Anyone who wants to check the sugar claim carefully
You want ‘sugar-free’ to be accurate according to the nutritional information. The statement ‘no added sugars’ alone isn’t enough for you.
Who is this relevant to?
Anyone who wants to prepare a portion quickly
You’re looking for plain oats in pre-measured sachets for fakeaway night, ready for you to add your own flavour.
Anyone looking for instant oats labelled gluten-free
You want an explicit gluten-free statement on the packaging and a product you can prepare hot or cold.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by understanding what the sugar claim means. Then choose based on how convenient you want the portions to be and, if needed, whether the product is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free or no added sugars | Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | I want ‘sugar-free’ to apply literally to the product I choose, not just for it to have no added sugar. For around 42% of consumers, this exact sugar claim would be the top priority. |
| Preparation and portions | Check the preparation time and portion size, then decide whether you want sachets or would rather measure out a portion yourself. | If I’m adding my own flavour to the oats, I want to prepare the base quickly without weighing out a portion first. For around 33% of consumers, portion convenience would be the first thing to consider. |
| Gluten-free label | Look for an explicit gluten-free statement and read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. | I don’t want to assume a product is suitable for me just because it says ‘oats’; the packaging needs to state that it is gluten-free. For around 25% of consumers, this would be the main requirement. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
A product with no added sugars can still contain naturally occurring sugars. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the ‘sugar-free’ claim means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
If you need the claim to be accurate in the literal sense, compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g with that limit, rather than relying on the front of the pack.
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Assuming all oats are gluten-free
Product information varies: Albert Heijn labels Elovena Natural as gluten-free, while Jumbo says Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains oats and may contain soya, barley and wheat.
If you need a product labelled gluten-free, look for that explicit statement and check the current allergen information too.
Relevant brands to consider
Quaker
Quaker Oats Express Naturel is instant oats in portion-sized sachets, ideal if you want to prepare a plain base quickly.
- According to Quaker Netherlands, Oats Express Naturel is made from wholegrain oats and takes two minutes to prepare. Jumbo states that no sugars have been added.
- Quaker lists 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g. According to Jumbo, the product contains oats and may contain soya, barley and wheat.
Elovena
Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal is a portion-sized option for anyone looking for instant oats explicitly labelled gluten-free.
- Albert Heijn states that this option is gluten-free, contains no added sugars and can be prepared hot or cold.
- Albert Heijn also lists 1.2 g of sugars per 100 g. So ‘no added sugars’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’ here.
Brinta
Brinta Havermout is a loose oats option for anyone who’d rather measure out their own portions than use instant sachets.
- Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredient in Brinta Havermout.
- The nutritional information Albert Heijn gives for Brinta prepared with milk doesn’t describe the dry oats alone. If you need to check the product itself, compare the values on the pack of dry oats.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugars’?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ for a solid product means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean that the product contains no naturally occurring sugars. So check the nutritional information per 100 g too.
Is Quaker Oats Express Naturel sugar-free?
No. Quaker Netherlands lists 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Oats Express Naturel, above the 0.5 g per 100 g limit the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives for ‘sugar-free’. Jumbo does state that no sugars have been added.
Which instant oats are labelled gluten-free?
Albert Heijn explicitly labels Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal as gluten-free. When buying, check the label and allergen information on the pack of the option you choose.
Should I compare the nutritional information for dry oats or the prepared bowl?
When choosing oats, first compare the nutritional information for the product itself per 100 g. Then look separately at what you add, such as milk or toppings: the values Albert Heijn gives for Brinta with milk apply to that prepared serving.