Who is this choice relevant to?

Shoppers looking for strictly sugar-free options

You want cornflakes that meet the EU threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. So check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.

Shoppers looking to avoid added sugar

You’re looking for flakes with no added sugars to have with milk or yoghurt, but you’re happy for the product to contain naturally occurring sugars.

Shoppers checking for gluten or allergens

Check the gluten-free label, ingredients and any potential traces separately. Gluten-free cornflakes are not automatically sugar-free.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether being sugar-free is essential. If it isn’t, added sugar and information about gluten or allergens can help you make your choice.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Strictly sugar-free Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g: the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim allows a maximum of 0.5 g. I only want to choose flakes for my weekend breakfast that can genuinely be called sugar-free, not just a variety with no added sugars. Around 46% of consumers would make this their main requirement.
No added sugar Read the ingredients and compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using the same basis for comparison makes it easier to see the differences between breakfast cereals. If I’m happy with naturally occurring sugars, I mainly want to avoid added sugar and compare the other nutritional information. This would be the main priority for around 36% of consumers.
Gluten and allergens Check the gluten-free label, ingredients and information about potential traces on the current packaging. If gluten or listed allergens are the deciding factor for me, I want to check this information before choosing based on sugar content. This would be the priority for around 18% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    A product with no added sugars can still contain sugars. Jumbo lists 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g for Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet, which is above the 0.5 g per 100 g limit for the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    If you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free option, use the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.

  • Looking at sugar content alone

    The sugar content doesn’t tell you how much fibre or salt the flakes contain. Glutenvrijemarkt.com lists less than 0.1 g of sugars for Doves Farm Cornflakes Biologisch - Glutenvrij, but also 1.9 g of fibre per 100 g.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and think about your breakfast as a whole, including what you eat with the flakes.

  • Assuming gluten-free means sugar-free

    Albert Heijn lists 4.1 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Glutenvrij Cornflakes. So the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you anything about the sugar content.

    Check gluten, relevant allergens and sugars separately on the packaging.

  • Assuming a listed variety is available to buy

    The Doves Farm Cornflakes Biologisch - Glutenvrij product page we checked listed the product as out of stock.

    Check availability and the nutritional information on the current packaging just before you buy.

    If your chosen variety isn’t available, it can take time to find an alternative with the same required sugar content.

Brands with relevant cornflake varieties

Doves Farm

The Cornflakes Biologisch - Glutenvrij variety is worth considering if you’re looking for strictly sugar-free cornflakes.

  • Glutenvrijemarkt.com lists less than 0.1 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety, below the EU limit for ‘sugar-free’.
  • The same product page listed 1.9 g of fibre per 100 g and showed the variety as out of stock.

Smaakt

Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet is a good fit if you’re looking for no added sugars and don’t need a strictly sugar-free option.

  • Jumbo says this variety contains no added sugars and has 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Jumbo also lists 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the traces warning if allergens are a concern for you.

Kellogg's

The Cornflakes variety we checked is fortified, but it isn’t a strictly sugar-free option.

  • Albert Heijn says this variety contains added vitamins and iron.
  • According to Albert Heijn, the variety contains added sugar and 8 g of sugars per 100 g. The label also lists cereals containing gluten and barley.

Cornflakes on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ also mean ‘sugar-free’?

No. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a product can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to use the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Jumbo says Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet contains no added sugars, but it does contain 1.0 g of naturally occurring sugars per 100 g.

How do I compare flakes with different serving sizes?

Compare the nutritional information per 100 g rather than looking only at the figures per serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends this basis for comparing things such as sugars and fibre in breakfast cereals.

Are gluten-free cornflakes automatically sugar-free?

No. Albert Heijn lists 4.1 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Glutenvrij Cornflakes, and sugar is also included in the ingredients list. Check both separately.

How should I store cornflakes after opening?

Follow the storage and use-by instructions on your product’s packaging. For Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet, Jumbo advises keeping the flakes in a cool, dry, dark place in a sealed container.