Label-conscious shoppers
If you want to avoid added sugar, look beyond the front of the pack. The ingredients list and nutritional information per 100 g each tell you something different about the product.
Who are the different options for?
Sunday morning cooks
If you’re looking for a base for warm porridge or an oat-based recipe before your Sunday roast, choosing between fine and coarse flakes will affect the texture.
Shoppers short on preparation time
If you’d rather not measure out the oats yourself, portion packs could be a good fit. Check the serving size and preparation instructions before you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide what matters most to you: the ingredients, how much you want to keep at home, the convenience of portions or the texture of the flakes. Then check the packaging to find the option that suits you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Read the ingredients list and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g across similar products. | If I want to avoid added sugar, I need to be able to assess the ingredients without confusing ‘no added sugar’ with sugar-free. For around 33% of shoppers, checking the label comes first. |
| Pack size | Check the net weight and choose a pack that suits how often you eat porridge oats. | If I use oats regularly, I want to have enough at home without buying more than I’ll use. This is the first consideration for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Speed and portions | Check the serving size and preparation instructions for the way you plan to make the oats. | When my morning is busy, I don’t want to have to measure out the oats first. For around 25% of shoppers, a quick-to-prepare, pre-measured portion matters most. |
| Flake texture | Compare fine and coarse flakes, and follow the preparation instructions on the pack. | For my porridge or oat-based recipe, I want flakes that give me the texture I’m looking for. Around 17% of shoppers put this choice first. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
A product with no added sugar can still list sugars in its nutritional information.
Check both the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. For example, Quaker Oats listed by Albert Heijn contains 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g.
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Assuming ordinary oats are suitable for coeliac disease
Oats can come into contact with gluten-containing cereals during processing. Brinta and Quaker’s product information also mentions the possible presence of other cereals.
For coeliac disease, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises choosing only oats with the official Crossed Grain trademark. Check the packaging of the product you’re buying.
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Focusing only on the dry oats
What you add to your porridge also affects what ends up in the bowl; the nutritional information for dry oats doesn’t automatically describe the whole dish.
Compare oat products on the same per-100 g basis, and consider milk, yoghurt and any toppings separately when putting together a recipe.
Brands to consider
Quaker
The range includes loose porridge oats as well as portion packs of Oats Express Naturel.
- The plain Quaker Oats listed by Albert Heijn contains 100% wholegrain oats and provides 1.1 g of sugars and 9 g of fibre per 100 g.
- According to the product information, the variants mentioned may contain other gluten-containing cereals. Check the trademark on the packaging to assess suitability for coeliac disease.
Brinta
The Brinta Porridge Oats listed by Albert Heijn are made with fine oat flakes for warm porridge.
- The ingredients list states 100% oat flakes; Brinta describes the flakes as extra fine.
- The product information states that traces of wheat and rye may be present.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range includes fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats.
- Jumbo lists only wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient in its Jumbo Coarse Wholegrain Oat Flakes, which contain 0.7 g of sugars and 10.0 g of fibre per 100 g.
- A blended option such as Jumbo Protein Oats has different ingredients from the coarse variety, so check the ingredients list for each product.
Golden Bridge
ALDI offers fine wholegrain porridge oats under this brand in a 500 g pack.
- The fine flakes are a useful option if that’s what you’re looking for.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack before deciding whether this variety meets your requirements for added sugar.
Porridge oat products on Joybuy
These products include portion packs and loose oats for anyone who wants to make porridge or an oat-based dish from scratch before the Sunday roast. Choose based on portion convenience, pack size and the information on the label.
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Quaker Express Oats – 324 g
A handy option if, on a busy Sunday morning, you’d rather grab a portion than measure out the oats yourself. Quaker describes Oats Express Naturel as made with wholegrain oats; the preparation instructions suggest around two minutes. Check the allergen information on the pack.
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Quaker Oats – 600 g
Ideal for measuring out your own portions for porridge or an oat-based recipe. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety is made with 100% wholegrain oats and contains 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g. That doesn’t mean it’s sugar-free; if you have coeliac disease, check the trademark on the packaging too.
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Quaker Oats – 375 g
A smaller pack of loose oats if you want to decide how much to use each time. The pack contains 375 g. Check the ingredients, sugars per 100 g and allergen information on the label for this variety.
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Zonnatura Organic Wholegrain Porridge Oats – 500 g
A loose oat base if you want to measure out the amount for your porridge yourself. This variety comes in a 500 g pack. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging if these affect your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean porridge oats contain no sugars?
No. Even with no added sugar, a product can still list sugars in its nutritional information. Albert Heijn’s product information lists 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Oats, so check both the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.
Are ordinary porridge oats suitable for coeliac disease?
Not automatically. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can come into contact with gluten-containing cereals during processing. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging; ‘wholegrain’ or ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable.
Should I choose fine or coarse flakes for warm porridge?
Choose the flake texture you want in your porridge. Brinta describes its extra-fine flakes as quick to prepare, while Jumbo also offers coarse wholegrain flakes. Follow the preparation ratio on the pack for the variety you choose.
How should I store an opened pack of porridge oats?
Store porridge oats in a dry place in a well-sealed container, and follow the storage advice on the packaging. This helps keep moisture away from the opened contents.