Who are these choices relevant to?

Shoppers looking for strictly sugar-free options

For you, ‘sugar-free’ is a must. So you compare the sugars per 100 g with the 0.5 g threshold, even if the front of the pack says ‘unsweetened’.

Holidaymakers who want to shop practically

You want enough breakfast cereal for all your breakfasts at the holiday home, without being left with a large opened pack. Pack size and storage advice matter too.

Shoppers comparing fibre or allergens

As well as sugar, you check the fibre, ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose. A wholegrain cereal is different from crispy cornflakes, and doesn’t automatically meet the same sugar threshold.

What should you look for when choosing?

If strictly sugar-free is a must, start by checking the sugars per 100 g. Then compare the pack size with your needs for the stay, and check fibre and allergens separately.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Strictly sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. For the ‘sugar-free’ claim, the European Union limit is no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If sugar-free is a must for me, I don’t want to rely on ‘unsweetened’ when the cereal still contains sugars. For around 42% of shoppers, this strict sugar limit comes first.
Enough for your stay Compare the pack size with the number of breakfasts you’ll need, and check the storage advice on the pack. For a stay of several mornings, I want to take enough, but I’d rather not leave with a large opened pack. Around 25% of shoppers prioritise this practical consideration.
Fibre and allergens Check the fibre per 100 g, ingredients, and allergen and trace information on the exact pack. If fibre or an allergen is a deciding factor for me, I can’t choose based only on the sugar content or the main ingredient, maize. This is the top priority for around 33% of shoppers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘unsweetened’ means ‘sugar-free’

    These terms aren’t interchangeable. Jumbo lists 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet: above the 0.5 g per 100 g threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

    If you need a strictly sugar-free option, always check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.

  • Assuming cornflakes are free from gluten or other allergens

    Maize as the main ingredient doesn’t tell you everything about the other ingredients or possible traces. Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet may contain, among other things, cereals containing gluten, milk, nuts, peanuts, sesame and soya.

    Read the ingredients, allergens and trace information on the pack you’re actually buying.

  • Comparing only the sugar content

    The sugar content doesn’t tell you how much fibre a product contains. Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre and 4.6 g of sugars per 100 g for Brinta Volkoren Graanontbijt. It’s also a wheat-based cereal, not crispy cornflakes.

    Decide which feature matters most to you first, then compare the other nutritional information and ingredients.

  • Treating an online product page as the definitive label

    If you need to meet a strict sugar limit or avoid an allergen, the information on the pack you take home is what counts. A product page you looked at earlier is no substitute.

    Check the current label before serving the cereal at your holiday home.

Brands compared

Brinta

Brinta Volkoren Graanontbijt is an alternative if you’d rather prepare a cereal than eat crispy cornflakes.

  • Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g for this product.
  • It’s made from wholemeal wheat flour and contains 4.6 g of sugars per 100 g, so it isn’t suitable if you need a strictly sugar-free or gluten-free option.

Kellogg's

The Kellogg's Cornflakes compared here are standard cornflakes.

  • Albert Heijn lists maize as an ingredient in these cornflakes.
  • The ingredients also include sugar and barley malt extract; the nutritional information lists 8 g of sugars per 100 g.

Albert Heijn

AH Cornflakes give you a standard cornflake label to compare when shopping for your holiday home.

  • Albert Heijn lists both total and added sugars for AH Cornflakes.
  • With 4.4 g of sugars per 100 g, including 3.9 g of added sugars, these cornflakes aren’t strictly sugar-free.

Jumbo

Jumbo Cornflakes are a standard option to assess by sugar content and ingredients.

  • Jumbo lists the nutritional values per 100 g for these cornflakes.
  • The listed 5.9 g of sugars per 100 g is above the strict sugar-free threshold; also check current availability and the pack details.

Lidl

Lidl Netherlands lists a 500 g pack of cornflakes as an in-store product.

  • The listed pack size can help you work out how much you’ll need for your stay.
  • Before choosing, check the sugar content, ingredients and allergens on the pack label in store.

Aldi

ALDI Netherlands lists Golden Bridge Cornflakes as a breakfast cereal option for shoppers buying groceries locally.

  • You can compare the pack you choose in store with other cornflakes.
  • For a strictly sugar-free option, check the total sugars per 100 g on the current label; don’t rely on the product name alone.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No. Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a product can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim. A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars; Jumbo lists 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet.

Which figure on the label should I compare?

If you’re looking for strictly sugar-free breakfast cereal, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. For the ‘sugar-free’ claim, this must be no more than 0.5 g per 100 g under European Union rules; ‘unsweetened’ on the front of the pack isn’t enough.

Are cornflakes with no added sugars automatically gluten-free?

No. Added sugars and gluten are separate considerations. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack; maize as the main ingredient doesn’t, by itself, confirm that cornflakes are gluten-free.

How should I store breakfast cereal in a holiday home?

Follow the storage advice on the pack and seal it securely once opened. When shopping, also compare the pack size with the number of breakfasts you have planned, so you take the right amount for your stay.

Is choosing breakfast cereal with little sugar enough?

No. As well as sugars, compare fibre, salt, ingredients and any allergens. If strictly sugar-free is a must, the cereal must meet the sugar threshold first; other nutritional values don’t change that limit.