Who is this relevant to?

Home bakers with coeliac disease

You’re looking for oats for bread or other baking recipes and want to choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free. The allergen information on the packaging matters too.

Bakers who want to grind oat flakes

Your recipe calls for ground oats or a combination of ground oats and whole flakes. You’ll also check the other ingredients: a recipe containing oats isn’t automatically gluten-free.

Supermarket shoppers comparing ranges

You’re looking at own-brand and other oat products, but you distinguish between an individual product labelled gluten-free and ordinary porridge oats from the same range.

What should you look for when buying?

First, check that the oats are labelled gluten-free. Then look for the form your recipe calls for and see whether a suitable product is available.

What to look for What to check when buying Who is this important for?
Gluten-free labelling Check the current packaging for the ‘gluten-free’ label and the ingredients and allergen information. Look out for warnings about wheat, barley or rye too. If I’m baking for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the words ‘100% oats’ alone. For around 45% of consumers, gluten-free labelling comes first.
Oat type and the full recipe Check whether the recipe calls for whole flakes or ground oats. Check the flour and other ingredients too. If I’m grinding oats for bread, I need to know how the flakes are used in the recipe and what else goes into it. Around 33% of consumers give this combination top priority.
Availability Check whether the specific product labelled gluten-free is available; don’t rely on general information about a range. When I buy my baking ingredients at the supermarket, I want to know in advance whether I’ll be able to pick up the right oats. Availability matters most to around 22% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘100% oats’ means ‘gluten-free’

    An ingredients list containing only oats doesn’t rule out a warning about other grains. According to Quaker Nederland, Quaker Havermout Original may contain barley and wheat; Brinta Havermout, as described by Albert Heijn, may contain traces of wheat and rye.

    For this purpose, choose a product labelled gluten-free on its current packaging, and check the allergen information too.

  • Checking only the oats in the recipe

    Gluten-free oats don’t automatically make bread or crackers gluten-free. For example, a cracker recipe from Lidl Recepten uses flour as well as porridge oats.

    Before baking, check the entire recipe, including flour, mixes and additions.

  • Mistaking a general range for a product-specific claim

    The Golden Bridge porridge oats described by ALDI aren’t labelled gluten-free in the product information. A gluten-free option elsewhere in a range doesn’t tell you anything about that specific pack.

    Check the labelling on the product you’re actually buying.

  • Relying on a product page you read before

    Albert Heijn states that product information, including ingredients and allergens, can change.

    Read the current packaging again, even if you’ve bought the same product before.

Brands to consider

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn describes AH Glutenvrij Volkoren havermout, 450 g, as gluten-free wholegrain oat flakes.

  • The product information says it is made in a completely gluten-free environment and lists baking as a suitable use.
  • Albert Heijn says product information can change, so check the current packaging.

Leev / Simply Free by Leev

Jumbo describes Simply Free by Leev Havermout Glutenvrij, 450 g, as organic gluten-free wholegrain porridge oats.

  • Jumbo’s product information lists 100% gluten-free wholegrain porridge oats as an ingredient and displays the crossed grain symbol.
  • Check the packaging of the variety you choose; information about another Leev product doesn’t automatically apply to that pack.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten

Jumbo’s product information describes a 450 g gluten-free porridge oats product in this range.

  • For this product, Jumbo lists gluten-free oat flakes and displays the crossed grain symbol.
  • The product page says this variety is no longer part of the online range; check current availability.

Quaker

Quaker Havermout Original is a standard wholegrain porridge oats product.

  • Quaker Nederland lists 100% wholegrain porridge oats as an ingredient.
  • According to the same product information, this variety may contain barley and wheat. Don’t choose it for the gluten-free baking recipe in question based on the ingredients list alone.

Brinta

Brinta Havermout, as described by Albert Heijn, is made from oat flakes.

  • The product information lists 100% oat flakes as an ingredient.
  • The same information warns that it may contain traces of wheat and rye. If you’re buying it for someone with coeliac disease, check the labelling on the individual product.

Golden Bridge / ALDI

ALDI describes Golden Bridge fine wholegrain porridge oats as a standard porridge oats product.

  • The product information identifies this variety as fine wholegrain porridge oats.
  • This variety isn’t labelled gluten-free. Check the packaging of any gluten-free ALDI porridge oats product individually.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is ‘100% oats’ on the label enough if I’m baking for someone with coeliac disease?

No. Check that the packaging also labels the oats gluten-free, and read the allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that the ‘gluten-free’ label must meet the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 828/2014.

Can I automatically bake gluten-free bread with gluten-free oat flakes?

No. All the other ingredients in the bread must also be suitable for a gluten-free diet. In particular, check the flour, baking mixes and additions before making the recipe.

Should I check a familiar pack again?

Yes. When you buy it, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging again. Albert Heijn says product information can change, even for a product you’ve bought before.

Can I count on finding a gluten-free oat option at Lidl or ALDI?

Check the current range, and especially the individual pack, before choosing an oat product for this baking purpose. Lidl says on its range page that additional gluten-free products aren’t currently available; the Golden Bridge porridge oats described by ALDI aren’t labelled gluten-free in the product information.