Who might be interested in these flakes?

Shoppers who want to check organic certification

You want to be able to check the packaging to see what backs up the organic claim, rather than relying on words such as ‘natural’.

Sunday breakfast shoppers comparing ingredients

You’re looking for cornflakes with a short ingredients list and want to distinguish between total sugars and added sugar.

Shoppers weighing up fibre and allergens

You compare fibre per 100 g, but also want to know whether a corn or spelt product meets your requirements around gluten and other allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking the organic certification. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information; choosing spelt or corn doesn’t replace checking the allergen information.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Organic certification Check the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and the indication of origin on the packaging. I want to be able to check what the organic claim is based on for my Sunday breakfast, rather than simply choosing packaging that looks natural. Around 36% of shoppers put this check first.
Ingredients and sugars Read the ingredients list and compare sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t mean the same as ‘sugar-free’. A short ingredients list is what I’m looking for, but I also want to know whether sugar has been added. Around 36% of shoppers consider this the most important factor.
Fibre and allergens Compare fibre per 100 g and read the current gluten and allergen information for the exact product. When comparing corn with wholegrain spelt, I want to weigh up the fibre content against the information on gluten and other allergens. Around 28% of shoppers put this consideration first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘organic’ means low in sugar or high in fibre

    Organic certification alone says nothing about nutritional value. The corn and spelt flakes discussed here have different fibre contents.

    Check the organic certification, then compare sugars and fibre per 100 g across similar products.

  • Comparing nutritional values per serving

    Serving sizes can vary between manufacturers, which means the figures aren’t directly comparable.

    Use the nutritional information per 100 g for comparison, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum).

  • Assuming corn or organic products are automatically gluten-free

    The products reviewed differ in this respect: AH Biologisch Cornflakes is labelled gluten-free but contains soya, Smaakt states that it may contain cereals containing gluten, and spelt contains gluten.

    If you have a relevant dietary restriction, check the current gluten-free claim and allergen information for the exact product.

  • Assuming online product information never changes

    Albert Heijn states that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change.

    Check the packaging again when you buy the flakes.

Brands with relevant organic flakes

AH Biologisch

The 300 g cornflakes are an example for anyone comparing organic cornflakes with an explicit gluten-free claim.

  • Albert Heijn lists the EU organic logo, 0 g added sugar and 5 g fibre per 100 g for this product.
  • The product contains soya; check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.

Smaakt

The 300 g Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet are an example for anyone looking for a short ingredients list.

  • Jumbo lists organic corn as an ingredient, the European organic logo and no added sugar.
  • Jumbo states that the product may contain cereals containing gluten, among other allergens; check the allergen information on the packaging.

Zonnatura

Oerflakes Spelt Naturel is a wholegrain spelt option for comparing fibre per 100 g.

  • Jumbo lists 97% wholegrain spelt flour and 8.5 g fibre per 100 g for this product.
  • Spelt contains gluten. Also check current availability before choosing this particular product.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify certified organic breakfast flakes?

Check the EU organic logo, along with the control body’s code and the indication of origin on the packaging. According to the European Commission, the logo may only be used on products certified as organic by a recognised control authority or control body; the logo is compulsory for prepacked organic food produced in the EU.

Are organic cornflakes sugar-free too?

No. Organic certification doesn’t mean that cornflakes are sugar-free. Albert Heijn lists 0 g added sugar per 100 g for AH Biologisch Cornflakes; Jumbo states that Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet has no added sugar, but contains 1.0 g total sugars per 100 g. Check both the ingredients list and the nutritional information.

Which of these flakes are labelled gluten-free?

Albert Heijn labels AH Biologisch Cornflakes as gluten-free, but also lists soya. For Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet, Jumbo states that it may contain cereals containing gluten; Zonnatura Oerflakes Spelt Naturel contains gluten. Check the current packaging of the product you buy.

Should I compare fibre and sugars per serving or per 100 g?

Compare similar breakfast flakes per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) recommends this basis for comparing sugars and fibre, among other things; different serving sizes can make the figures per serving misleading.