If you’re looking for products that are literally sugar-free
You compare the total sugars per 100 g and don’t settle for a ‘no added sugars’ claim alone.
Who is this distinction important for?
If you’re looking for a simple organic breakfast base
You want flakes for yoghurt, overnight oats or porridge, for example, and a short ingredients list matters more to you than a sugar-free claim.
If you need to check for allergens
As well as the sugar content and organic credentials, you check which grains are listed and whether the product may contain traces of other allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for strictly sugar-free flakes or simply want to avoid added sugars. Then check which ingredients and preparation method suit your breakfast, and read the allergen information.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free or no added sugars | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g for a product to be labelled sugar-free. | If I’m looking for something that’s literally sugar-free, I want to know the total amount of sugars in the flakes, not just what has been added. For around 46% of consumers, this threshold matters most. |
| Ingredients and preparation | Compare the ingredients lists and check whether the flakes are intended to be eaten cold, soaked or cooked. | For porridge or overnight oats, I want organic flakes that suit the way I prepare them. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this breakfast choice. |
| Grains and allergens | Check the current packaging to see which grains the product contains and which possible traces are listed. | If I need to avoid certain grains or other allergens, I want to know what the packaging says. Around 18% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
Flakes with no added sugars can still contain more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The two claims don’t answer the same question.
Start with ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition information per 100 g, then check the claim about added sugars.
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Assuming organic also means sugar-free
The organic flakes in the product information vary in their total sugar content; the organic claim doesn’t tell you how much sugar they contain.
Compare the sugar values per 100 g, then choose the ingredients and product type you want to use.
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Assuming oats or buckwheat are gluten-free without checking the label
The oat products described list oats and the possible presence of other grains. The buckwheat flakes may contain traces of cereals containing gluten.
Don’t rely on the type of grain alone: check the current packaging for an explicit gluten-free claim and read the allergen information.
Brands to compare
AH Biologisch
Albert Heijn lists both organic puffed oats and coarse organic oat flakes, with different textures and sugar contents.
- According to the label, AH Biologisch 100% wholegrain puffed oats contain 0.5 g of sugars and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
- AH Biologisch wholegrain coarse oat flakes contain 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g, putting them above the limit the Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets for ‘sugar-free’.
Jumbo
Jumbo organic wholegrain oat flakes are organic oat flakes suitable for dishes such as overnight oats.
- According to Jumbo, this product consists of organic wholegrain oat flakes.
- The listed sugar content is 1.1 g per 100 g. Check the allergen information on the packaging too.
Smaakt
Smaakt offers organic buckwheat flakes and four-grain flakes if you’re looking for a different grain or blend.
- According to Albert Heijn, Smaakt organic buckwheat flakes consist of organic buckwheat flakes.
- The buckwheat flakes contain 2.1 g of sugars per 100 g. According to Jumbo, the four-grain flakes contain oats, barley, rye and wheat. Check the allergen information for both varieties.
Flakes on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are flakes with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No, not automatically: naturally occurring sugars count towards the total sugar content. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for a product to be labelled sugar-free, so check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.
Which of the organic flakes mentioned meet that sugar limit?
According to Albert Heijn, AH Biologisch 100% wholegrain puffed oats contain 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, meeting the limit set by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. AH’s coarse organic oat flakes contain 0.7 g per 100 g, while Jumbo organic wholegrain oat flakes contain 1.1 g per 100 g.
Which organic flakes are suitable for overnight oats or hot porridge?
For overnight oats, you could try Jumbo’s organic oat flakes or AH’s coarse organic oat flakes; both are described as suitable for soaking. AH also suggests cooking its coarse flakes in a pan or microwave, while Smaakt describes its organic buckwheat flakes as suitable for cooking into porridge. If sugar-free is a strict requirement, compare the sugar content too.