Anyone setting a strict sugar limit
You want no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, and you don’t consider ‘no added sugars’ proof that a muesli meets this limit.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone looking to avoid added sugars
You’re happy with sugars that occur naturally in ingredients such as fruit or grains, but you compare the ingredients and total sugars per 100 g for your weekend breakfast.
Anyone looking for crunchy muesli with nuts or seeds
You care about flavour and fibre, but also want to be able to check the allergens, fat, nutritional information and any warnings on the pack.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the amount of sugars is a strict limit for you, or whether you mainly want to avoid added sugars. Then compare options by flavour, ingredients and allergens.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Strict sugar limit | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and compare the figure with your limit of no more than 0.5 g. | If sugar-free literally means meeting that limit for me, a claim about added sugars isn’t enough. Around 44% of consumers set this as their first requirement. |
| No added sugars | Read the ingredients and compare total sugars per 100 g, especially for varieties with dried fruit. | For my weekend breakfast, I want fruity or crunchy muesli with no added sugars, even if it contains naturally occurring sugars. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this preference. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Compare fibre per 100 g and check the grains, nuts and allergens on the exact pack. | I choose my muesli mainly based on ingredients that suit my breakfast and any allergens I need to avoid. This combination is the most important factor for around 23% of consumers. |
Common pitfalls
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
A product can have no added sugars and still contain more sugars than your own strict limit allows. For example, Jumbo lists Muesli Fruit, Seeds & Kernels as having 0% added sugars and 19.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
If you have a strict limit, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, not just the wording on the front of the pack.
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Assuming fruit muesli is low in sugars
Raisins and other dried fruit can contribute to the total sugars, even when no sugar has been added.
Compare fruit varieties with plain and nut varieties per 100 g, then decide which amount suits your needs.
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Looking only at fibre or crunch
A crunchy nut muesli may contain ingredients you want to avoid. Albert Heijn also warns that excessive consumption of AH Krokante Muesli Noten 0% Suiker may have a laxative effect.
Also check the allergens, fat, energy and any warnings on the pack of the exact variety.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The AH range includes both plain wholegrain muesli and crunchy nut muesli. Compare products individually rather than assuming there is one sugar figure for the whole range.
- Albert Heijn lists AH Volkoren Muesli Naturel as containing 9.5 g of fibre and 7.8 g of sugars per 100 g, with no added sugar.
- AH Krokante Muesli Noten 0% Suiker carries a warning about the effects of excessive consumption; check the current pack.
Quaker Cruesli
Crunchy varieties with nuts or fruit for anyone looking to avoid added sugars and assess total sugars separately.
- According to Jumbo, Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Noten contains 24 g of fibre and 3.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
- According to Jumbo, the apple, pecan and cinnamon variety contains 5.6 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the allergens for the exact variety too.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes a plain variety and a muesli with fruit, seeds and kernels; their sugar levels differ.
- Jumbo lists Muesli Naturel as containing 9.5 g of fibre and 7.8 g of sugars per 100 g.
- Jumbo Muesli Fruit, Seeds & Kernels is labelled as having 0% added sugars, but also contains 19.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
Holie
Holie Crunchy Muesli Low Carb Seeds is a crunchy seed variety whose nutritional information is worth comparing per 100 g.
- Jumbo lists this variety as containing 26 g of fibre and 4.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The listed amount of sugars is above a strict limit of 0.5 g per 100 g.
Zonnatura
Zonnatura Bio Muesli Rijkgevuld is a fruit and nut muesli for anyone who wants to compare ingredients and total sugars side by side.
- Jumbo lists this variety as containing 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Jumbo also lists 12 g of sugars per 100 g; no added sugars does not mean the product meets a strict sugar limit.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products will appear soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?
No. Muesli with no added sugars can still contain sugars that occur naturally in ingredients such as fruit. If your limit is no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, check the total amount listed under ‘of which sugars’.
Do mueslis labelled ‘0% added sugars’ meet a strict sugar limit?
Not necessarily: it’s the total amount of sugars that determines whether a product meets your limit. Jumbo lists Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added Noten as containing 3.9 g of sugars per 100 g and Jumbo Muesli Fruit, Seeds & Kernels as containing 19.7 g per 100 g; both are above a limit of 0.5 g.
How do I compare muesli when serving sizes differ?
First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, so serving sizes don’t hide the differences. Then consider how much you actually plan to eat, and check the pack in case the product information has changed.
What should I look for if I’m allergic to nuts or certain grains?
Read the allergen information on the pack of the exact muesli variety before choosing it. The ingredients in plain muesli may differ from those in crunchy nut or seed muesli, so don’t rely on the brand name or the front of the pack alone.