People with coeliac disease who want a quick breakfast
If you want to make porridge quickly at home, at work or on the go, check that the specific instant variety you’ve chosen is labelled gluten-free on its current packaging.
Which oat option is right for you?
Shoppers who want to choose their own flavours
If you want to add your own fruit or other ingredients and have time to prepare your porridge, plain gluten-free oats or oat flakes may suit you better than an instant portion.
People who also react to pure oats
If you have coeliac disease and experience symptoms after eating gluten-free oats, the label isn’t the only thing to consider. The Dutch Coeliac Society says that a small number of people with coeliac disease also react to pure oats. Discuss your situation with your healthcare professional or specialist dietitian.
What should you look for when choosing?
If you have coeliac disease, first check that the current packaging says the product is gluten-free. Then compare how instant oats and plain oats are prepared and what they contain, to find the right option for when you want to eat them on Pea Soup Day.
Gluten-free instant oats
When to choose them: go for a single-serve pack if you want to make a quick breakfast or snack and the variety you’ve chosen is clearly labelled gluten-free.
Things to consider: an online product description is no substitute for checking the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.
Plain gluten-free oats
When to choose them: choose oats or oat flakes if you want to decide how they taste and have time to prepare them.
Things to consider: these aren’t an instant portion. Jumbo says its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Havermout should be cooked and then cooled.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check that the exact variety is labelled gluten-free, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘oats’ alone, as oats can come into contact with cereals containing gluten. This check is a priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Preparation and portions | Check the preparation instructions and whether the product is packed in individual portions. | On a busy Pea Soup Day, I want to be able to make something quickly and perhaps take it with me. For roughly 30% of consumers, that convenience is the deciding factor, after checking that the product is labelled gluten-free. |
| Ingredients and flavour | Read the ingredients list for the variety you’ve chosen and compare plain oats with prepared instant products. | I prefer to add my own ingredients and don’t mind taking more time to prepare them. For around 20% of consumers, choosing what goes into their food is the main reason to consider plain gluten-free oats. |
Common mistakes when choosing gluten-free oats
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Assuming all oats are gluten-free
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they can come into contact with cereals containing gluten during growing or processing. That’s why plain oats without a clear gluten-free label aren’t an equivalent choice if you have coeliac disease.
Check the gluten-free label on the current packaging of the exact variety you’re buying.
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Relying on the name of an instant product alone
A prepared oat product may also contain ingredients that contain gluten. For example, the ingredients listed by Joybuy for a Seamild oat product include wheat flour, barley and wheat semolina.
Before buying, read the full ingredients and allergen information for the variety on offer, not just the product name.
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Ignoring your personal reaction to oats
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether you can tolerate pure oats. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a small number of people with coeliac disease also react to pure oats.
If you experience symptoms after eating gluten-free oats, or have been advised to avoid oats, discuss your choice with your healthcare professional or specialist dietitian.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Elovena
A gluten-free instant oat option for anyone who wants to prepare a portion quickly.
- Elovena says its gluten-free instant oats come in single-serve packs and take 2 minutes to prepare.
- When buying, check the gluten-free label and ingredients on the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten
Plain gluten-free oats as an alternative when you don’t need an instant portion.
- Jumbo says its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Havermout is made with gluten-free oat flakes and displays the Crossed Grain symbol.
- The preparation instructions involve cooking and cooling. Check current availability before relying on this product.
Simply Free by Leev
Plain gluten-free oats for anyone who wants to add their own ingredients.
- Jumbo says this variety is made with 100% wholegrain gluten-free oats and displays the Crossed Grain symbol.
- This isn’t an instant variety, so allow time to prepare it yourself.
Joybuy products related to this topic
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is every pack of oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?
No. Don’t rely on the presence of oats alone. Oats can come into contact with cereals containing gluten, so choose a product whose current packaging clearly says it is gluten-free, and check the ingredients too.
What does the Crossed Grain symbol on oats mean?
It’s a recognised gluten-free symbol, which is shown on the Jumbo and Simply Free by Leev products mentioned here. Always check the gluten-free label and ingredients on the exact pack you’re buying as well.
What should I do if I experience symptoms after eating gluten-free oats?
Discuss any symptoms after eating gluten-free oats with your healthcare professional or specialist dietitian before making oats a regular part of your diet. The Dutch Coeliac Society says that a small number of people with coeliac disease also react to pure oats.
Can I rely on the ingredients in the online product description?
When buying, use the current information on the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen to check the ingredients and allergens. That way, you won’t rely on a description that may not match the pack you have in front of you.