When choosing porridge oats, first check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about possible traces of other allergens. If you need a gluten-free product, also look for an explicit gluten-free label. Only then compare the sugars per 100 g: having little or no added sugar does not, in itself, mean a product is suitable for your allergy.
A low sugar content isn’t enough to help you choose a product. Look for an explicit gluten-free label, check the allergen information and make sure oats themselves are suitable for your personal dietary requirements.
The nutritional information per 100 g makes plain porridge oats and flavoured varieties easier to compare. Check the ingredients and allergens too: a sugar claim is no substitute for doing so.
With a single-serve pack, preparation time matters, but the ingredients and warnings still need to be suitable for your food allergy.
First, work out which allergens you need to avoid. Then, among products that meet your needs, compare the total sugar content and how easy they are to prepare.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter most to? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and gluten | Read the allergen information and warnings about possible traces. Check for a gluten-free label if needed. | If I need to avoid wheat or barley, I want to know what the packaging says about possible traces. Around 50% of consumers put these allergen checks first. |
| Total sugar content | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; assess any claim about added sugars separately. | When choosing what to have for breakfast, I want to focus on the total sugar content, not just a claim on the front of the pack. Around 30% of consumers put this comparison first. |
| Ease of preparation | Check the preparation time and the ingredients for the exact plain or flavoured variety. | When I’m short on time, I look for a quick-to-prepare option that’s also suitable for my allergy. Ease of preparation matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
These claims don’t mean the same thing. According to the Voedingscentrum, for solid foods the ‘low sugar’ claim means a maximum of 5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Check the nutrition table to see how much sugar the product contains per 100 g, even if no sugars have been added.
Albert Heijn warns that Quaker Havermout may contain barley and wheat. The sugar content tells you nothing about this warning.
First check the allergens that matter to you on the packaging, then compare the nutritional information.
Ingredients can vary between varieties. For example, Joybuy lists sugar as an ingredient in Quaker Havermout Kaneel.
Compare the ingredients and sugars per 100 g for the exact flavour and pack size you want to buy.
The products reviewed include regular wholegrain porridge oats and a plain variety that’s quicker to prepare.
AH Glutenvrij Volkoren havermout is another option to consider when you need a gluten-free label.
The porridge oats in this range are worth considering if you want to compare how the label describes gluten and oats.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘no added sugars’ refers to what has been added to the product, while the ‘low sugar’ claim for solid foods means no more than 5 g of sugars per 100 g. For the total sugar content, check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table.
Don’t choose based on the product name ‘porridge oats’ alone. Check that the exact pack is labelled gluten-free and that oats are suitable for your personal dietary requirements. For example, Albert Heijn says that regular Quaker Havermout may contain barley and wheat.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods. Read the ingredients and warnings on the packaging of the variety you’re actually buying.
Yes. Ingredients and nutritional values can vary between varieties. Joybuy lists sugar as an ingredient in Quaker Havermout Kaneel, so compare the nutritional information and allergens for the exact variety rather than assuming it’s the same as the plain version.
