Who is this relevant to?

If you’re looking for strictly sugar-free oats

You want a product that meets the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. ‘No added sugars’ on its own isn’t enough.

If you want to stock up on an unsweetened base

You’re looking for plain porridge oats with no added sugars, so you can decide what to add when you prepare them.

If you’re looking for individual portions or specific ingredients

You might be looking for quick-to-prepare portions, a variety with a different protein content, or oats with suitable certification for coeliac disease. The ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose still matter.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with essential requirements for sugar content and allergens. Then compare the ingredients and preparation time of the porridge oats you want to keep in your cupboard.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it’s relevant to
Strictly sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, solid foods can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if they contain no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. If I want to buy something strictly sugar-free, I can’t rely on ‘no added sugars’. For around 34% of consumers, this threshold is the top priority.
Plain oat base Check the ingredients list and the information about added sugars. Consider anything you add to your porridge separately. I want to choose the flavour of my porridge myself, without added sugars in the base product. Roughly 33% of consumers give this the highest priority.
Preparation or protein content Compare preparation times and portion formats. If you’re considering a high-protein variety, check the protein per 100 g and the allergen information too. If I’m short on time, I want a quick portion; otherwise, a particular protein content might determine my choice. For around 20% of consumers, one of these preferences carries the most weight.
Gluten and allergens If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol and read the allergen declaration on the exact pack, as advised by the Dutch Nutrition Centre. I need oats whose suitability for coeliac disease I can check, rather than relying on the word ‘oats’. For an estimated 13% of consumers, this is the first requirement.

Common mistakes

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

    A product with no added sugars can still contain sugars. For example, the product information for Quaker Oats Express Naturel lists 1 g of sugars per 100 g, which is above the threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    If you need a strictly sugar-free product, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, not just the wording on the front of the pack.

  • Comparing a prepared portion with dry porridge oats

    For Brinta, the stated 12 g of sugars per portion is for 40 g of porridge oats prepared with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk. It isn’t the sugar content of the dry oats alone.

    First compare the nutritional information per 100 g of dry product, then check what the other ingredients add to the prepared bowl.

  • Assuming ordinary oats are suitable for coeliac disease

    According to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten. So the general label ‘oats’ doesn’t confirm that a product is suitable for coeliac disease.

    Check for the official Crossed Grain symbol and the allergen information on the pack you’re buying.

Brands to consider

Quaker

Quaker offers plain porridge oats and Oats Express portions, among other products; the ingredients vary by product type.

  • According to Jumbo’s product information, Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains no added sugars.
  • The stated 1 g of sugars per 100 g means this variety isn’t strictly sugar-free. Quaker Cruesli Zero Sugar Added is also a crunchy breakfast cereal, not regular porridge oats.

Brinta

Brinta offers porridge oats made with fine oat flakes, among other products.

  • The ingredients information for Brinta Porridge Oats at Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes.
  • The same product information warns that traces of wheat and rye may be present. Nutritional values for a prepared portion with milk aren’t the same as those for the dry oats alone.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn stocks a range of oat products, including fine and jumbo flakes, as well as a separate gluten-free variety.

  • The different varieties give you a choice of product formats to compare by ingredients and nutritional information.
  • A mention on the range page doesn’t tell you how much sugar each individual variety contains; check the label on the product you choose.

Jumbo

Alongside well-known brands, Jumbo also offers its own porridge oats in fine and jumbo wholegrain flakes.

  • The different flake sizes let you choose a product format that suits how you’ll use it.
  • The category page doesn’t confirm a sugar claim or suitability for coeliac disease for every pack; check the product information.

Porridge oats at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

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

No. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a solid food can only be labelled ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A product with no added sugars can still contain naturally occurring sugars.

Are ordinary porridge oats always sugar-free?

No, you can’t tell from the type of product alone. The Dutch Nutrition Centre lists 0.3 g of sugars for 40 g of porridge oats, but what matters for your choice is the figure per 100 g on the packaging of the specific product.

What changes if I add milk or fruit to my porridge?

The sugars in milk or fruit count towards the prepared bowl, but they don’t change the nutritional information for the dry porridge oats. So compare products in their dry form first, then consider your additions separately.

Are ordinary porridge oats suitable for coeliac disease?

Not automatically: according to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten. When choosing an oat product, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol and check the packaging.

How should I store porridge oats after opening?

Keep porridge oats dry and seal the pack carefully. Brinta’s product information recommends storing them in a dry place, while Quaker Oats Express advises keeping them in a cool, dry place. Also follow the instructions on your own pack.