For your Easter brunch, first decide which sugar claim matters to you: according to the Voedingscentrum, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, while granola with no added sugar may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Then compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, the nutritional values and the allergens on the current packaging. If you’re serving brunch to a group, what’s in the product may matter more than the wording on the front.
You’re looking for granola to serve with yoghurt, quark or in a brunch bowl. You don’t necessarily mind naturally occurring sugars, but you want to see the difference between the sugar claim and the total sugar content.
As well as sugars, you check carbohydrates, protein, fibre and energy per 100 g. The amount you actually serve then helps you assess the nutritional information per portion.
You’re choosing for several guests, so you need to check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements on each pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on labels.
Start by reading the exact sugar claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure. Then check whether the ingredients are suitable for your guests, and only then compare the other nutritional values on the same basis.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim and total sugars | Compare ‘no added sugar’ with ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The Voedingscentrum sets a limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. | If I’m looking for granola with no added sugar, I want to know how much sugar it contains overall. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statements before choosing granola for guests. | When I’m hosting a brunch, I want to check whether a guest with an allergy can eat the granola. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Nutritional values and portion size | Compare carbohydrates, protein, fibre and energy per 100 g, then consider how much you’ll serve. | If I’m using granola as a topping, I want to assess the nutritional value of my portion. Around 25% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
A product can have no added sugars and still contain naturally occurring sugars. For example, Albert Heijn lists 1.9 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Granola noten 0% toegevoegd suiker. The Voedingscentrum sets a limit of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Is the total sugar content a deciding factor? Don’t just read the front of the pack; compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the packaging.
Carbohydrates and energy are different values. Albert Heijn’s product pages list 532 kcal per 100 g for AH Granola koolhydraat verlaagd and 493 kcal per 100 g for Holie’s Low Carb Cacao Nuts & Seeds.
Compare nutritional values per 100 g, then consider how many grams you use as a topping or breakfast portion.
A sugar claim doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy. Albert Heijn’s information for AH Granola noten and Holie’s Low Carb Cacao Nuts & Seeds lists, among other things, cereals containing gluten and nuts; ingredients vary between products.
Check the current packaging before buying, including any possible traces, and keep the ingredients information available when you serve the granola.
The own-label range includes granola varieties with claims about added sugars, including a nut variety and a reduced-carbohydrate variety.
Quaker uses the Zero Sugar Added label on Cruesli varieties that are grain mixes with no added sugars.
Low Carb Cacao Nuts & Seeds granola is an option to compare if carbohydrates and protein matter alongside the sugar claim.
Jumbo’s Granola Proteïne is an own-label variety you can compare by its sugar claim and other nutritional values.
Granola Amandel Cashew is a nut variety for shoppers who mainly want to compare ingredients and nutritional values.
This selection includes Cruesli grain mixes, a crunchy muesli and a granola that could work for an Easter brunch with yoghurt or as a topping. Their names make different claims about sugar and nutrition, so always check the nutritional information and allergens on the exact pack before choosing.
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A chocolate variety to consider if you’re looking for a crunchy grain mix for brunch. The name Zero Sugar doesn’t tell you the total sugar content, so check the nutritional information and allergens on the pack.
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The nut variety could work for a brunch where you want to serve a crunchy grain mix. If you have guests with allergies, check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements. Also compare the total sugars per 100 g.
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This is crunchy muesli, not granola, and the multipack contains six 400 g packs. Before choosing it as an alternative to granola, compare the sugar claim, nutritional values and allergens for this exact variety.
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If carbohydrates matter for your brunch portion, you can compare this granola with other varieties using the values per 100 g. The name Low Carb doesn’t tell you how much sugar or energy is in your portion, so check the current nutritional information.
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A plain Cruesli variety to compare if you’re not looking for chocolate or nuts. Check the pack to see what the Zs label means for this variety, and read the total sugars and allergen information before serving.
No, those labels don’t mean the same thing. The Voedingscentrum sets a limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for ‘sugar-free’. A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars. For example, Albert Heijn lists 1.9 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Granola noten 0% toegevoegd suiker.
Use the portion size on the pack as a starting point, then decide how much you’ll actually serve. Compare products per 100 g first; you can then use your chosen amount to assess the nutritional values per portion.
Only if the current ingredients and allergen information show it’s suitable for them. Check any ‘may contain’ statements too, and keep the packaging available when serving. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of clear allergen information on labels.
No. Compare carbohydrates and sugars as separate values on the packaging. Albert Heijn’s product information lists 18 g of carbohydrates and 3.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Holie’s Low Carb Cacao Nuts & Seeds, and 22 g of carbohydrates and 1.9 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Granola koolhydraat verlaagd. Bear in mind that these figures are for two specific varieties, not general values for the brands.
Check current availability first. Jumbo’s product page said the manufacturer was temporarily unable to supply this variety. Only add it to your shopping list after checking the latest product information too.
