Who are these flakes for?

Weekend breakfast fans looking to buy organic

You’re looking for an organic grain base to which you can add your own yoghurt, fruit or nuts, for example. Check the organic label on the packaging rather than relying on words such as ‘natural’ alone.

Those who make their own porridge and muesli

You want flakes for overnight oats, warm porridge or your own muesli mix. Oats, spelt and quinoa each call for a choice based on how you’ll prepare them and the allergen information for the specific product.

Chocolate sprinkle fans

By flakes, you mean sweet bread toppings or a garnish. For these products, organic certification, a cocoa certification and nutritional value are separate considerations; one doesn’t automatically tell you anything about the others.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’re looking for breakfast cereal or chocolate sprinkles for bread. Then compare the organic label, ingredients and preparation instructions within the product category you want to buy.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Organic certification Look for the EU organic logo and the inspection code on the packaging. Skal Biocontrole describes the logo as mandatory for pre-packaged food produced in the EU and sold as organic. If organic is a must-have for me, I want to recognise the certification rather than having to rely on words such as ‘natural’. For around 40% of consumers, certification would be the top priority.
Ingredients and nutritional value Read the ingredients and compare the nutritional information per 100 g, including sugars and fibre. Remember that total sugars and added sugars are not the same thing. When I add my own fruit to a bowl of yoghurt, I want to know what’s already in the flakes. Ingredients would come first for around 40% of consumers.
Preparation and type of grain Choose the flake size and type of grain to suit how you plan to use them. Also check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the packaging. For warm porridge or homemade muesli, I want a type of grain and texture that suit the way I’ll prepare it. For around 20% of consumers, how they plan to use the flakes would matter most.

Common mistakes

  • Treating chocolate sprinkles as breakfast cereal flakes

    Chocolate sprinkles are a sweet bread topping, while oat and spelt flakes are used as a grain base. As a result, the nutritional information has a different relevance when choosing what to have for breakfast.

    First decide whether you’re looking for flakes to add to a bowl, make porridge or spread on bread. Then compare products intended for the same use.

  • Confusing a cocoa certification with organic certification

    Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certification on chocolate sprinkles doesn’t confirm that the whole product is certified organic.

    If organic is a requirement, check the organic label, EU organic logo and inspection code for the specific product.

  • Assuming spelt is a gluten-free alternative

    Jumbo lists spelt, a type of wheat that contains gluten, as an allergen in its organic wholegrain spelt flakes. The organic label doesn’t change the ingredient information.

    If you’re limiting gluten, read the allergen information for the exact variety you plan to buy.

  • Relying only on an old product page

    Ingredients, allergen statements and availability can vary by product or over time. This is especially relevant if you’re planning a specific weekend breakfast.

    Check the latest product information before buying, and read the packaging when your order arrives.

Brands to consider

These brands showcase different types of flakes and labelling. The features mentioned apply to the specific products, not necessarily to a brand’s entire range.

AH Biologisch

The fine and coarse oat flakes provide an organic grain base for dishes such as porridge and overnight oats.

  • Albert Heijn lists one ingredient for its coarse organic wholegrain oat flakes: wholegrain oat flakes. The product information also shows the EU organic logo.
  • Check the allergen information for the variety you choose. The coarse flakes list oats and warn that traces of other allergens may be present.

Jumbo

The organic oat and spelt flakes offer two different grain options for dishes such as porridge or homemade muesli.

  • Jumbo describes its organic oat flakes as a product with no added ingredients and lists an organic inspection code on its organic flakes.
  • According to Jumbo, the organic spelt flakes contain spelt, a type of wheat that contains gluten. For both varieties, also read the warnings about possible traces of allergens.

Smaakt

The organic quinoa flakes offer a different type of flake to enjoy with milk or yoghurt, or as porridge.

  • Jumbo’s product information describes Smaakt quinoa flakes as organic.
  • Check current availability before planning to use these specific flakes for your weekend breakfast.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter is relevant here if by flakes you mean chocolate sprinkles for bread, rather than an alternative in the same grain category.

  • Joybuy’s product information states that De Ruijter Milk Chocolate Sprinkles, 200 g, are made with Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa.
  • That cocoa certification doesn’t confirm organic certification. The same product information lists 70 g of sugars per 100 g.

PLUS

PLUS dark chocolate sprinkles are an option for anyone specifically looking for chocolate sprinkles to put on bread.

  • PLUS lists Fairtrade certification for its dark chocolate sprinkles.
  • Fairtrade isn’t an organic certification. PLUS’s product information lists 63,6 g of added sugars per 100 g.

Joybuy products for this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if flakes are organic?

Check the organic label, EU organic logo and inspection code on the packaging. According to Skal Biocontrole, the European organic logo is mandatory for pre-packaged food produced in the EU and sold as organic; a word such as ‘natural’ is no substitute for checking.

Are chocolate sprinkles with Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certification also organic?

Not automatically: a cocoa certification alone doesn’t confirm that chocolate sprinkles are organically certified. Check the organic certification on the product you’re buying, even if its packaging also mentions Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance.

Which organic flakes can I use for overnight oats?

Organic oat flakes are one option: both Albert Heijn and Jumbo mention this use for their oat flakes. For its fine variety, Albert Heijn suggests using 40 g of porridge oats and 250 ml of milk or a plant-based alternative, then covering and refrigerating for 8 hours. Follow the instructions on the packaging of the variety you choose.

Are organic spelt flakes gluten-free?

Jumbo’s organic wholegrain spelt flakes aren’t gluten-free: Jumbo lists spelt, a type of wheat that contains gluten, as an allergen. Organic and gluten-free mean different things, so check the allergen information for the specific product.

How do I compare the nutritional information for grain flakes and chocolate sprinkles?

Read the ingredients list and nutritional information per 100 g for each product, but bear in mind that they’re used differently—as a grain base or a bread topping. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that the nutrition table lists items including sugars, fats and salt. Also check the allergen information and distinguish between total sugars and any added sugars listed.