Who is this relevant for?

If you want genuinely sugar-free oats

‘No added sugars’ isn’t enough for you. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and compare it with the EU threshold of 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

If you’re short on time at lunchtime

You want oats that are ready quickly between meetings. Preparation time, the amount of liquid needed and the serving size can help you choose between a sachet and loose flakes.

If you need gluten-free oats

If you have coeliac disease, ordinary oats aren’t automatically suitable. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for an explicit gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check your requirements around sugars and allergens. Then compare which preparation method suits your lunch break; a portion sachet doesn’t, by itself, tell you anything about the nutritional value.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Genuinely sugar-free Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g with the EU threshold of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for ‘sugar-free’. If I’m looking for genuinely sugar-free oats, I don’t want to rely on ‘no added sugars’ alone. This strict requirement comes first for around 42% of consumers.
Preparation time Check how to prepare it with water or milk, and whether you’ll need a microwave, pan or advance preparation. Between two meetings, I want to be able to make lunch without weighing out ingredients or cooking for long. Quick preparation is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Gluten and allergens If needed, look for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the allergen information, including details about soya. If I need to avoid gluten or watch out for soya, the packaging needs to meet my requirements. This check matters most to around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’

    The terms don’t mean the same thing. Under European Union rules, the ‘sugar-free’ claim can only be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. According to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains no added sugars, but it does contain 1 g of sugars per 100 g.

    If you need oats to be genuinely sugar-free, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.

  • Assuming ordinary oats are suitable for coeliac disease

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products can be contaminated with gluten. Oats as an ingredient therefore don’t prove that a product is suitable for people with coeliac disease.

    Choose a product with an explicit gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and check the allergen information on the packaging.

  • Assuming a portion sachet contains unsweetened oats

    A portion pack doesn’t tell you whether sugar has been added. Jumbo lists sugar as an ingredient in its Oatmeal Portions Original and gives a sugars content of 10.7 g per 100 g.

    For every variety, check both the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, even if the pack says ‘original’.

Brands to consider

Quaker

The Oats Express range is worth considering if you’re looking for portion-packed oats that are quick to prepare.

  • According to Albert Heijn, Oats Express Naturel takes two minutes to prepare and contains no added sugars.
  • Naturel contains 1 g of sugars per 100 g and may contain soya, barley and wheat. The Protein variety contains soya protein and has 1.2 g of sugars per 100 g; neither is therefore genuinely sugar-free.

Brinta

Brinta Porridge Oats are made from fine oat flakes and suit anyone who prefers to measure out their own portion.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredient.
  • The nutritional information gives a sugars content of 0.8 g per 100 g. The product may also contain traces of wheat and rye, so don’t assume it is sugar-free or gluten-free based on the oats alone.

Elovena

Natural Instant Oatmeal is worth considering if you’re looking for individual portions with a gluten-free label.

  • According to Albert Heijn, this product is labelled gluten-free. The pack contains five 40 g portions that can be mixed with milk or water.
  • The nutritional information gives a sugars content of 1.2 g per 100 g. A ‘no added sugars’ label doesn’t make the product genuinely sugar-free.

Leev Simply Free

These oats, labelled gluten-free, are suitable if you want to cook loose flakes or prepare lunch in advance.

  • Albert Heijn lists 100% organic gluten-free oats as the ingredient and describes preparation in a pan or microwave, as well as making overnight oats.
  • The preparation instructions recommend chilling overnight oats for eight hours. The product contains 1 g of sugars per 100 g, so it doesn’t meet the threshold for ‘sugar-free’.

Jumbo

The range includes both loose oat flakes and portion-packed varieties, with different ingredients in each product.

  • Jumbo lists, among other products, fine and coarse flakes and its Oatmeal Portions Original.
  • According to Jumbo, Oatmeal Portions Original contains sugar as an ingredient and has 10.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the specific variety rather than judging by the type of packaging.

Products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No. Under European Union rules, the ‘sugar-free’ claim requires a product to contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. According to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains no added sugars, but it does contain 1 g of sugars per 100 g. So if you’re looking for genuinely sugar-free oats, check the nutritional information.

Can I choose ordinary instant oats if I have coeliac disease?

Don’t rely on oats alone: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products can be contaminated with gluten. Look for an explicit gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and check the allergen information on the packaging.

What’s best for a short working-from-home lunch: portion packs or loose oats?

A portion sachet is handy if you don’t want to weigh anything out during your break. According to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel takes two minutes to prepare in the microwave or in a pan. Loose oats could work if you prepare them in advance: Leev Simply Free can also be made as overnight oats and left in the fridge for eight hours. Whichever option you choose, check the sugars and any allergens separately.