Shoppers with a strict sugar-free requirement
For you, ‘no added sugars’ isn’t enough. You want to be able to check the nutrition table and see whether the granola meets the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Who is this distinction important for?
Fans of a sweet breakfast with no added sugars
You’re looking for something crunchy to add to breakfast and want to avoid added sugars or sweeteners. Naturally occurring sugars aren’t a reason for you to rule out a product straight away.
Shoppers comparing fibre or protein
As well as sugars, you check the fibre or protein per 100 g. If a product contains grains, nuts or soya, you also read the allergen information before choosing.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement or whether you mainly want to avoid added sugars. Only then compare the other nutritional values and ingredients. According to Voedingscentrum, the information per 100 g provides a useful common basis for comparison.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim may only be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I need a product that is literally sugar-free, I don’t want to rely on a claim about added sugars. For around 50% of these consumers, this strict requirement comes first. |
| No added sugars | Read the exact claim and the ingredients, then compare sugars and energy per 100 g. | I want crunchy granola for a sweet breakfast, but would rather avoid added sugars and am happy with naturally occurring sugars. For around 30% of consumers, this is the priority. |
| Fibre or protein | Compare fibre, protein and fat per 100 g, and read the allergen information. | If fibre or protein is a deciding factor for me, I also want to know which ingredients I’m choosing. Around 20% of consumers put this first. |
Common mistakes when comparing products
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars. The EU requirement for the ‘sugar-free’ claim is no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
If sugar-free is a strict requirement for you, check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g rather than relying only on the wording on the front of the pack.
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Comparing only the front of the pack
A prominent claim doesn’t tell you how the other nutritional values of two granolas compare. What counts as a serving can also vary between packs.
Compare sugars, energy, fat, fibre and protein per 100 g, and read the ingredients list too. Voedingscentrum recommends using the same per-100 g basis when comparing products.
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Checking allergens only after choosing
Granola containing grains, nuts, peanuts or soya may not be suitable if you have a relevant allergy, even when the sugar information matches your goal.
Check the current packaging for both the allergens listed in the ingredients and any warnings about what the product may contain.
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Assuming low sugars also means low fat or energy
The sugar content alone doesn’t give you the full nutritional picture for granola containing ingredients such as nuts or seeds.
Compare fat and energy per 100 g as well as sugars. Don’t use a single nutritional value to judge the whole product.
Brands to compare
These product ranges show why the exact variant and its label matter more than the brand name alone.
Quaker Cruesli
The Zero Sugar Added variants are worth considering if you mainly want to avoid added sugars.
- Albert Heijn says its Zero Sugar Added Naturel contains no added sugars or sweeteners.
- Albert Heijn also notes that it contains naturally occurring sugars. Jumbo lists 3.4 g of sugars per 100 g for its Nuts & Seeds variant, which is above the EU threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s granola range includes nut and protein varieties that you can compare by their nutritional values.
- Jumbo lists 19.0 g of fibre and 2.8 g of sugars per 100 g for Granola Noten. For Granola Proteïne, it lists 24.1 g of protein and 17.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Neither of these sugar values confirms that the relevant variant is sugar-free. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variant too.
Holie
Low Carb Granola gives you a useful comparison point if you’re looking at fibre and protein as well as sugars.
- Jumbo lists 3.2 g of sugars, 16 g of fibre and 22 g of protein per 100 g for this variant.
- At 3.2 g of sugars per 100 g, this variant doesn’t meet the EU threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Check the allergen information for this variant too.
Zonnatura
The granola range includes Amandel Cashew, which you can compare if you’re looking for a nut-based variety.
- Zonnatura lists 21 g of fibre and 1.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Granola Amandel Cashew.
- The ingredients listed by Zonnatura include wheat, almonds, cashews and soya. Check the pack if allergens affect your choice.
Golden Bridge
ALDI describes a 500 g Golden Bridge granola available in varieties made with ingredients including oat flakes, nuts and seeds, or red fruit.
- The ingredients mentioned give you a starting point for comparing the varieties by flavour and composition.
- Before choosing a variety to suit your sugar goal, check its sugar claim and nutritional information per 100 g on the pack.
Granola and crunchy muesli at Joybuy
These varieties are worth comparing if you’re looking at different flavours, pack sizes and sugar claims for a sweet breakfast. A name that includes ‘Zero Sugar’ doesn’t, by itself, confirm that a product meets the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Check the nutritional information per 100 g on the pack.
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Holie's Granola Nuts & Seeds, 6 × 350 g
A nut and seed variety to consider if you’re looking for this kind of flavour at breakfast. The product name indicates a bundle of six 350 g packs. Also check the sugar information per 100 g and the allergens on the pack.
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Holie's Granola Protein Amandel Speculaas, 350 g
An almond-speculaas variety to consider if you also want to compare protein and fibre. The product name states that the pack contains 350 g. Check the nutritional values per 100 g and the allergens before choosing.
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Quaker Cruesli Choco Zero Sugar, 400 g
A chocolate flavour to compare if you’re looking for crunchy muesli for breakfast. The product name states that the pack contains 400 g. Check the exact sugar claim against the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the pack.
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Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Strawberry & Peach, 400 g
A strawberry and peach variety if you fancy a fruity flavour at breakfast. The product name states that the pack contains 400 g. Check the sugars per 100 g in the nutritional information and read the allergen information on the pack.
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Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Apple, Pecan and Cinnamon, 400 g
An apple, pecan and cinnamon variety to compare by flavour. The product name states that the pack contains 400 g. Before buying, check the sugars per 100 g and read the allergen information, especially if nuts are relevant to you.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?
No. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim may only be used if a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars, so check the nutrition table.
How do I compare granola when packs show different serving sizes?
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g so you’re using the same basis. Voedingscentrum recommends this approach for comparing products. Also consider the serving size you actually use and check the ingredients.
What should I look for in granola allergen information?
Read the allergen information for the specific variety, even if its sugar information matches your goal. Granola may contain grains, nuts, peanuts or soya, for example. Check both the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warning on the current pack.
How do I keep opened granola crunchy?
Follow the storage advice on the pack and seal it securely after use. That way, you can follow the storage instructions for the granola you’ve actually bought.