For a strictly sugar-free weekend breakfast, choose a product whose nutrition information lists no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Under EU rules on nutrition claims, that is the limit for a product to be called ‘sugar-free’. ‘Unsweetened’ and ‘no added sugars’ do not prove that a product meets this limit. If the overall nutritional profile of your breakfast matters most, compare fibre, salt, ingredients and any allergens too.
For you, ‘less added sugar’ is not the same as sugar-free. When choosing cornflakes, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under EU rules on nutrition claims, a solid food can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
You want cornflakes the whole family enjoys, but you don’t want to rely solely on the wording on the front of the box. Compare the nutritional information of the products you’re considering.
As well as sugars, you check fibre and wholegrain ingredients, or you’re specifically looking for cornflakes labelled gluten-free. These are separate features to check on the packaging.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under EU rules on nutrition claims, solid foods can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if they contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I want genuinely sugar-free cornflakes, ‘unsweetened’ isn’t enough. For around 50% of shoppers, this strict sugar limit comes first. |
| Fibre and dietary needs | Compare fibre per 100 g and check the ingredients for any wholegrain claims. Check separately for a gluten-free label if needed. | For my breakfast, fibre, wholegrain ingredients or a gluten-free option may matter more than the traditional cornflake shape. Around 30% of shoppers say these features are their top priority. |
| Taste and pack size | Check the product type and pack size. Also compare the sugars and salt per 100 g in the products you’re considering. | For a breakfast shared by several people, I want to choose a product that suits their tastes and provides the right number of portions. This is the main consideration for around 20% of shoppers. |
A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Jumbo describes Special Flakes as both ‘no added sugars’ and ‘contains naturally occurring sugars’.
If you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free option, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g against the EU limit of no more than 0.5 g.
The amount of sugars doesn’t give you the full picture of a breakfast cereal. When comparing labels, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends looking at other nutritional values and choosing wholegrain cereal products in particular.
Compare sugars, salt and fibre per 100 g, and check the ingredients if wholegrain is an important factor in your choice.
Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and information about dietary needs or allergens may change.
Check the latest packaging if an allergen or a specific product feature is important to your choice.
Jumbo lists Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet, a 300 g unsweetened cornflake option.
Jumbo lists regular Cornflakes and Special Flakes as two different breakfast cereals.
Kellogg's Corn Flakes are a classic cornflake option.
Albert Heijn lists AH Cornflakes and a separate product called AH Glutenvrij Cornflakes.
ALDI Netherlands lists Golden Bridge Cornflakes in its breakfast cereal range.
Under EU rules on nutrition claims, solid foods such as cornflakes can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if they contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition information per 100 g.
No. This label doesn’t mean the product contains hardly any sugars. For example, Jumbo describes Special Flakes as having ‘no added sugars’ while also containing naturally occurring sugars. The total is shown as ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.
Compare the values per 100 g so that different portion sizes don’t affect the comparison. Check sugars, salt and fibre, and read the ingredients and allergen information if they’re relevant to your choice.
No, you can’t tell from the name ‘cornflakes’. If wholegrain ingredients are important to you, check the ingredients list and compare the fibre content. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing wholegrain cereal products in particular.
Yes. A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you anything about the amount of sugars, salt or fibre. For a specific product, check both the current gluten-free label and the nutrition information on the packaging.
