Festival-goer keeping an eye on salt
Wants to compare the salt content of porridge oats and decide which flavourings and toppings to add to the meal.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Festival-goer short on cooking time
Is looking for a portion that suits the time and cooking facilities available, such as a pan or microwave.
Festival-goer with coeliac disease
Needs to look for the official Crossed Grain trademark on oats, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says ordinary oats may be contaminated with gluten.
What should you look for?
First, decide what matters most for your festival meal: control over added ingredients, easy preparation, enough to go round or gluten-free packaging.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt and ingredients | Compare the salt content per 100 g and check which ingredients have been added. Factor in any flavourings and toppings too. | If I’m seasoning my porridge myself, I want to know how much salt is already in the base. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Read the preparation instructions and check that you can use the required pan, microwave or other facilities. | If I have little time or cooking space, I want to be able to prepare a portion with what I have to hand; around 29% of consumers give this top priority. |
| Quantity and packaging | Check the pack weight and make sure you can keep the contents dry and sealed between meals. | If I’m catering for several days or a group, I want to take enough porridge oats without leaving any unused. This is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free oats | If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging of the product itself. | If I have coeliac disease, I need to be sure the oats meet my gluten-free requirements; around 14% of consumers put this assurance first. |
Common mistakes
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Checking only the salt in dry porridge oats
A low-salt base doesn’t tell you how much salt is in the prepared meal. Stock, cheese, sauce and other savoury additions count too.
Compare the porridge oats’ label, then check which ingredients you’re adding to the whole portion.
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Assuming ordinary oats are suitable for a gluten-free diet
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says oats may be contaminated with gluten. So, if you have coeliac disease, an ingredients list that includes oats isn’t enough.
Check for the official Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging of the specific oat product.
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Relying on an old product description instead of the label
The packaging you buy is what matters for the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information you need to consider.
Read the current label again, especially if salt or gluten is a deciding factor for you.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Offers both regular porridge oats and single-portion packs of Oats Express Naturel.
- Albert Heijn lists Quaker Oatmeal 600 g as 100% wholegrain oats, with 0.01 g of salt per 100 g. Quaker lists Oats Express Naturel as containing 0 g of salt per 100 g.
- For the Express variety, check that the preparation instructions suit the cooking facilities you have.
Brinta
The Brinta Oatmeal mentioned is made from fine oat flakes, according to the product listing.
- Albert Heijn lists Brinta Oatmeal as 100% oat flakes, with 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.
- If you have coeliac disease, check for the Crossed Grain trademark; don’t rely on the mention of oats alone.
Albert Heijn
Offers a wholegrain porridge oat product specifically labelled gluten-free.
- AH Gluten-Free Wholegrain Porridge Oats are listed as containing 0 g of salt per 100 g and being produced in a completely gluten-free environment.
- This information applies to this product, not all Albert Heijn porridge oats. If you have coeliac disease, also check the trademark on the packaging.
Jumbo
Offers porridge oats in a range of flake sizes and pack formats.
- The Jumbo range includes fine wholegrain porridge oats in a 1 kg pack, as well as smaller portions.
- Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the variety you choose; the pack format doesn’t determine the salt content.
Golden Bridge (ALDI)
The Golden Bridge variety mentioned is 500 g of coarse wholegrain porridge oats.
- ALDI lists the coarse flakes and pack weight for this variety.
- Check the nutritional information on the packaging if the salt content will determine your choice.
Porridge oat products on Joybuy
These products include single-portion packs and larger packs of porridge oats to use as a base for festival meals. Choose according to how you’ll prepare them and what the label says. If you have coeliac disease, checking the trademark on the packaging is a separate step.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
A single-portion option if you can use a microwave or saucepan at the festival.
Joybuy lists a preparation time of 2 minutes and 0 g of salt per 100 g for this Express variety. If you have coeliac disease, check for the trademark on the packaging.
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Brinta Oatmeal 450 g
Fine flakes for anyone who wants to make a warm portion of porridge on the spot.
Albert Heijn lists Brinta Oatmeal as 100% oat flakes, with 0.01 g of salt per 100 g; Joybuy describes the flakes as extra fine. If you have coeliac disease, check for the trademark on the packaging.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
A pack for making several portions, if you can store the contents somewhere dry.
For the 600 g pack of Quaker Oatmeal, Albert Heijn lists 100% wholegrain oats and 0.01 g of salt per 100 g. If you have coeliac disease, check for the trademark on the packaging.
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Zonnatura Organic Whole Wheat Oatmeal 500 g
A 500 g pack to take with you if you want to prepare porridge on the spot.
Before buying, check the ingredients, allergen information and preparation instructions on the packaging, especially if the type of grain or the cooking facilities available are important to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Are regular porridge oats always low in salt?
Don’t assume so without checking the label. Albert Heijn lists the Quaker Oatmeal and Brinta Oatmeal mentioned above as each containing 0.01 g of salt per 100 g, but other varieties and additions to the prepared meal need to be checked separately.
How can I keep an eye on the salt in a festival meal made with porridge oats?
Check the salt content of the porridge oats and anything you add to them. With savoury recipes in particular, stock, cheese or sauce can change the amount of salt in the finished portion.
Are all porridge oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says oat products may be contaminated with gluten, so check for the official Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging of the specific product.
Can I eat porridge oats instead of bread throughout a festival?
If you regularly use porridge oats as a replacement, bear in mind the difference in nutritional information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that iodine is added to bread, but not to porridge oats.