Who is this choice relevant to?

Host welcoming a guest with coeliac disease

You want to choose an oat base with a clear gluten-free label and avoid the serving coming into contact with ingredients or utensils that contain gluten during preparation.

Preparing a separate dessert

You’re looking for a small portion that you can prepare hot or cold for one guest, without having to measure out enough for a whole dish.

Making a larger oat-based recipe

You want to weigh out the oats yourself for something like overnight oats or a dessert component, rather than use pre-portioned sachets.

What should you look for when choosing?

If you’re serving a guest with coeliac disease, first check for a gluten-free statement on the exact packaging. Then choose the portion format and ingredients to suit the dish you’re planning.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important to?
Gluten-free statement Look for the clear words ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging; don’t rely on ‘oats’ or ‘wholegrain’ alone. When I’m cooking for a guest with coeliac disease, I want to be able to check whether the exact pack of oats is suitable before making the dessert. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Preparing a separate portion Check how many sachets there are, the amount in each one and the preparation instructions for the variant you’ve chosen. For one guest, I want to be able to quickly prepare a separate portion of hot or cold oats. For around 29% of consumers, preparing a separate portion matters most.
Ingredients and recipe Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the flavour variant. Decide whether pre-portioned sachets or oats you can weigh out yourself will work best for your recipe. When I’m making a larger dessert, I want to choose the amount and flavour myself, without unknowingly picking a sweetened variant. This is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers.
Availability Check the exact product variant before shopping, and check the label again if you choose an alternative. Just before Christmas dinner, I don’t want to depend on a product that’s only available temporarily. Around 14% of consumers focus most on having a suitable alternative.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ordinary oats are automatically gluten-free

    Oats can come into contact with gluten-containing grains during production and processing. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends choosing gluten-free oats if you have coeliac disease and identifies the Crossed Grain symbol as an additional way to recognise suitable products.

    Check for a gluten-free statement on the packaging you’re actually using. A familiar brand name or oats as the main ingredient is no substitute for checking.

  • Treating plain and raspberry as the same ingredient choice

    According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Elovena Natural contains gluten-free oats and salt, while Elovena Raspberry also contains sugar and lists 18 g of sugars per 100 g. So a gluten-free statement doesn’t tell you which flavour or ingredients will suit your dessert.

    Choose the exact variant by checking its ingredients list and nutritional information, especially if you want to decide the flavour of the dish yourself.

  • Preparing a gluten-free product with shared utensils

    Even a suitable pack can’t prevent the portion from coming into contact with crumbs or dessert components containing gluten while you’re cooking.

    Use clean utensils and keep the portion of oats and any toppings separate from dishes containing gluten.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Elovena

Albert Heijn lists Elovena gluten-free instant porridge oats in individual portions, including Natural and Raspberry.

  • Elovena Natural is listed as five 40 g sachets and, according to the product information, can be made with hot or cold water or milk.
  • The Raspberry variant contains sugar and lists 18 g of sugars per 100 g; compare the information on each variant’s own label.

Leev Simply Free

A loose gluten-free oat base for recipes where you want to measure out the amount yourself.

  • The variant listed by Albert Heijn contains 100% gluten-free wholegrain oats and, according to the product information, can also be used for overnight oats.
  • A loose pack doesn’t come in pre-measured instant portions, so you’ll need to work out the amount you need yourself.

Brinta

The product name alone isn’t a reason to choose a Brinta variant for a guest with coeliac disease.

  • According to Albert Heijn, the Brinta Havermout product reviewed consists of oat flakes.
  • That Havermout product states that it may contain traces of wheat and rye. According to Albert Heijn, Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt contains wheat flour and gluten-containing grains; don’t use this variant as a gluten-free oat base.

Quaker

Quaker Netherlands lists products including Oats Express Protein Naturel in individual portions.

  • Individual portions can be useful when you want to measure out enough for one dish.
  • For a guest with coeliac disease, don’t assume a product is suitable because of its brand or quick preparation time. Check for a gluten-free statement on the exact packaging.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are ordinary oats suitable for a guest with coeliac disease?

Not necessarily: ordinary oats can come into contact with gluten-containing grains during production and processing. For this guest, choose oats whose exact packaging clearly says ‘gluten-free’, and prevent contact with ingredients containing gluten during preparation.

Do gluten-free oats need to carry the Crossed Grain symbol?

The symbol isn’t the only way to identify a suitable product: at the very least, check for a clear gluten-free statement on the packaging. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for the Crossed Grain symbol as an additional indicator.

Can I use Brinta Havermout for a guest with coeliac disease?

Don’t assume that the Brinta Havermout listed by Albert Heijn is suitable: the product information says it may contain traces of wheat and rye. Albert Heijn also says that Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt contains wheat flour. If you choose a different product, always check the exact packaging again.

What should I ask about a Christmas dessert that isn’t pre-packed?

Ask which oat base and other ingredients were used, and how the dessert was prepared. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that sellers must also provide allergen information for non-prepacked products. Also ask about possible contact with dishes or utensils containing gluten.