If you have coeliac disease, first choose granola clearly labelled gluten-free; a sugar claim does not make a product gluten-free. If by ‘sugar-free’ you mean no added sugar, Holie’s Granola Glutenfree Buckwheat & Nuts could be an option, provided its allergens are suitable for you: according to Albert Heijn, this granola contains 1.9 g of sugars per 100 g and 0% added sugar. That is not the same as ‘sugar-free’, for which the Voedingscentrum sets a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
You’re looking for granola that’s clearly labelled gluten-free, and then want to check whether any sugar has been added. The gluten-free label is the first thing to look for; next, check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging.
You’re looking for granola with no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, the limit the Voedingscentrum gives for ‘sugar-free’. Check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table: 0% added sugar does not mean the product contains no sugars.
As well as the gluten-free label, you’ll need to check the ingredients and allergen warnings. The Dutch Coeliac Society says most people with coeliac disease can tolerate pure, gluten-free oats, but not everyone can. If you react to oats, discuss this with your healthcare professional or a dietitian who specialises in coeliac disease.
If you have coeliac disease, start by checking for a gluten-free label. Then decide whether you simply want to avoid added sugar or need a product that also meets the ‘sugar-free’ limit.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or a suitable gluten-free certification mark on the current packaging. A sugar claim is no substitute for this check. | I’m buying granola for someone with coeliac disease and want to confirm it’s gluten-free first, even if it contains little sugar. Around 45% of consumers put this check first. |
| What ‘sugar-free’ means | If you mean literally sugar-free, compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g with the 0.5 g limit; check separately whether sugar has been added. The Voedingscentrum distinguishes between these claims. | If I’m looking for something genuinely sugar-free, 0% added sugar isn’t enough: I also want to know the total amount of sugars. Around 36% of consumers say this distinction is their main priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, especially for oats, nuts, peanuts and soya. | As well as coeliac disease, I need to consider an allergen or a personal reaction to oats. For around 19% of consumers, this additional check gets the most attention. |
Granola can contain no added sugar and still have naturally occurring sugars. According to Albert Heijn, Holie’s Granola Glutenfree Buckwheat & Nuts contains 1.9 g of sugars per 100 g; the Voedingscentrum sets the limit for ‘sugar-free’ at 0.5 g per 100 g.
Check which of the two claims you’re looking for, and read the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutritional information.
Oats can come into contact with gluten-containing cereals during processing. A claim about added sugar says nothing about this potential contamination.
If you’re buying oat granola, check that the current packaging explicitly says it’s gluten-free.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, ‘may contain gluten-containing cereals’ indicates a real risk that a product contains more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. A low sugar content does not remove this risk.
Don’t use a sugar claim as a substitute for a gluten-free label, and check cross-contamination warnings separately.
Gluten-free says nothing about other allergens. The Holie’s Granola Glutenfree Buckwheat & Nuts described by Albert Heijn contains almonds and hazelnuts, and may also contain peanuts and soya, among other things.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific packaging every time you buy it.
According to product information from Albert Heijn and Holie’s, Holie’s Granola Glutenfree Buckwheat & Nuts combines a gluten-free label with 0% added sugar.
Two AH granolas show why a gluten-free label and 0% added sugar need to be assessed separately.
The checked Zero Sugar Added Naturel variety is an example of granola where ‘no added sugar’ does not mean sugar-free or gluten-free.
Jumbo’s online granola range includes products labelled gluten-free, as well as other granolas with different sugar claims.
Lidl offers granola varieties called Super Berry and Super Nutty; the shop or product category alone tells you nothing about whether a product is suitable for coeliac disease.
This selection includes Holie's Granola Glutenfree Peanut Chocolate as a single pack and as a multipack. Both names include Glutenfree; before choosing, also check the packaging for information about added sugar, ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and allergens.
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A single pack to consider if you’re looking for granola labelled gluten-free. Also check the sugar information and allergens on the packaging.
Pack size: 330 g.
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A multipack of the same granola for anyone looking to buy several packs. Be sure to check the current gluten-free label, sugar information and allergens here too.
Multipack: 6 × 330 g packs.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, while a product with no added sugar may still contain naturally occurring sugars. For example, Albert Heijn states that Holie’s Granola Glutenfree Buckwheat & Nuts contains 1.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
Don’t assume it is without checking: choose oat granola that’s explicitly labelled gluten-free. The European Commission allows the claim ‘gluten-free’ when a food contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg; with oats, it’s also important to prevent contamination with wheat, rye and barley.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, this warning indicates a real risk that the product contains more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. So don’t assess the warning based on the sugar information. Check separately whether the specific granola is clearly labelled gluten-free.
Yes, if those allergens are relevant to you: ‘gluten-free’ says nothing about nuts, peanuts or soya. The Holie’s Granola Glutenfree Buckwheat & Nuts described by Albert Heijn contains almonds and hazelnuts, and may also contain peanuts and soya; always read the allergen information for the variety you’re buying.
