Breakfast lovers looking to avoid added sugar
You want to keep the crunch of cornflakes, but you choose by checking the ingredients first. The nutritional information then helps you distinguish between no added sugar and no sugars at all.
Who are these options for?
Fans of sweet cornflakes who compare sugar levels
You want the familiar cornflake and a sweet taste, but you compare the sugars listed per 100 g. A lower figure doesn’t automatically mean that no sugar has been added.
Shoppers who consider fibre or allergens
As well as sugar, you care about fibre, the type of grain used and the allergen information. You may be open to a different breakfast cereal if it better suits your preferences.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether no added sugar is essential, or whether you mainly want to compare the total sugar content. Then look at the grain, fibre and allergens: unsweetened cornflakes and a wholegrain breakfast cereal don’t meet the same needs.
| What to consider | Check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Added and naturally occurring sugars | Read the ingredients and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. A ‘no added sugar’ claim doesn’t mean there are zero grams of sugars. | If I don’t want sugar as an added ingredient, I don’t want to confuse that with a product containing no sugars. Around 42% of consumers put avoiding added sugar first. |
| Sweet taste | Compare sugars per 100 g across cornflakes and check which ingredients are used for flavour. Fruit can be added to unsweetened flakes. | If you enjoy a sweet breakfast with cornflakes, you’ll want to choose how sweet your breakfast is. For around 25% of consumers, this combination of taste and sugar content is their main concern. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the pack size and whether your preferred variety is available in your shop. Check the packaging again if you buy a different variety. | For a regular breakfast routine, I want to be able to find my chosen variety easily and buy a pack in a suitable size. Around 17% of consumers prioritise availability and packaging. |
| Fibre, wholegrains and allergens | Compare fibre per 100 g, check whether the grain is wholegrain and read the full allergen information. | If the grains used or allergens determine what I can choose, a low sugar figure alone isn’t enough. Around 16% of consumers give suitability the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘unsweetened’ as ‘sugar-free’
Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet, as listed by Jumbo, contains 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g. According to the product information, these sugars occur naturally.
Check both the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutritional information per 100 g.
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Comparing only the sugar figure
Less sugar doesn’t, in itself, tell you anything about the fibre content or whether a product is wholegrain. So if you’re mainly looking for a different type of grain, you don’t need to limit yourself to cornflakes.
Compare the fibre and ingredients on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholegrain cereal products as a separate breakfast option.
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Assuming cornflakes don’t contain gluten
The product information checked from Albert Heijn lists barley malt extract in AH and Kellogg’s Cornflakes. Jumbo’s listing for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet warns of the possible presence of gluten-containing cereals.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information for every variety, especially if you need to avoid an ingredient strictly.
Brands compared
These examples cover the cornflake varieties mentioned, not each brand’s full range. Always compare nutritional values on the same basis, here per 100 g.
Smaakt
Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet is worth considering if you’re looking for classic cornflakes with no added sugar.
- For this variety, Jumbo lists maize as the ingredient, with 1.0 g of sugars and 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The product information says that sugars are naturally present and warns of the possible presence of various allergens.
Albert Heijn
AH Cornflakes are standard cornflakes for anyone who wants to compare sugar levels without requiring a product to contain no added ingredients.
- Albert Heijn lists 4.4 g of sugars and 2.6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The ingredients include sugar and barley malt extract; Albert Heijn lists 3.9 g of added sugars per 100 g.
Jumbo
Jumbo Cornflakes are a standard variety. The separate Smaakt variety in the range has different ingredients and nutritional values.
- For Jumbo Cornflakes, Jumbo lists 4.5 g of sugars and 2.6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- According to the ingredients list, Jumbo Cornflakes contain sugar and barley malt extract. Check the allergen information for this variety too.
Kellogg’s
Kellogg’s Cornflakes are classic cornflakes for anyone looking for this particular variety and keeping an eye on the sugar content.
- Kellogg’s Netherlands and Albert Heijn list 8.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Kellogg’s Cornflakes.
- The ingredients listed by Albert Heijn include sugar and barley malt extract, so this isn’t a variety with no added sugar.
Other breakfast cereals at Joybuy
These products are alternatives if you’re not set on cornflakes for your sweet breakfast. The selection includes cruesli, granola and hot breakfast cereals. Compare the ingredients and sugars on each pack, especially if avoiding added sugar is essential for you.
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Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Strawberry & Peach, 400 g
An option if you’d like to try fruit-flavoured cruesli instead of cornflakes.
This variety has strawberry and peach in its name and comes in a 400 g pack. Check the nutritional information and allergen details; ‘Zero Sugar Added’ doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars.
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Quaker Oatmeal, 600 g
A good fit if you’re considering porridge oats and don’t need the crunch of cornflakes.
This is a 600 g pack of porridge oats, not cornflakes. Check the pack for preparation instructions and the nutritional information if the sugar content will influence your choice.
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Holie’s Granola Glutenfree Peanut Chocolate, 6 x 330 g
A granola alternative if you’re looking for a peanut and chocolate variety instead of cornflakes.
The multipack contains 6 packs of 330 g. Before buying, check the current allergen information and what the ‘Glutenfree’ claim on the packaging means.
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Brinta Whole Wheat Cereal Breakfast, 500 g
A good fit if you’re considering a wheat-based breakfast cereal and aren’t specifically looking for cornflakes.
The pack contains 500 g. This isn’t a cornflake; check the preparation instructions and allergen information if wheat is a concern for you.
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Quaker Zs Cruesli Nuts & Seeds, 720 g
An alternative if you’d like cruesli with nuts and seeds and don’t mind swapping cornflakes for something else.
The pack contains 720 g. Compare sugars per 100 g with other varieties separately, and read the allergen information before choosing this mix.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?
No. Jumbo lists no added sugar for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet, but the product contains 1.0 g of naturally occurring sugars per 100 g. So check the nutritional information for the total sugar content.
How can I make unsweetened cornflakes part of a sweet breakfast?
You can combine unsweetened cornflakes with yoghurt and fruit, so you don’t have to rely on sweetened cornflakes as your base. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests fruit with yoghurt and breakfast cereal as a breakfast option. The ingredients and sugars in your overall breakfast will depend on what you add.
Does fibre still matter if I’m already watching my sugar intake?
Yes. Sugar content and fibre content are separate figures. Compare both per 100 g and check the type of grain if wholegrains are important to you; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholegrain cereal products as a separate breakfast choice.
Are cornflakes made from maize automatically gluten-free?
No, not just because maize is an ingredient. The information checked from Albert Heijn lists barley malt extract in AH and Kellogg’s Cornflakes, while Jumbo warns of the possible presence of gluten-containing cereals in Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet. Always check the current ingredients and allergen information for any product you’re planning to buy.