Salt-conscious breakfast maker
You want to decide for yourself what goes into your Sunday breakfast porridge, and are looking for packaging that clearly lists the ingredients and salt content.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Fan of quick, hot porridge
You want to spend as little time as possible preparing breakfast. That’s why you compare fine oats and portion packs for both preparation method and the ingredients in the specific variety you choose.
Shopper who needs gluten-free oats
You can’t rely on the word ‘oats’ in the product name alone. According to the Voedingscentrum, people with coeliac disease should check for a gluten-free label and the official Crossed Grain trademark.
What should you look for when choosing?
First compare the dry oats on a like-for-like basis. Then consider which preparation method, additions and any gluten-free labelling matter for your breakfast.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Salt and ingredients | Compare the salt per 100 g of dry porridge oats and check the ingredients list for added salt. | If I want to choose what goes into my porridge, I’d like to start with a simple base. Around 38% of consumers make control over salt and added ingredients their top priority. |
| Wholegrain base and fibre | Check that wholegrain oats are listed as an ingredient and, if you wish, compare the fibre per 100 g. | I want to choose plain porridge oats for breakfast and add my own toppings. This is the top purchasing priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Preparation and portions | Read the preparation instructions and check whether the pack contains individual portions. | When I want to make a hot bowl quickly, convenience matters more to me than the type of packaging. Around 23% of consumers are expected to make this their top priority. |
| Gluten-free labelling | If you need a gluten-free option, check the packaging for suitable labelling and the Crossed Grain trademark. | If I need to check whether oats are suitable because I have coeliac disease, certainty about the specific product is essential. Around 8% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing prepared porridge with dry oats
Nutrition information per serving with milk is based on something different from the figures per 100 g of dry porridge oats. The salt figures therefore don’t tell you the same thing about the oat product.
First compare dry products per 100 g. Then consider milk, yoghurt and toppings as part of the bowl you prepare yourself.
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Assuming a quick option is automatically salt-conscious
Preparation time and portion packaging don’t, by themselves, tell you the salt content of that particular variety.
For fine oats and portion sachets, too, check the ingredients and salt content per 100 g of the dry product.
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Taking a cholesterol claim as a medical promise
A mention of beta-glucans doesn’t make porridge oats a treatment. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that medical claims for food products are prohibited.
Assess the product based on its ingredients and nutritional information, and don’t treat a claim on the packaging as medical advice.
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Calling regular oats gluten-free without checking
Regular oats aren’t automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease. The Voedingscentrum points to the official Crossed Grain trademark for suitable oat products.
Check the labelling on the packaging of the specific product every time you buy it.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Among the Quaker products reviewed, plain porridge oats sit alongside Oats Express Naturel portions.
- The plain porridge oats described by Albert Heijn contain 100% wholegrain oats.
- For Express Naturel, check the nutritional information for that specific variety; the portion packaging alone doesn’t tell you anything about another Quaker variety.
Brinta
Brinta offers extra-fine oats for anyone looking for a plain oat base that takes little time to prepare.
- Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredient in the Brinta Porridge Oats reviewed.
- Check whether the nutritional information shown is for dry porridge oats or a serving prepared with milk.
Albert Heijn (AH-huismerk)
The own-brand products reviewed include plain fine wholegrain porridge oats and a separate gluten-free variety.
- Albert Heijn states that its fine wholegrain porridge oats contain 0 g of added salt per 100 g.
- The regular fine oats and the explicitly gluten-free variety aren’t interchangeable when you need to check that a product is gluten-free.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range of porridge oats includes fine, coarse and organic varieties.
- These different types give you a starting point for comparing preparation methods and packaging.
- When comparing salt content, use the nutritional information for each individual product, not just the range page.
Porridge oats on Joybuy
These products offer different starting points for Sunday breakfast: an Express variety and two larger packs of porridge oats. Check the nutritional information on the packaging of each product before comparing the salt content.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
Consider this Express variety if you’re looking for a quick breakfast. Check the packaging for the preparation instructions, ingredients and salt content of this 324 g variety.
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Zonnatura Organic Whole Wheat Oatmeal 500 g
A 500 g pack to consider if you want to choose your own porridge toppings. Check the ingredients list and salt content per 100 g for this specific product.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
A pack of plain porridge oats for anyone who wants to put together their own breakfast. Joybuy lists 100% wholegrain oats as an ingredient for Quaker Oatmeal 600 g; check the label on the pack you choose for the salt content per 100 g.
Frequently asked questions
Are plain porridge oats always low in salt?
You can’t tell from the product name alone. Check the salt content per 100 g of dry porridge oats, and separately look for any added salt in the ingredients list.
Should I include milk, yoghurt and toppings when comparing?
Yes, they also affect the nutritional value of the prepared bowl. First compare oat products dry, per 100 g, then factor in the ingredients you use yourself.
Can I choose regular porridge oats if I have coeliac disease?
Regular porridge oats aren’t automatically suitable. For oat products for people with coeliac disease, the Voedingscentrum recommends looking for the official Crossed Grain trademark; check the packaging of the product you buy.
Is a cholesterol claim on porridge oats a medical promise?
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that medical claims in the marketing of food products are prohibited. Read any claim on the packaging in the context of the conditions stated alongside it, not as a promise to treat or protect against disease.