Home cook keeping an eye on salt
Wants to compare the salt content of dry porridge oats and also considers the fish, sauce and other additions to the meal.
Who might find this choice useful?
Cook considering oats with a fish meal
Is looking at plain oats as a possible side or ingredient and wants to check the ingredients and allergens in the product they choose.
Shopper looking for convenient portions
Wants pre-measured plain portions and weighs up the convenience against the ingredients, allergens and preparation method.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide whether you mainly want to compare the oats themselves, keep track of the salt in the whole fish dinner or make portioning easier. Always compare the salt content of dry products on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt in the oats | Compare the salt per 100 g of dry product and read the ingredients list, especially for mixed varieties. | I want to serve oats with fish and know how much salt the oats themselves add. Around 33% of consumers put this salt contribution first. |
| Salt in the whole meal | Check the labels on packaged fish and sauce separately, and also take the marinade and any salt you add yourself into account. | What matters to me is what ends up on the table, not just the oats. The salt content of the whole meal is the main consideration for around 45% of consumers. |
| Portions and preparation | Check the pack size and preparation method. For portioned products, read the ingredients and allergen information too. | I don’t want to measure out oats every time I make a portion. For around 22% of consumers, that convenience is the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing prepared porridge with dry oats
The 0.25 g of salt published by Albert Heijn for Brinta Havermout applies to a prepared portion made with semi-skimmed milk. It cannot be directly compared with the salt per 100 g of dry oats.
Before comparing, check both the quantity and the state of the product to which the nutritional information applies.
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Looking only at the salt in the oats
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can control how much salt you add to homemade sauces and marinades. The fish you choose and the other ingredients also count towards the meal.
Read the labels on packaged meal components separately before treating the porridge oats as the deciding factor for salt.
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Assuming sachets are automatically the right choice
A pre-measured portion makes measuring easier, but it doesn’t tell you whether the ingredients and allergens meet your requirements.
Compare the specific portion product with plain oats in terms of pack size, ingredients and salt per 100 g.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Quaker Havermout and Oats Express Naturel are two different oat products: loose oats and a portion pack.
- Quaker Netherlands lists Quaker Havermout as 100% wholegrain oats, with 0.01 g of salt per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 0 g of salt per 100 g for Oats Express Naturel.
- Albert Heijn says Oats Express Naturel may contain soya, barley and wheat. Check the packaging of the variety you choose.
Brinta
According to Albert Heijn, Brinta Havermout consists of 100% oat flakes and has a fine texture.
- The fine flakes are designed to cook quickly.
- The 0.25 g of salt listed by Albert Heijn is for a prepared portion made with semi-skimmed milk, not 100 g of dry flakes.
Albert Heijn
The own-brand range includes AH Volkoren Havermout Proteïne, a blend with soya protein, linseed and sunflower seeds.
- The product listing gives the ingredients and nutritional values for this specific variety.
- Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of salt per 100 g for this variety. Don’t compare it as if it were made from oats alone.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes fine and coarse wholegrain oats, as well as an organic variety.
- For its coarse wholegrain flakes, Jumbo states that the salt content comes from naturally occurring sodium.
- For a fair comparison, check the salt per 100 g on the packaging of the specific variety.
Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge is ALDI’s own brand, which includes fine wholegrain oats.
- ALDI Netherlands lists a 500 g pack of fine wholegrain oats.
- Check the ingredients and salt content on the current packaging before comparing this product with other porridge oats.
Porridge oat products on Joybuy
These products are options to consider if you’re thinking of serving oats as part of a fish dinner. If you’re comparing salt content, check the nutritional information on the exact pack. Also check the fish and any sauce separately.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An option to consider if you want to serve pre-measured portions of oats. Check the exact pack for the salt per 100 g and information about possible allergens.
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Brinta Oatmeal 450 g
An option to consider if you want to use plain oats and measure out your own portion. Compare the salt content of the dry flakes on the packaging, not the salt in a prepared portion.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
An option to consider if you want to measure out loose porridge oats for your meal. Check the ingredients and salt per 100 g on this pack before comparing it with other varieties.
Frequently asked questions
Do porridge oats make a fish dinner low in salt?
No. The salt content of porridge oats tells you only about that part of the meal. Check the fish and any packaged sauces or marinades too, and remember to account for any salt you add yourself.
Should I compare salt per portion or per 100 g?
It’s best to compare porridge oat products per 100 g and in the same state, for example, both dry. A prepared portion made with milk has a different composition, so it can’t be directly compared with dry flakes.
Can I choose Quaker Oats Express Naturel if I avoid gluten?
Don’t rely on the word Naturel in the name alone. Albert Heijn lists oats and the possible presence of barley and wheat for Quaker Oats Express Naturel. Check the current label and look for an explicit gluten-free statement on the exact product.
How does the daily salt recommendation affect my choice?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises adults to have no more than 6 g of salt a day. This is a recommendation for your total daily intake, not a limit for assessing one pack of porridge oats or one fish dinner on its own.