If sugar-free is a strict requirement, choose cornflakes with no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g: AH Biologisch Cornflakes lists 0.3 g per 100 g, meeting the threshold set by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for the claim. If you mainly want to avoid added sugar, you could also consider Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet; at 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g, this product is not sugar-free. For a large family, also compare pack size, ingredients, fibre and allergens.
For households that check the amount of sugars per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a solid food can be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ does not mean the same thing.
For households looking for a product with no added sugar, even if it still contains naturally occurring sugars. When you buy it regularly for the family, the amount in each pack matters too.
For shoppers who take fibre content and grain type into account. Jumbo Special Flakes is a different kind of flake product from cornflakes: according to Jumbo, it contains wheat and rice, among other ingredients.
Start by deciding whether it really needs to be ‘sugar-free’, or whether ‘no added sugars’ is enough. Then compare the packaging and ingredients with what your family uses and can eat.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and claims | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. | If sugar-free is a strict requirement for our family, I don’t want to rely on ‘unsweetened’ alone. Around 33% of consumers put this strict threshold first. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight with how much you use at home; the AH and Smaakt packs discussed contain 300 g, while Jumbo Cornflakes comes in a 500 g pack. | If we eat cornflakes often at home, I want to know how quickly we’ll get through a pack. For around 27% of consumers, pack size matters most. |
| Fibre and grain type | Compare fibre per 100 g and check whether the product is made with corn or other grains. Jumbo lists 7.2 g of fibre per 100 g for Special Flakes, with wheat and rice among the ingredients. | As well as the sugar content, I want to make an informed choice between cornflakes and flakes made from other grains. Around 20% of consumers prioritise fibre and ingredients. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack, including any sweeteners, soya, wheat and barley. | If not everyone at home can or wants to eat the same ingredients, the pack needs to suit the household. Around 20% of consumers put this first. |
A product with no added sugars can still contain naturally occurring sugars. For the ‘sugar-free’ claim, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets a limit of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; according to Jumbo, Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet contains 1.0 g per 100 g.
If sugar-free is a strict requirement, always check the nutrition information per 100 g as well as the claim on the front of the pack.
A larger pack can be handy for family use, but it tells you nothing about the sugar content. According to Jumbo, Jumbo Cornflakes contains sugar as an ingredient and has 4.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
First decide which sugar claim your family needs, then compare the net weight of suitable products.
According to Jumbo, Jumbo Special Flakes contains maltitols, wheat and barley. AH Biologisch Cornflakes lists 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g, but contains soya. So the sugar content alone doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for everyone at home.
Before buying, also read the full ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging.
AH Biologisch Cornflakes is a cornflakes option for anyone choosing strictly according to the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet is an option if avoiding added sugar matters more than meeting the strict sugar-free threshold.
In the range discussed, Jumbo Cornflakes and Jumbo Special Flakes are different products with different ingredients.
Kellogg's Corn Flakes is included here as a reference for standard cornflakes, not as a sugar-free option.
Golden Bridge is ALDI’s own brand for a 500 g pack of cornflakes discussed here.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a solid food can be called ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ means that no sugars or other foods used for their sweetening properties have been added; naturally occurring sugars may still be present. According to Jumbo, Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet contains 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g, so it is not sugar-free.
Based on the 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g listed by Albert Heijn, AH Biologisch Cornflakes meets the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s threshold. According to Jumbo, Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet contains 1.0 g and Jumbo Cornflakes 4.5 g; Kellogg's Netherlands lists 8.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Kellogg's Corn Flakes. These products do not meet the threshold of 0.5 g per 100 g.
Jumbo Special Flakes could be an alternative if your family is mainly looking for a flake product with no added sugars, but they are not sugar-free cornflakes. Jumbo lists 1.3 g of sugars and 7.2 g of fibre per 100 g; the ingredients include wheat, rice and maltitols.
