts. Albert Heijn lists 11 g of added sugars per 100 g.
Holie’s
Jumbo lists several Holie’s granolas labelled Gluten Free, including Buckwheat & Nuts.
- Jumbo’s product information lists gluten-free wholegrain oats, buckwheat and 1,9 g of sugars per 100 g for Buckwheat & Nuts.
- This variety contains almonds and hazelnuts and may contain peanuts, soya and other nuts. Check the allergens for each variety.
Free Of Gluten
Jumbo describes Free Of Gluten Crunchy Granola Nuts-Honey as gluten-free, in a 340 g bag.
- The pack size is specified, so you can choose an amount that suits your weekly supplies.
- According to Jumbo, this variety contains soya and hazelnuts, may contain other nuts, and has 21 g of sugars per 100 g according to its nutritional information.
Quaker Cruesli
The Cruesli Original reviewed here is a regular granola and isn’t a gluten-free alternative if you have coeliac disease.
- Albert Heijn lists wholegrain wheat and wheat flour in the ingredients of this variety.
Zonnatura
The Zonnatura Granola Almond Cashew reviewed here isn’t a gluten-free option.
- Zonnatura lists spelt flakes and wheat flour, and states that this variety contains wheat and gluten.
Granola for your weekly shop on Joybuy
These two packs of Holie’s Glutenfree Peanut Chocolate mainly differ in quantity: a multipack of six bags or a single 330 g bag. Choose based on how much you use, and if you have coeliac disease or other allergies, always check the current packaging.
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Holie’s Glutenfree Peanut Chocolate granola, 6 × 330 g
The six-bag multipack may suit a household that wants to plan its granola supplies for several weeks.
According to the product information, this variety contains peanuts and oats and may contain traces of other nuts and soya, among other things. Check the gluten-free label and allergens on the current packaging.
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Holie’s Glutenfree Peanut Chocolate granola, 330 g
The single 330 g bag gives you a smaller size to suit how much your household uses.
According to the product information, this variety contains peanuts and oats and may contain traces of other nuts and soya, among other things. Check the gluten-free label and allergens on the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is granola with oats suitable if you have coeliac disease?
Not automatically. Choose a product with a clear gluten-free label and check the current packaging. Under European rules, oats in food labelled gluten-free must also meet requirements designed to prevent contamination with cereals containing gluten.
Can I eat Cruesli Original if I need to follow a gluten-free diet?
No, the Quaker Cruesli Original reviewed here isn’t a suitable alternative. Albert Heijn lists wholegrain wheat and wheat flour in the ingredients of this variety.
What should I check if I’m also allergic to nuts or soya?
Check the allergen information separately from the gluten-free label. The AH, Holie’s Buckwheat & Nuts and Free Of Gluten varieties discussed here list different ingredients or warnings relating to nuts, peanuts and soya. Always check the exact variety and packaging.
Can I simply choose any granola labelled gluten-free at Lidl or ALDI?
No, don’t rely on the shop or product category alone. ALDI lists gluten-free breakfast cereals as a category, but that doesn’t mean every individual granola is labelled gluten-free. Check the current range and the label on the specific pack, including at Lidl.