For a quick breakfast or snack while you study, look for organic breakfast flakes rather than chocolate sprinkles for bread, and check the EU organic logo on the packaging. Single-ingredient oat flakes are a good choice if you want a simple base and can soak them in advance; a multigrain variety is another option if you want to mix them straight into yoghurt or quark. Whatever you choose, check the preparation instructions and the current label: organic does not mean gluten-free.
You’re looking for a breakfast or snack base for exam season and want to be able to identify organic certification. The European Commission describes the EU organic logo as a mark of certified organic products. Check the logo and the accompanying information on the packaging.
You want to be able to soak the flakes the night before or mix them straight into yoghurt or quark. Compare the preparation instructions for each product: Jumbo suggests using its flakes for overnight oats, while PLUS recommends cooking Smaakt’s coarse oat flakes for 10 minutes.
You need to be able to check which grains and possible traces are listed on the label. Organic oat and multigrain products are not automatically gluten-free; for people with coeliac disease, the Voedingscentrum recommends looking for the official Crossed Grain symbol on oat products.
First decide whether you’re looking for organic breakfast flakes, then choose a preparation method that fits your schedule and check the grains and allergens on the label before buying.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Look for the EU organic logo, the code of the inspection body and the country of origin on the packaging. Also check that the product is breakfast flakes. | If you’re choosing organic breakfast flakes, you’ll want to be able to distinguish certification from claims such as ‘natural’. For around 42% of consumers, this check matters most. |
| Preparation | Check whether you can soak the flakes, mix them in straight away or need to cook them; follow the preparation time for your chosen product. | On a busy study day, you’ll want to know whether you need to prepare breakfast in advance or can eat it straight away. Around 33% of consumers put preparation first. |
| Grains and allergens | Read the ingredients and may-contain information. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol. | If you need to avoid gluten or certain allergens, the label will determine whether a variety is suitable for you. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
The word ‘flakes’ is also used for chocolate sprinkles for bread. These are different from oat or multigrain breakfast flakes.
Read the product description and ingredients list before comparing varieties.
Organic certification doesn’t mean a product is free from gluten. The oat and seven-grain flakes described contain oats or other relevant grains.
If you have coeliac disease, check the current label and look for the official Crossed Grain symbol, as the Voedingscentrum recommends for oat products.
Packaging that looks natural doesn’t, in itself, confirm organic certification. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo is reserved for products that have been certified as organic.
Check the logo, the inspection body’s code and the country of origin on the packaging.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. That’s why Albert Heijn and PLUS advise shoppers to read the packaging.
If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, be sure to check the label on the product you buy.
Jumbo lists 500 g of organic wholegrain oat flakes as a simple oat base.
Smaakt offers coarse organic oat flakes and organic seven-grain flakes for different preparation methods.
Albert Heijn lists organic porridge oats with fine flakes in its online range.
Look for the EU organic logo, the inspection body’s code and the country of origin on the packaging. The European Commission says the logo may only be used for products certified as organic by an approved control authority or inspection body. Also check the product description so you don’t confuse breakfast flakes with toppings for bread.
Choose a preparation method that suits the time you have: Jumbo suggests soaking its flakes overnight for overnight oats, while PLUS says Smaakt seven-grain flakes can be added straight to yoghurt, milk or quark. For Smaakt coarse oat flakes, PLUS recommends cooking them for 10 minutes.
No, organic doesn’t automatically mean gluten-free. The Voedingscentrum says people with coeliac disease should look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on oat products. Also read the ingredients and may-contain information for the product you choose.
For ingredients, allergens and dietary suitability, check the current packaging of the product you buy. Albert Heijn and PLUS say that online product information can change and advise shoppers to read the label.
