Who is this for?

Home cook looking for an organic option

You’re looking for oats for breakfast, baking or a dish for a Sunday meal. You want to be able to check on the packaging whether the product is organic and what ingredients it contains.

Following a recipe that specifies a type of flake

Your recipe calls for a particular type of oats. That means it matters whether you buy oats, fine flakes, jumbo flakes or a mix.

Carefully checking for gluten or allergens

You need to know which allergens are listed on the packaging. For people with coeliac disease, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for the official Crossed Grain mark on oats; an organic label is no substitute for this check.

What should you look for when choosing?

For breakfast or a recipe for a Sunday meal, start by choosing the ingredients and type of flakes you need. Then check the organic label and, if relevant to you, the allergen information.

What to look for What to check Who is it important for?
Organic and simple ingredients Check the EU organic logo and the ingredients list. Skal Biocontrole states that the logo is mandatory for prepacked foods produced in the EU and sold as organic. I want an organic oat base that I can add my own ingredients to. For around 50% of consumers, this combination would be the main reason to buy.
Type of flakes for the recipe Check whether the packaging says oats, fine or jumbo flakes, or a mix. Compare this with what your recipe calls for. If my recipe calls for fine flakes, I don’t want to rely on the brand name alone. The right type of flakes would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Gluten and other allergens Check the current allergen information. For coeliac disease, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says oats must carry the official Crossed Grain mark. I need to be able to check before use whether oats meet my specific gluten or allergen requirements. For around 20% of consumers, this check would be the main reason for their choice.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming organic means gluten-free

    Organic farming says nothing about the risk of gluten contamination during oat processing. So a pack of organic oats isn’t automatically suitable for someone with coeliac disease.

    If you have coeliac disease, follow the advice of the Netherlands Nutrition Centre: choose oats that carry the official Crossed Grain mark, and check the allergen information on the current packaging too.

  • Buying an oat mix for a recipe that calls for oats only

    A mix may contain other grains or soya as well as oats. For example, the Jumbo-described Zonnatura Havermout & Spelt Proteïne also contains spelt and soya flakes.

    Compare the full ingredients list with your recipe. If your recipe calls for oats only, choose a product that contains nothing else.

  • Assuming a product page means the item is currently available

    A recipe may refer to a specific product even when the relevant retailer’s page says it is no longer part of its online range. This applies to the pages described for AH Biologisch Havermout and two Zonnatura varieties at Jumbo.

    Check current availability before buying. If you choose an alternative, check its ingredients and allergen information again.

Brands to consider

Jumbo

Jumbo offers 500 g of organic wholegrain oats as a simple base for porridge and recipes.

  • According to Jumbo, this variety contains only organic wholegrain oats; the product information also includes preparation instructions.
  • The label lists oats and gluten. Check the full allergen information if it’s relevant to you.

Albert Heijn

AH Biologisch Havermout is a 450 g option containing wholegrain oat flakes and bearing the EU organic logo.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information lists one organic oat ingredient.
  • The relevant online listing says this specific product is no longer in the range. Check the label again if you choose an alternative.

Zonnatura

The products described are fine organic wholegrain oat flakes and a separate oat, spelt and soya mix.

  • Jumbo describes the plain variety as fine wholegrain oat flakes from organic farming. The mix contains spelt and soya as well as oats.
  • The Jumbo pages described say these specific products are no longer in the online range. The mix also isn’t an oats-only product.

Quaker

Quaker Havermout Original is a regular wholegrain oat option if organic isn’t a must for you.

  • Quaker lists 100% wholegrain oats as the ingredient.
  • The product information described doesn’t confirm organic certification and states that the product may contain barley and wheat.

CROWNFIELD (Lidl)

Lidl lists CROWNFIELD Biologisch havermout in a 500 g pack.

  • Lidl describes this product as organic and available in store.
  • Check the label in store for ingredients and allergens, and confirm that the product is available there.

GOLDEN BRIDGE (ALDI)

ALDI describes fine or jumbo wholegrain oats in a 1 kg pack.

  • Having a choice of fine or jumbo flakes is useful if your recipe calls for a specific type.
  • The product listing described doesn’t confirm that these oats are organic.

Oat products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify organic oats?

Check the packaging for the EU organic logo and information about the control body and the origin of the agricultural ingredients. According to Skal Biocontrole, the logo is mandatory for prepacked foods produced in the EU and sold as organic. If you want oats only, check the ingredients list too.

Are organic oats automatically gluten-free?

No, organic doesn’t mean gluten-free. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. If you have coeliac disease, oats are only suitable if the packaging carries the official Crossed Grain mark.

Can I use oats in recipes other than breakfast dishes?

Yes, oats can also be used in savoury dishes and baking. Check which type of flakes your recipe calls for, and whether the packaging lists oats only or a mix with other ingredients.

How should I store oats after opening?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal it tightly after use. The product information described by Jumbo and Albert Heijn recommends storing oats in a cool, dry, dark place.