If you have coeliac disease, first choose oats whose current packaging carries a gluten-free claim or logo. Gluten-free instant oats in individual sachets are a good choice for a breakfast you can make with just water or milk. Loose gluten-free porridge oats let you decide the portion size and what to add, but you’ll need to prepare your breakfast, either in advance or when you’re ready to eat. If you’re considering flavoured varieties, compare their ingredients and nutritional information with the plain version.
For them, the choice starts with the gluten-free claim or logo on the packaging. The Dutch Coeliac Association recommends choosing oats with the Crossed Grain symbol where possible, or otherwise a product with another gluten-free logo or claim.
An individual sachet means you don’t have to measure out a portion when you’re out and about. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the gluten-free Elovena Natural and Raspberry instant oat varieties can be mixed with hot or cold water or milk; you’ll still need a mug or bowl.
If you want to compare ingredients and sugars, it’s more useful to check the label for the exact variety than to rely on the gluten-free description alone. Albert Heijn lists sugar in the ingredients for Elovena Raspberry, while Elovena Natural is described as having no added sugar.
If you have coeliac disease, first check the gluten-free information on the current packaging. Then choose between a sachet that you can mix when you’re out and about, and loose porridge oats that you can prepare or make in advance.
Choose these when: you want to take a measured portion with you and can add water or milk wherever you are.
Consider: the label for a flavoured variety may list different ingredients and nutritional values from the plain version.
Choose these when: you want to decide the amount and what to add, and can prepare breakfast or make it in advance.
Consider: loose porridge oats aren’t pre-measured instant sachets, and the preparation required depends on how you make them.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Especially relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free information | Check the current gluten-free claim or logo, and the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to mistake ordinary oats for oats explicitly labelled gluten-free. Around 42% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Portion and preparation | Check the portion size and whether you can prepare it with cold water or milk, or if you’ll need a pan or microwave. | When I’m out and about, I want to be able to make breakfast with whatever I have to hand. For around 33% of consumers, convenience is the most important factor. |
| Ingredients and sugars | Compare the ingredients list and nutritional information for plain and flavoured varieties, both per 100 g and per portion. | I want to know what a flavoured variety adds before choosing it instead of the plain version. This comparison comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
Oats can come into contact with gluten-containing cereals during growing and processing. So, if you have coeliac disease, the word ‘oats’ alone isn’t enough to guide your choice.
Check the current packaging for a gluten-free claim or logo before considering flavour and convenience. The Dutch Coeliac Association prefers oats with the Crossed Grain symbol.
Ingredients vary between product ranges. Joybuy’s product information states that Quaker Havermout Kaneel may contain barley and wheat; Quaker Netherlands lists wheat gluten as an ingredient in Cruesli Protein Coconut & Vanilla.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for each variety you choose. Don’t assume a product is gluten-free based on the brand name or another flavour from the same brand.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Elovena Raspberry lists sugar as an ingredient and contains 18 g of sugars per 100 g; Elovena Natural contains 1.2 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and check which ingredients are in your chosen flavour.
Jumbo’s page for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Havermout says that this product is no longer part of its online range.
Check current availability if you want to buy this product, and check the gluten-free information on the packaging of the product you actually choose.
Albert Heijn lists Natural and Raspberry as gluten-free instant oatmeal in individual sachets of 5 × 40 g.
Albert Heijn describes these porridge oats as containing 100% gluten-free wholegrain oats.
Albert Heijn’s product page lists gluten-free wholegrain oat flakes in a 450 g pack.
Jumbo’s product page describes 450 g of gluten-free porridge oats bearing the Crossed Grain symbol.
With Quaker, whether an oat product meets your gluten-free requirements depends on the exact variety.
No. Ordinary porridge oats aren’t automatically gluten-free: oats can come into contact with gluten-containing cereals during production. Check the current gluten-free claim or logo on the packaging; the Dutch Coeliac Association prefers oats with the Crossed Grain symbol.
Yes. For the gluten-free Elovena Natural and Raspberry varieties, Albert Heijn recommends mixing with hot or cold water or milk. Check the instructions on the packaging of the variety you buy, and take a suitable mug or bowl with you.
Loose gluten-free porridge oats are a good choice if you want to decide the portion size and what to add, and have the time or opportunity to prepare breakfast in advance or when you’re ready to eat. Albert Heijn lists preparation in a pan or microwave, as well as overnight oats, for Leev Simply Free; an instant sachet takes less preparation when you’re out and about.
A flavoured variety can have different ingredients and nutritional values from the plain version, even if both are labelled gluten-free. Albert Heijn lists sugar as an ingredient in Elovena Raspberry, which contains 18 g of sugars per 100 g, compared with 1.2 g of sugars per 100 g for Elovena Natural. Also compare the portion size on the label.
