Who is this choice relevant to?

If you want to avoid added sugar

You’re looking for plain oats as the base for a warming bowl and want to know whether ‘no added sugars’ also meets a strict sugar-free requirement.

If you want to make something warm quickly

You’re comparing pre-measured portions with fine oat flakes that you measure out yourself, without assuming that a flavoured variety will better suit your needs.

If you’re buying oats with coeliac disease

You need more than a short ingredients list. For coeliac disease, the Dutch Nutrition Centre advises checking that the official Crossed Grain trademark appears on the packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to avoid added sugar or need a product that meets the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Then compare the preparation method, how much flexibility you have to add your own ingredients and, if relevant, the gluten-free certification.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar claim Read the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. According to the European Commission, the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. If I have a strict sugar-free requirement, I don’t want to rely on ‘plain’ or ‘no added sugars’ alone. Around 36% of consumers put checking sugar first.
Preparation time Compare portion sizes and the instructions for the hob or microwave; check which liquid you’ll need. For a warm bowl with minimal preparation, I want to know whether I still need to measure and cook the oats. Speed is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Make it your own Check whether the ingredients list contains only oats, and choose a pack that suits the way you want to measure out portions. I also want to be able to make a savoury evening bowl, so I can decide what to add myself. This flexibility is a top priority for around 21% of consumers.
Gluten-free option If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain trademark and read the latest allergen information, as advised by the Dutch Nutrition Centre. If I’m buying oats because of coeliac disease, an ordinary pack isn’t enough to make my choice. Gluten-free assurance is the main concern for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing ‘no added sugars’ with ‘sugar-free’

    Oats can still contain sugars even when no sugar has been added. Quaker Netherlands lists 1 g of sugars per 100 g for Oats Express Naturel; Albert Heijn lists 0.7 g per 100 g for its fine wholegrain porridge oats.

    If you need a strictly sugar-free product, check the total sugars per 100 g and the claim on the current packaging, rather than relying on the word ‘plain’ alone.

  • Comparing dry oats with a prepared portion

    For the Brinta listing at Albert Heijn, the nutritional values shown for a portion are for porridge made with semi-skimmed milk. Added ingredients change the nutritional value of the finished bowl.

    First compare oat products using the nutritional information per 100 g of dry product, then look separately at what you add yourself.

  • Assuming all oats are gluten-free

    According to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, ordinary oat products are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease because they may be contaminated with gluten.

    If you have coeliac disease, check that the official Crossed Grain trademark appears on the current packaging.

  • Taking a product name as proof of a sugar claim

    ‘Fine’ and ‘coarse’ describe the flakes, but don’t tell you anything by themselves about the ingredients or total sugars.

    When you buy a product, read the ingredients list and nutritional information on the packaging, even if you’re choosing one you’ve bought before.

Brands and shops to explore

Quaker

Oats Express Naturel is a portion-packed plain option if you don’t want to measure the oats yourself.

  • Quaker Netherlands lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient and states that the product contains 1 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The ‘no added sugars’ claim doesn’t make this variety sugar-free.

Brinta

The fine oat flakes are an alternative to instant portion sachets if you prefer to measure out your own servings.

  • Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes and a microwave cooking time of 2 minutes at 900 watts.
  • Don’t compare nutritional values for a portion prepared with milk directly with those for dry oats.

Albert Heijn

AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken is an unflavoured base for making a bowl your own.

  • Albert Heijn lists wholegrain oat flakes as the ingredient, 0 g of added sugars per 100 g and around 1 minute of gentle simmering.
  • The stated 0.7 g of total sugars per 100 g doesn’t mean the product is sugar-free.

Jumbo

At Jumbo, you can compare different types of porridge oats, including fine flakes and portion packs.

  • A Jumbo listing for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Havermout states that the product carries the Crossed Grain trademark.
  • When buying, check the specific packaging and whether the product you want is available.

Lidl

Lidl lists coarse oat flakes in a 500 g pack as a shop product.

  • Coarse flakes offer a different type of product to compare with fine flakes.
  • Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen details on the packaging to see whether it meets your sugar or gluten-free requirements.

ALDI / Golden Bridge

ALDI lists Golden Bridge Fijne volkoren havermout in a 500 g pack.

  • The product name makes clear that these are fine wholegrain porridge oats.
  • Check the current packaging before drawing conclusions about added or total sugars.

A Joybuy product for a warming bowl of oats

This Quaker oat product is one option to consider if you want to make a warming evening bowl. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation instructions for this specific pack before choosing.

Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g pack

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

An oat product to consider for a warming evening bowl, provided the preparation instructions on the pack suit you.

Pack size: 324 g.

If you want to avoid added sugar or have a strict sugar-free requirement, check the ingredients and total sugars per 100 g for this variety.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are porridge oats with no added sugars also sugar-free?

No. A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars. According to the European Commission, the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml; Quaker Netherlands lists 1 g per 100 g for Oats Express Naturel, while Albert Heijn lists 0.7 g per 100 g for AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken.

Can I have porridge oats for a warming evening bowl?

Yes. Porridge doesn’t have to be just for breakfast. Choose a preparation method that suits the product, and bear in mind that milk, fruit, honey and other additions will change the nutritional value of the prepared bowl.

Are ordinary porridge oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?

Not automatically: according to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, oat products can be contaminated with gluten. If you have coeliac disease, check that the official Crossed Grain trademark appears on the packaging and read the latest allergen information.

How quickly can you prepare fine oat flakes?

It varies by product and preparation method. Albert Heijn says AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken need around 1 minute of gentle simmering once the mixture comes back to the boil; for Brinta Havermout, the AH listing gives a microwave cooking time of 2 minutes at 900 watts. Follow the instructions on the pack you buy.