If you want genuinely sugar-free breakfast cereal in a holiday home, choose a product with no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g: according to EUR-Lex, that’s the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Quaker Havermout Original and the Albert Heijn crunchy muesli and granola mentioned here exceed that limit, even though some contain no added sugars. If that’s your main priority, porridge oats are a good fit if you can prepare them. For a cold, crunchy breakfast, you could consider muesli or granola, provided you also check the nutritional information and allergens.
You want your breakfast cereal to meet the EU limit for ‘sugar-free’: no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ isn’t enough for you, as the product may still contain naturally occurring sugars.
You want to know in advance whether you can serve breakfast cold or will need a pan, microwave and liquid. That makes a difference if the holiday home has limited equipment.
You’d rather have muesli or granola with milk or yoghurt than warm porridge. You also want to be able to check the sugar content, ingredients and allergens in the variety you choose.
First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement. Then compare how to prepare the products you’re considering for your holiday breakfast, along with their ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely sugar-free | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. According to EUR-Lex, the ‘sugar-free’ claim applies to products with no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; a claim about added sugars means something different. | If I want to choose something strictly sugar-free, the total sugar content must meet that requirement, whatever the wording on the front of the pack. For around 40% of consumers, this sugar limit is the most important factor. |
| Preparing breakfast in a holiday home | Check the preparation instructions and whether a bowl, pan or microwave and the required liquid are available. | With limited kitchen equipment, I want to know in advance whether I can make porridge or would be better off serving a cold breakfast. Easy preparation comes first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Crunchiness and ingredients | For muesli and granola, compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g, including sugars, fat, fibre and any polyols. | I prefer something crunchy that doesn’t need preparing, but I want to know what it contains besides grains. For around 20% of consumers, this preference is the main reason for their purchase. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the allergen information on the pack you choose, and check the ingredients in any milk, yoghurt or toppings you use with it. | If several people are eating together in the holiday home, I want to know before buying whether the ingredients are suitable for them. For around 10% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
‘No added sugar’ doesn’t rule out naturally occurring sugars. Albert Heijn states that AH Krokante muesli noten 0% suiker contains 1.3 g of sugars per 100 g, while AH Granola koolhydraat verlaagd 0% suiker contains 1.9 g per 100 g. Both figures are above the sugar-free limit set out by EUR-Lex for this claim.
Use the wording on the front of the pack as a reason to look more closely, then make your decision based on ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.
The serving values for Brinta Havermout are based on oats prepared with semi-skimmed milk. Using a different liquid or adding a topping will change the nutritional value of the bowl.
First compare the dry cereal per 100 g, then look at the liquid and toppings you use separately.
A crunchy mix with nuts or a wheat-based breakfast cereal won’t suit every travel companion. Milk ingredients may also be relevant in a composite product.
Before buying, read the allergen information on the current packaging. If you’re sharing, use separate serving utensils to reduce the risk of cross-contact between products.
A sugar claim doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value. Albert Heijn states that AH Krokante muesli noten 0% suiker contains, among other things, 19 g of fat and 17 g of polyols per 100 g.
Also compare the ingredients, portion size and other nutritional information of the products you’re choosing between.
Quaker offers both plain porridge oats and mixed, crunchy breakfast cereals. Each calls for different checks on ingredients and preparation.
The own-label range includes crunchy muesli and granola varieties with a claim about added sugar.
Brinta is worth considering if you want to make a hot breakfast in your holiday home.
For well-known Kellogg's flake cereals, the sugar content is a more useful guide than the product type alone.
Ingredients and nutritional values can vary between Nestlé Cereals varieties.
No. Under the EU rules on EUR-Lex, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can only be used for products with no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars, so check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g when choosing breakfast cereals.
No, not according to the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim on EUR-Lex. Quaker states that Havermout Original contains 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g, while Albert Heijn states that the crunchy muesli contains 1.3 g per 100 g. If your main aim is to avoid added sugars, also check the ingredients on the pack you choose.
For a cold breakfast, you could choose muesli or granola to serve with milk or yoghurt, provided the sugar content and ingredients suit your needs. If you want to make Brinta Havermout or another hot cereal breakfast, check the preparation instructions on the pack and the kitchen equipment available in advance.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack and seal any opened bag tightly. Albert Heijn recommends storing its crunchy muesli in a cool, dark, dry place. Check the instructions for the variety you’re actually taking with you.
