Choose plain porridge oats with oats as the only ingredient if you want to make a breakfast with no added sugars on pea soup day. Also check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g: no added sugars does not mean sugar-free. If you’re short on preparation time or need gluten-free oats, check the specific packaging and allergen information to find the right option.
You’re looking for a neutral breakfast staple and don’t want to confuse ‘no added sugars’ with ‘sugar-free’. If oats are the only ingredient in your porridge oats, the ingredients list is easy to assess, but the oats may still contain naturally occurring sugars.
You want to make a warm portion quickly before the rest of pea soup day gets underway. A pre-measured sachet can save you weighing or measuring, but do check the ingredients for that specific flavour.
If your oats need to be gluten-free, a simple ingredients list isn’t enough. For people with coeliac disease, Voedingscentrum recommends looking for the official Crossed Grain mark on oat products; check the packaging for this mark.
First decide whether you want to avoid added sugars or are looking for a product that is literally sugar-free. Then consider the preparation time, whether you need a gluten-free option and the texture you want for breakfast.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar information | Read the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. According to the European Commission, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can only be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | I want to decide for myself what goes into my breakfast and don’t automatically assume that ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’. For around 39% of consumers, checking the sugar content comes first. |
| Convenience | Check the preparation time, portion size and ingredients of the option you’ve chosen. | On a busy morning, I don’t want to measure out porridge oats first, but I still want to know what’s in my portion. Around 31% of consumers say convenience is their top priority. |
| Gluten-free oats | Check the gluten-free statement on the packaging. For people with coeliac disease, Voedingscentrum recommends the official Crossed Grain mark on oat products. | If regular oats aren’t suitable for me, I need to be able to identify which oats I’m buying; for around 15% of consumers, this assurance is essential. |
| Texture and portion | Check whether the oats are fine or coarse and how much the pack or portion contains. | I want porridge with a texture I enjoy and a portion that suits my breakfast. For around 15% of consumers, this practical choice comes first. |
A product with oats as its only ingredient can still contain naturally occurring sugars. For example, the fine porridge oats listed by Jumbo contain 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g, so they don’t meet the European Commission’s threshold of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Decide which of the two claims you mean, then read both the ingredients list and the sugar information in the nutrition panel.
Jumbo lists Quaker Oats Express Naturel as porridge oats with no added sugars, while the ingredients list for Quaker Oats Express Kaneel includes sugar.
Check the ingredients for the exact flavour and pack you want to buy.
According to Voedingscentrum, oat products can be contaminated with gluten during processing. A packaging label that lists oats as the only ingredient doesn’t rule out this risk.
If you have coeliac disease, check the current packaging for the official Crossed Grain mark recommended by Voedingscentrum for oat products.
Ingredients and nutritional values can vary between products from the same brand. Use these examples to help you assess the label on the product you choose.
Brinta Havermout 450 g is a basic product made with 100% oat flakes.
The range includes plain porridge oats and Express portions, with different ingredients in each option.
Jumbo Havermout Fijne Vlokken Volkoren is a basic option for anyone who wants to choose their own porridge toppings.
AH Glutenvrij Volkoren havermout is a separate option for anyone specifically looking for gluten-free oats.
Leev Simply Free havermout glutenvrij is an organic wholegrain option.
Crownfield includes organic oat flakes, among other products listed by Lidl Nederland.
Golden Bridge Fijne volkoren havermout is a basic option listed by ALDI Nederland.
No. According to the European Commission, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is subject to a limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Porridge oats with no added sugars may contain naturally occurring sugars: Joybuy lists 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Havermout 600 g.
Don’t rely on oats being the only ingredient. Voedingscentrum warns that oats may be contaminated with gluten during processing and recommends the official Crossed Grain mark on oat products for people with coeliac disease. So check the current packaging.
Quaker Oats Express Naturel is a portion-sized option with no added sugars that, according to the product information, is ready in around two minutes. Check the flavour name and preparation instructions on the packaging, as ingredients vary across the Express range.
Yes. Voedingscentrum describes savoury porridge oats cooked with water and served with ingredients such as mushrooms and egg. It suggests oat flakes if you want more texture; if you’re making a breakfast with no added sugars, also check the ingredients in any extras.
