Shoppers with coeliac disease
You want to be able to check that granola is explicitly labelled gluten-free before buying it for a quick breakfast. This is important even when oats are listed among the ingredients.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Quick-breakfast fans who compare nutrition information
You might eat granola with yoghurt, quark or a fortified plant-based alternative, and want to compare sugars and fibre rather than assuming all crunchy granola is the same.
Shoppers with dietary requirements
You want to be able to pick up a pack during your regular shop, but you also check the gluten-free statement and relevant allergens again, even in a familiar aisle.
What should you look for when choosing?
If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free statement first. You can then compare the nutrition information and how easy the product is to find.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free statement | Look for an explicit statement on the current packaging; if the granola contains oats, check the label again. | If I’m buying it because I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on an ingredients list that simply appears to be wheat-free. Around 42% of consumers put this reassurance first. |
| Sugars and fibre | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g; check separately for added sugars if they’re listed. | If granola is a regular part of my breakfast, I want to know how the different varieties compare. This is the key question when choosing for around 33% of consumers. |
| Taking it home and availability | Check the pack size and confirm whether you can pick up your chosen granola in store. | If I’m doing a quick shop, I want to find a suitable quantity without relying on a changing range. This is the biggest consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming it’s gluten-free because you can’t see any wheat
An ingredients list that appears to be wheat-free doesn’t provide the same reassurance as an explicit gluten-free statement if you have coeliac disease. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, oats in products presented as gluten-free must also meet requirements designed to prevent contamination with cereals containing gluten.
Check the gluten-free statement on the current pack, especially if the recipe or packaging has changed.
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Assuming gluten-free means low in sugar
Gluten-free on its own tells you nothing about the amount of sugars or fibre. The values listed by Albert Heijn and Jumbo for the granolas mentioned differ from product to product.
Compare the nutrition information per 100 g, and distinguish between total sugars, added sugars and fibre.
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Checking only for gluten and missing other allergens
The granolas mentioned may also contain ingredients or traces that matter if you’re allergic to foods such as nuts, peanuts or soya.
As well as checking the gluten-free statement, always read the current ingredients and allergen information.
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Treating an online product page as the current label
Ingredients and allergen information can change. A product shown in a shop’s range also doesn’t mean a specific gluten-free granola will be on the shelf when you visit.
Check the pack when you buy or receive it, and confirm availability before making a special trip to the shop for one product.
If the product isn’t on the shelf, you may need to make an extra trip or choose something else for breakfast.
Brands and shops to consider
AH Glutenvrij
AH Gluten-free Granola comes in a 250 g pack and contains almonds, seeds and gluten-free wholegrain oats.
- Albert Heijn states that this variety is made in a completely gluten-free environment and contains 19 g of fibre per 100 g.
- This variety contains almonds and oats, and may contain other nuts and soya. Albert Heijn states that this granola is only available in store.
Holie's
Holie's Gluten Free Granola Buckwheat & Nuts is a nut and buckwheat variety. It’s not the same variety as the Peanut Chocolate products below.
- For Buckwheat & Nuts, Jumbo lists 1.9 g of sugars and 14 g of fibre per 100 g.
- This variety contains almonds and hazelnuts, and may also contain peanuts, soya and other nuts.
Free Of Gluten
According to Jumbo, its gluten-free crunchy nut and honey granola comes in a 340 g pack bearing the crossed-grain symbol.
- The product page gives this specific variety a recognisable gluten-free label.
- Jumbo lists 21 g of sugars and 3.3 g of fibre per 100 g; hazelnuts and soya are listed as allergens.
ALDI
ALDI lists gluten-free breakfast cereals, including muesli and porridge oats. Those categories aren’t automatically the same as gluten-free granola.
- The aisle can be a starting point for looking for packs with an explicit gluten-free statement.
- The Golden Bridge Granola shown on the ALDI product page mentioned does not have a confirmed gluten-free statement. Check a specific pack before choosing it if you have coeliac disease.
Lidl
Lidl offers granola in several varieties; seeing granola listed doesn’t by itself confirm that a variety is gluten-free.
- In store, you can check the label on any variety that’s available.
- The granola page mentioned doesn’t confirm gluten-free status. If you have coeliac disease, don’t assume a product is suitable unless the current pack says so explicitly.
Holie's granola on Joybuy
These two Peanut Chocolate products offer the same granola variety, either as a single pack or as a multipack for quick breakfasts. They’re not interchangeable with the Holie's Buckwheat & Nuts variety; if you have coeliac disease, always check the gluten-free statement on the current packaging.
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Holie's Granola Glutenfree Peanut Chocolate 330 g
A single pack for anyone who wants to enjoy granola as part of a quick breakfast.
Pack size: 330 g. If you have coeliac disease, check the current gluten-free statement and read the allergen information, particularly if peanuts or oats are a concern for you.
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Holie's Granola Glutenfree Peanut Chocolate 6 x 330 g
A multipack for anyone who wants to enjoy the same granola for several quick breakfasts and needs this quantity.
Pack size: 6 x 330 g. Check the current gluten-free statement and allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is granola containing oats automatically suitable if you have coeliac disease?
No. The presence of oats alone doesn’t confirm that granola is gluten-free. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, oats in products presented as gluten-free must be specially produced, prepared and/or processed to prevent contamination with wheat, rye, barley or their crossbreeds. So check for an explicit statement on the current pack.
What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on a granola pack?
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kilogram. Check that the variety you’re buying carries this statement on its packaging.
What should I compare if I eat granola with yoghurt?
Compare the granola’s nutrition information per 100 g, then consider how much you actually use. Look at sugars, fibre, salt and energy, among other things. Voedingscentrum lists yoghurt or a fortified plant-based alternative with breakfast cereal and fruit as one possible breakfast combination.
Do I need to check for other allergens in gluten-free granola?
Yes. A gluten-free statement tells you nothing about allergens such as nuts, peanuts or soya. Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific variety on the current packaging.
Can I rely on a discounter to stock the same gluten-free granola regularly?
Don’t assume a gluten-free granola will always be available without checking the current product. ALDI lists gluten-free breakfast cereals, but the Golden Bridge granola page mentioned doesn’t confirm that this variety is gluten-free. The Lidl granola page mentioned doesn’t confirm it either.