If you have coeliac disease, first look for the ‘gluten-free’ label on the current packaging. A chocolate flavour, rice base or small portion is no substitute. Then choose between cereal, muesli and granola based on how you’ll take your breakfast with you, the nutritional information and any other allergies. If you’re taking loose cereal with you, you’ll also need a container and a suitable drink or yoghurt.
If you want a quick breakfast, you’ll first need to check that your chosen chocolate breakfast cereal is labelled gluten-free. According to the European Commission, this label may only be used when the product for the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
If you prefer corn and rice cereal to muesli containing oats or peanut granola, and can take a container and a drink with you.
If you’re looking at the fibre and protein in chocolate granola, and also checking whether peanuts and any other allergens listed as potentially present are suitable for you.
First, check the gluten-free label on the packaging. Then compare how you plan to take a portion with you, and consider which ingredients, nutritional values and other allergens matter to you.
| What to check | Check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. For products containing oats, also check that the oats are labelled gluten-free. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the flavour or type of grain; I want to see a clear gluten-free label. Around 50% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Taking it with you | Check the portion size and decide whether you can take a sealable container and a suitable drink or yoghurt with you. | If I need to take breakfast with me, I want to be able to portion out the loose cereal in advance. For around 30% of consumers, this practical consideration comes first. |
| Nutritional information and allergens | Compare sugars, fibre, protein and fat per 100 g and per portion; also read the allergen information. | As well as gluten, I may need to avoid peanuts, nuts, soya or milk, or I may want to compare nutritional values. Around 20% of consumers prioritise these ingredients and values. |
The type of grain or chocolate flavour doesn’t tell you how much gluten the finished product contains. According to the European Commission, the ‘gluten-free’ label in the EU is linked to a maximum gluten content of 20 mg/kg in the product for the final consumer.
If you have coeliac disease, check for the gluten-free label on the packaging and read the ingredients list too.
Kellogg's describes Variety as convenient to take with you, but its ingredients include wheat flour, barley malt extract and wheat gluten.
Check for the gluten-free label before choosing based on pack format or portion size.
Information about added sugars tells you nothing about other allergens or the rest of the nutritional values. The Holie's Peanut Chocolate granola we reviewed contains peanuts; Albert Heijn also lists 22 g of fat per 100 g for this variety.
Read the full nutritional and allergen information, both per 100 g and for the portion you plan to eat.
Ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. This is especially important if you need to check for a gluten-free label or other allergens.
Check the packaging of the product you’ve actually bought before eating it.
According to Albert Heijn, the Chocolate Stars variety is labelled gluten-free and made with corn and rice.
The crunchy chocolate muesli contains oats and is labelled gluten-free; Albert Heijn states that it is made in a completely gluten-free environment.
The Peanut Chocolate variety is chocolate peanut granola made with gluten-free oats. It’s for anyone who wants to compare nutritional values as well as check for the gluten-free label.
Two chocolate products from this brand show why a familiar name or convenient pack size is no substitute for a gluten-free label.
These products are two pack sizes of Holie's Peanut Chocolate granola. They’re suitable if you’re looking for gluten-free chocolate granola and can eat peanuts. For breakfast on the go, you’ll need to decide how to take the granola and any drink or yoghurt with you.
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This loose chocolate peanut granola is an option if you want to measure out your own portion for a quick breakfast and can eat peanuts.
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This pack of six bags of the same chocolate peanut granola is a good fit if you want to measure out portions at home and can eat peanuts.
The label is an important first check: according to the European Commission, ‘gluten-free’ may only be used in the EU if the product for the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check the label on the pack you’re buying, even if you’ve used the product before.
If you have coeliac disease, only choose a product containing oats if it is explicitly labelled gluten-free. Glutenvrij.nl points out that oats can come into contact with wheat, barley or rye during production, so check that the oats are labelled gluten-free too.
It can be, if you measure out a portion in advance and can take a sealable container and a suitable drink or yoghurt with you. A box of cereal, muesli or granola isn’t a complete ready-to-eat breakfast on its own. A small portion pack also doesn’t prove that its contents are gluten-free.
It depends on the product you choose. For the Holie's granola we reviewed, Albert Heijn lists peanuts and says it may contain nuts and soya. For the AH chocolate muesli we reviewed, it lists milk, soya, lactose and various nuts as potentially present. If you have other allergies, always check the current packaging.
