Before stocking up on organic breakfast or snack ingredients, first check the organic label on the exact pack. The EU organic logo can help you do this, according to RVO and the European Commission. Choose plain oats if you want to add your own ingredients, or a mix if the ingredients suit you. If you need a gluten-free product, organic certification alone isn’t enough: also check for a separate ‘gluten-free’ label.
You want to use oats for breakfast and homemade snacks, and decide for yourself what to add. Compare the ingredients in plain products, and choose fine or coarse flakes to suit the way you plan to prepare them.
A ready-made mix can be handy if you don’t want to choose separate ingredients every time. Check what else it contains besides oats, and compare the nutritional information per 100 g with that of plain oats.
An organic label isn’t enough. Check each pack individually for a ‘gluten-free’ label, and read the ingredients and allergen information for mixes too.
Start by checking the organic label. Then compare the ingredients, flake type and packaging with how you plan to use the oats. If you need a gluten-free product, check for that separately.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic label | Look for the EU organic logo and the accompanying label information on the exact pack. ‘Wholegrain’ or ‘natural’ doesn’t mean the same as organic. | If organic is my first priority, I want to be able to recognise it on the packaging. For around 36% of consumers, this reassurance is the deciding factor. |
| Plain oats | Check whether the product contains oats only, and compare fine and coarse flakes to find the right type for your chosen recipe. | For breakfast and homemade snacks, I’d rather decide for myself what to add. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this versatile base. |
| Stocking up and packaging | Compare the pack size and check whether you’ll be able to find the same product again next time you shop. | If I top up my pantry regularly, I want packaging that suits how I use the product. For around 21% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider. |
| Gluten-free label | Look specifically for ‘gluten-free’ and read the current ingredients and allergen information, especially for mixes. | If I need a gluten-free product, I don’t want to rely on the organic label alone. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this separate label. |
These words alone don’t confirm that the oats have been produced in accordance with organic standards.
Check the EU organic logo and the accompanying information on the pack. RVO and the European Commission describe the logo as a way to identify organic products.
A mix may contain other grains and allergens. For example, the Zonnatura Havermout & Spelt Proteïne described by Jumbo contains spelt and soya flakes.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information. If you want to choose your own additions, opt for a product that contains oats only.
The organic certification doesn’t tell you whether oats can be sold as gluten-free.
If you need a gluten-free product, check for a separate ‘gluten-free’ label on the exact product.
Albert Heijn lists AH Biologisch Havermout, as well as separate varieties with fine and coarse flakes.
Jumbo has product pages for organic wholegrain oats and organic wholegrain oat flakes in 500 g packs.
Lidl Netherlands lists Crownfield Biologisch havermout.
Zonnatura offers oat products and ready-made mixes. For Zonnatura Havermout & Spelt Proteïne, Jumbo also lists spelt and soya flakes among the ingredients.
Quaker lists wholegrain oats and Oats Express varieties, including a cinnamon flavour.
Check for the EU organic logo and the accompanying label information on the exact pack. According to RVO and the European Commission, the logo helps identify organic products. Also look for the code of the control body and the origin label for the agricultural ingredients.
No. Organic and gluten-free are separate labels. European rules for oats sold as gluten-free set requirements to prevent contamination during production, preparation or processing, as well as limits on gluten content. So check specifically for ‘gluten-free’ on the pack.
Choose the flake type to suit the texture you want in your recipe. For both fine and coarse flakes, also check that the exact pack is organic and what ingredients it contains; the flake type confirms neither.
Store oats in a dry, sealed container and follow the storage and use-by information on the specific pack. Zonnatura advises storing one of its oat products in a dry, sealed container. For other products, check the instructions on the packaging.
