Office teams with a breakfast area
For teams looking to offer flakes as part of breakfast, with crockery and yoghurt, milk, a plant-based drink or a way to prepare them hot.
Who are these flakes for?
Buyers looking to check organic credentials
For anyone who wants to check the organic labelling on the packaging against the EU organic logo, the control code and the indication of origin.
Organisers who need to consider allergens
For offices where gluten-free food or other allergen restrictions are relevant. In that case, both the label on the product you choose and the way shared supplies are managed matter.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check that you have a suitable place for breakfast. Then check the organic labelling and allergen information for the product you plan to provide.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Verified organic status | Look for the EU organic logo, the control code and the indication of origin on the packaging. According to the European Commission, the organic logo may only be used on products that meet the requirements for organic certification. | I want to buy organic flakes for the team without relying solely on the look of the packaging; for around 42% of consumers, verified organic status is the top priority. |
| Preparing them at the office | Check that bowls, spoons and a suitable liquid are available, and that soaking or heating the flakes fits into the office routine. | When I’m setting out breakfast for colleagues, I want the flakes to be easy to prepare with the facilities available. Practicality is the deciding factor for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens when sharing | Read the latest allergen declaration. If gluten-free food is needed, look for an explicit gluten-free claim and store and serve the flakes separately. | When supplies are shared, I want to know whether the product is suitable for colleagues’ dietary restrictions; for around 25% of consumers, allergen or dietary suitability is their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming organic means gluten-free
An organic label on its own says nothing about whether a product is gluten-free. The spelt flakes reviewed contain wheat gluten; allergen declarations vary between oat flake products.
If you need gluten-free supplies, check that the product you choose is explicitly labelled as gluten-free, and prevent contact with gluten-containing products during storage and serving.
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Putting breakfast flakes in the biscuit tin
The oat and spelt flakes reviewed are marketed for things like yoghurt, overnight oats or porridge. Putting them in a biscuit tin doesn’t turn them into a ready-to-eat snack that colleagues can grab in the same way as a biscuit.
Set up a breakfast area with crockery and a suitable way to prepare the flakes. Only use a tin for sealed, dry supplies if the product’s storage instructions allow it.
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Relying on a label you read previously
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This is particularly important when several colleagues eat from the same supplies.
When you buy the product again, read its packaging and make the relevant allergen information available to the team.
Brands to consider
AH Biologisch
Includes fine and coarse organic oat flakes for breakfast.
- For the coarse wholegrain oat flakes reviewed, Albert Heijn displays the EU organic logo and control code NL-BIO-01.
- That product lists oats and gluten; check the current label for possible traces before sharing it.
Jumbo
Organic oat flakes for dishes such as overnight oats, and organic spelt flakes for muesli or porridge.
- According to Jumbo, the oat flakes reviewed are made from organic wholegrain oats.
- The spelt flakes reviewed contain wheat gluten. Check the allergen and traces information for both products.
BIO+
Fine organic oat flakes for a hot or cold breakfast.
- PLUS describes the BIO+ Fine Oatmeal reviewed as suitable to eat hot or cold.
- The product lists oats and gluten. Check the current packaging before sharing it.
Smaakt
Organic coarse wholegrain oat flakes for dishes such as porridge.
- For the product reviewed, PLUS gives a porridge preparation time of 10 minutes.
- The product lists oats and gluten, and may contain traces of peanuts, nuts, sesame and other allergens.
Consenza
Coarse wholegrain oat flakes for anyone looking for an explicit gluten-free claim as well as organic credentials.
- According to the product information from PLUS, the Consenza product reviewed is labelled as both organic and gluten-free.
- When sharing, it’s still important to store and serve it separately from gluten-containing products.
Joybuy products related to this topic
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Frequently asked questions
How can I check whether flakes are organic?
Look for the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and the indication of origin on the packaging. According to the European Commission, the logo may only be used on products that meet the requirements for organic certification. Check the labelling on the product you’re buying.
Are oat flakes suitable for filling an office biscuit tin?
Not if you want colleagues to grab a biscuit-style snack from it. The products reviewed are intended for breakfast dishes, for example with yoghurt or as porridge. So make sure you have crockery and the necessary ingredients or a way to prepare them.
Are organic oat flakes automatically gluten-free?
No. Organic and gluten-free are different claims. If you need gluten-free food, check whether the product you choose is explicitly labelled as gluten-free. The Voedingscentrum also recommends looking for the Crossed Grain symbol as a way to identify gluten-free products.
What should I check if colleagues are using shared supplies of flakes?
Read the allergen declaration and any traces information on the current product. Store products intended for people with different dietary restrictions separately, and don’t use a shared scoop if contact with other ingredients could be a problem.