If you’re looking for strictly sugar-free cereal
You want to know whether a breakfast cereal meets the European limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim, so you compare sugars per 100 g. Then check the carbohydrates in the portion you eat separately.
Who might find this choice useful?
If you’re keeping an eye on fibre and carbohydrates
You compare fibre and carbohydrates, even if that means the product isn’t strictly sugar-free. Diabetes.nl and the Diabetes Fonds highlight fibre and wholegrain breakfast cereals as things to consider when choosing breakfast.
If you’re avoiding added sugar
You check the ingredients list to avoid added sugar, while recognising that a product may contain naturally occurring sugars. ‘No added sugar’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘sugar-free’.
What should you look for in breakfast cereal?
Start by distinguishing between strictly sugar-free and no added sugar. Then compare carbohydrates and fibre per 100 g, and check the ingredients and allergen information for the portion you plan to eat.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g with the European limit of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for solid products. | If ‘sugar-free’ is a firm requirement for me, I don’t want to rely solely on the wording on the front of the pack. Around 36% of consumers put this requirement first. |
| Added sugars | Check the ingredients list and total sugars per 100 g; look for sweeteners too if you want to avoid them. | I want to avoid added sugar, but naturally occurring sugars don’t necessarily rule out a product. For around 29% of consumers, this distinction matters most. |
| Carbohydrates and fibre | Compare both figures per 100 g and check how many carbohydrates are in the portion you eat. | At breakfast, I want to be able to factor in carbohydrates and look at fibre too, even if the cereal isn’t strictly sugar-free. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens and sweeteners | Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack. | I need to avoid an ingredient or want to know whether a product contains sweeteners. Around 14% of consumers prioritise these checks. |
Common misconceptions
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Assuming ‘no added sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’
The European limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim is no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for solid products. Jumbo lists 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet and 1.3 g per 100 g for Jumbo Special Flakes.
Use the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g to check whether a product meets the strict requirement; check the ingredients list separately for added sugar.
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Comparing sugar content alone
Alongside 0.3 g of sugars, Albert Heijn lists 80 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for AH Biologisch Cornflakes. Diabetes.nl emphasises that carbohydrate intake matters when you have diabetes.
Check carbohydrates and fibre too, and work out the nutritional values for the portion you eat.
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Assuming regular cornflakes are high in fibre
Kellogg’s lists 3.0 g of fibre and 8.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Corn Flakes. So if fibre is a priority, compare products individually rather than making assumptions based on the type of cereal.
Compare the fibre content with other types of breakfast cereal, while also checking for differences in sugars and ingredients.
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Overlooking allergens and sweeteners
According to the product information, AH Biologisch Cornflakes contains soya; Jumbo Special Flakes contains wheat, barley and maltitols. A low sugar content tells you nothing about these ingredients.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack before buying.
Brands compared
Albert Heijn
AH Biologisch Cornflakes is worth considering if you need ‘sugar-free’ to meet the strict European definition.
- Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars, 5 g of fibre and 80 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for this product.
- Its low sugar content doesn’t make the cereal low in carbohydrates. Check the current packaging before buying.
Smaakt
Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet suits a no-added-sugar choice, but not a strict sugar-free requirement.
- Jumbo’s product information lists organic maize as an ingredient and 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
- With 1.0 g of sugars and 85 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, this product doesn’t meet the limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Jumbo
Jumbo Special Flakes is a wheat and rice flake cereal to compare if fibre is an important factor in your choice.
- Jumbo lists 7.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The product also lists 1.3 g of sugars per 100 g and contains wheat, barley and maltitols; it isn’t a strictly sugar-free option.
Kellogg’s
Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and Special K Original show why a product’s name alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar it contains.
- Kellogg’s publishes an ingredients list and nutritional values per 100 g for both products.
- Both list sugar as an ingredient. Kellogg’s gives 8.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Corn Flakes and 15 g for Special K Original.
Brinta
Brinta Volkoren Graanontbijt is a hot wheat cereal, not a crunchy cornflake.
- Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre and 64 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for this product.
- At 4.6 g of sugars per 100 g, it isn’t strictly sugar-free; it contains wheat.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?
No. Under European rules for nutrition claims, a solid product can only be called ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A product with no added sugar can contain more than this, such as Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet, which contains 1.0 g per 100 g according to Jumbo’s product information.
Which of these breakfast cereals meets the sugar-free limit?
AH Biologisch Cornflakes meets the European limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim, with 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g listed by Albert Heijn. Compare the carbohydrates too: Albert Heijn lists 80 g per 100 g. Check the current packaging before buying.
Is sugar-free cornflakes automatically a suitable choice if you have diabetes?
No. Sugar content alone doesn’t determine that. Diabetes.nl also emphasises the importance of carbohydrates and discusses fibre at breakfast. So compare the nutritional values and the portion you eat, rather than relying on a low sugar figure as the whole picture.
How should I store breakfast cereal once opened?
Seal the pack tightly and store the cereal somewhere cool, dark and dry. Check the current packaging for the use-by date and any further storage instructions.