Parents who want to check the fibre content
When baking with children, you want to be able to see on the label how much fibre the oat product contains per 100 g, rather than relying only on the wording on the front of the pack.
Who is this relevant to?
Families looking for a plain oat base
You want to measure out oats with no added flavourings for muffins, biscuits or pancakes. The amount in each sachet also needs to suit your recipe.
Families who need to buy gluten-free
You need a product explicitly labelled gluten-free, and you also check the latest allergen information. Regular oats aren’t automatically a suitable alternative.
What should you look for?
When baking with children, you’ll need to consider the fibre content of the dry product, the amount required for the recipe, and any gluten or allergen requirements.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre content | Check the fibre per 100 g of dry product and compare it with the ingredients list. | I want to check whether the oats meet the ‘high-fibre’ requirement for my baking recipe. For around 42% of consumers, being able to verify the fibre content would be their main concern when buying. |
| Using it in your recipe | Compare the grams per sachet with the recipe, and try a new, finer variety in a small amount first. | When baking with children, I want to measure out a plain base without running short of sachets halfway through. Practicality would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | Check the latest gluten-free labelling and allergen information, including for oat products. | If gluten-free is a requirement for us, I don’t want to rely on the general name ‘oats’. For around 25% of consumers, reassurance about gluten and allergens would be the main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a product is ‘high-fibre’ without checking the nutrition information
For products in the Netherlands, EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 sets a requirement for the ‘high-fibre’ claim: at least 6 g of fibre per 100 g or 3 g per 100 kcal. A product containing fibre isn’t enough, on its own, to qualify for the claim.
Check how much fibre the nutrition information lists and what quantity of product that value refers to.
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Assuming regular oats are the same as gluten-free oats
Albert Heijn’s product information labels Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal as gluten-free. Quaker Oats Express Naturel may contain soya, barley and wheat, according to its product information.
If gluten-free is essential, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the allergen information on the pack you buy.
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Buying sachets without checking the amount your recipe needs
A sachet of Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains 27 g. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s muffin recipe uses 50 g of rolled oats, so one sachet won’t be enough.
Before you start baking, check how many grams of oats the recipe calls for and how much each sachet contains.
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Comparing a prepared serving with 100 g of dry oats
A fibre value for a prepared serving, as listed for Brinta, uses a different basis from the per-100 g product values for Quaker and Elovena. This means you can’t directly rank the products by fibre content.
Compare nutrition values on the same basis, preferably per 100 g of dry product.
Brands to consider
Elovena
Natural Instant Oatmeal is available in individual portions and is an option if you’re looking for oats explicitly labelled gluten-free.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists 11 g of fibre per 100 g, a gluten-free label and 40 g portions.
- If you’re using it in a baking recipe, check whether the fine instant oats give you the texture you want. Quick preparation doesn’t tell you everything.
Quaker
Oats Express Naturel offers a plain oat base in individual sachets.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety contains 9 g of fibre per 100 g and 27 g per sachet.
- The label says the product may contain soya, barley and wheat. For larger recipes, also compare the amount you need with the contents of each sachet.
Brinta
Brinta Havermout contains extra-fine rolled oats, for anyone who would rather measure out oats than use individual instant sachets.
- Albert Heijn’s product information describes the oats as extra fine and quick to prepare.
- Before comparing these oats with varieties that list a value per 100 g, check the fibre content per 100 g of dry product on the latest label.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can instant oats be labelled ‘high-fibre’?
Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘high-fibre’ nutrition claim requires at least 6 g of fibre per 100 g or 3 g per 100 kcal. Check the nutrition information to see which value is listed for the product; the claim doesn’t tell you whether a whole baking recipe meets your needs.
Which instant oats meet that fibre requirement based on the value per 100 g?
Based on the values listed, Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal and Quaker Oats Express Naturel meet the requirement of 6 g of fibre per 100 g: Albert Heijn lists 11 g and 9 g per 100 g respectively. Check the nutrition information on the pack you buy.
Can I use regular instant oats if my recipe needs to be gluten-free?
Don’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone: if gluten-free is essential, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free. Albert Heijn labels Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal as gluten-free, while Quaker Oats Express Naturel may contain soya, barley and wheat according to its product information. Always check the latest label.
How do I work out how many sachets of instant oats I need for muffins?
Start with the amount of oats in your recipe and compare it with the contents of each sachet. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s muffin recipe uses 50 g of rolled oats; if you’re using 27 g sachets of Quaker Oats Express Naturel, you’ll need more than one. If the texture of your bake matters, try a finer instant variety in a small amount first.