Choose instant porridge oats based on the sugar claim and ingredients for the exact variant: ‘no added sugar’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’. Quaker Oats Express Naturel is described by Quaker Netherlands as a portioned option with no added sugar; Albert Heijn says this variant takes 2 minutes to prepare. If you have coeliac disease, also check that the official Crossed Grain symbol appears on the packaging.
You want to spend as little time as possible on breakfast before work or school. Don’t just go by the flavour name: check the claim on the pack you’ve chosen, the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table.
You want to choose how much porridge you make each time. Loose fine oats give you that flexibility, but they won’t necessarily have the same preparation time or portioning as an instant product.
Seeing ‘oats’ or ‘wholegrain’ on the pack isn’t enough to consider a product gluten-free. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that oats can be contaminated with gluten and says that people with coeliac disease should check for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
For your first food shop, start by checking the sugar claim for the exact variant. Then compare the preparation instructions and check the packaging information relevant to how you’ll use it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Check the ‘no added sugar’ claim on the exact variant. Also read the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ amount per 100 g in the nutrition table. | If I want to avoid added sugar, I want to know what the claim on the pack I’ve chosen means without overlooking naturally occurring sugars. For around 50% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
| Preparation and portions | Check the preparation instructions, the stated preparation time and whether you’re buying loose oats or pre-measured portions. | On a busy morning, I want to know how much preparation my breakfast involves. Around 30% of consumers prioritise convenience. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen. If you have coeliac disease, specifically check for the official Crossed Grain symbol, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. | If I need to watch out for gluten or other allergens, I want to be able to check the information on the pack before using it. For around 20% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘no added sugar’ means that no sugars or other products have been added for their sweetening effect. It doesn’t rule out sugars that occur naturally.
As well as checking the claim, read the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table.
Quaker Netherlands’ ‘no added sugar’ claim applies to Oats Express Naturel; it doesn’t prove that other flavours or versions carry the same claim.
Check the name and label of the variant you’re actually choosing.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. So, for people with coeliac disease, seeing ‘oats’ on the front of the pack doesn’t provide the reassurance they need.
If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging and read the rest of the allergen information too.
A brand name alone doesn’t tell you which sugar claim, preparation method or allergen information applies to a particular variant.
Quaker Netherlands describes Oats Express Naturel as portioned porridge oats with no added sugar. Albert Heijn lists 12 portions for this variant and says it takes 2 minutes to prepare.
Jumbo’s range includes fine wholegrain porridge oats and Havermout Porties Original.
ALDI Netherlands lists fine wholegrain porridge oats from Golden Bridge as a basic loose-oat product.
This 324 g pack of Quaker Express Oatmeal is worth considering if you’re looking for porridge oats for a busy morning. Check the sugar claim and preparation instructions for this exact version; information about Quaker Oats Express Naturel doesn’t automatically apply to this product.
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If you’re looking for porridge oats for a quick breakfast, check how much preparation the instructions on this pack require.
Pack weight: 324 g.
If you want to avoid added sugar or need to watch out for gluten, read the ingredients, nutrition information and symbols on the pack you’ve chosen.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this claim means that no sugars or other products have been added for their sweetening effect; the product may still contain naturally occurring sugars. So check the ‘of which sugars’ amount in the nutrition table too.
Quaker Netherlands uses the ‘no added sugar’ claim for Oats Express Naturel. Albert Heijn describes this specific variant as a pack of 12 portions that can be prepared in 2 minutes. Check the packaging again if you choose a different version.
Yes, if you want to measure out your own portions and the preparation method suits your morning routine. Ordinary fine porridge oats won’t necessarily have the same preparation time, portioning or sugar claim as an instant variant, so compare the instructions on both packs.
Check whether the official Crossed Grain symbol appears on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that ordinary oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing, so seeing ‘oats’ on the pack isn’t enough.
Read the ingredients, nutrition information and allergen declaration on the physical packaging. This information can change, so Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging when you use a product.
