Shoppers with a strict sugar-free requirement
You’re looking for cornflakes that meet the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, even when the front of the pack says ‘unsweetened’.
Who is this relevant to?
Breakfast fans looking to avoid added sugar
You may not need to avoid naturally occurring sugars. In that case, compare the ingredients and nutrition per 100 g, including total sugars, fibre and fat.
Online shoppers ordering breakfast cereals
You want to add the right variety to your shopping basket. Check that it’s available to order, then read the information on the packaging when it arrives, especially if you have strict sugar or allergen requirements.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a firm requirement or whether you mainly want to avoid added sugar. Then compare only breakfast cereals whose type and ingredients suit your preferences.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free requirement | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. For the ‘sugar-free’ claim on solid foods, European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 sets a maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g. | If sugar-free is a firm requirement for me, I don’t want to rely on ‘unsweetened’ and end up ordering cornflakes with more sugars. Around 50% of consumers put this first. |
| Ingredients and nutrition | For products with no added sugars, compare total sugars, fibre and fat per 100 g. Check the ingredients and allergen information too. | If avoiding added sugar is what matters to me, I want to know about the other ingredients and nutritional values in my breakfast cereal. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ordering online | Check the exact variety and whether it’s available to order; after delivery, read the label on the pack you receive. | I want to be able to order the variety I’ve chosen and check on arrival that the label still meets my requirements. This matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘unsweetened’ as ‘sugar-free’
Jumbo lists 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet. That’s above the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
If you have a strict sugar-free requirement, use the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g to make your decision, rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.
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Treating cruesli as the same type of product
Cruesli with nuts and seeds isn’t the same as cornflakes. Jumbo lists 3.7 g of sugars, 21 g of fat and 24 g of fibre per 100 g for Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Nuts & Seeds.
First decide whether you want cornflakes or cruesli, then compare the nutrition, ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety.
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Reading only the online product page
Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. If you have a strict personal requirement, it’s important to check the information on the pack you receive.
Read the label again before eating, even if you checked the product page when placing your order.
Brands to consider
Smaakt
Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet is an organic cornflake variety listed online by Jumbo.
- Jumbo lists maize as an ingredient and 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The listed 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g is above the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Kellogg's
Kellogg's Corn Flakes are traditional cornflakes.
- Kellogg's lists 3.0 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- Kellogg's lists sugar as an ingredient in its Corn Flakes and 8.0 g of sugars per 100 g, so they aren’t suitable if you have a strict sugar-free requirement.
Brinta
Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt is a wholemeal wheat breakfast cereal, not a cornflake.
- Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g for this product.
- The product contains wheat and lists 4.6 g of sugars per 100 g; it isn’t a sugar-free cornflake.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn provides product information for its own-brand breakfast cereals, broken down by variety.
- For AH Krokante muesli noten 0% suiker, Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
- The same muesli lists 1.3 g of total sugars and 19 g of fat per 100 g. It isn’t a sugar-free cornflake.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists various types of breakfast cereal online, including cornflakes and cruesli.
- The product page for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet lists ingredients and sugars per 100 g.
- A description such as ‘unsweetened’ on a product page doesn’t replace checking the total sugars.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can cornflakes be labelled sugar-free?
Under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, solid foods can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim. So when buying cornflakes, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?
No. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. For example, Jumbo lists 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet and 3.7 g per 100 g for Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Nuts & Seeds. Both figures are above the limit for ‘sugar-free’.
How do I check for allergens when ordering breakfast cereal online?
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety before ordering, then check the label again when it arrives. Albert Heijn points out that online product information can change.
Can I get breakfast cereal delivered from Lidl or ALDI?
Check whether home delivery is available for each product and delivery address. Lidl marks several breakfast cereals as ‘In store only’; a listing for flakes in ALDI’s range doesn’t in itself confirm that delivery is available.