Who is this choice relevant to?

Shoppers with a strict sugar-free requirement

You want ‘sugar-free’ to meet the EU limit for that claim. So you check the sugars per 100 g and don’t treat ‘no added sugars’ as another way of saying the same thing.

Breakfast eaters planning their carbohydrates and portions

You compare more than just sugars: total carbohydrates, fibre and the amount you actually eat matter too. Diabetes Fonds also recommends considering fibre and the overall nutritional profile when choosing breakfast cereals.

Shoppers looking for unsweetened cornflakes

You prefer a short ingredients list with no added sugar. Then you check whether the sugars, carbohydrates and fibre per 100 g and per portion suit your needs.

What should you look for when choosing?

If ‘sugar-free’ is a firm requirement, start by checking what the claim means. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and work out how it applies to your own portion. The ingredients list can help you distinguish unsweetened cornflakes from flakes containing sweeteners.

What to consider What to check Who should pay particular attention?
Strictly sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g: under the EU regulation, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is allowed only when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If sugar-free is a firm requirement for me, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘unsweetened’. Around 39% of consumers put a strict sugar-free requirement first.
Carbohydrates, fibre and portion size Compare carbohydrates and fibre per 100 g, then calculate the carbohydrates in your actual portion. Check the salt content too. When I plan my breakfast as part of a diet, total carbohydrates and portion size matter, even when there is little sugar. This is the main consideration for around 38% of consumers.
Ingredients and sweeteners Check the ingredients list for added sugar, malt ingredients, sweeteners and allergens. Then check the sugars separately in the nutrition table. I’m mainly looking for unsweetened cornflakes or want to avoid sweeteners, without confusing that preference with sugar-free. This is the main consideration for around 23% of consumers.

Common mistakes

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

    These claims don’t mean the same thing. Under the EU regulation, ‘sugar-free’ can only be used for products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A product with no added sugar may contain more than this.

    If you have a strict sugar-free requirement, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Jumbo states that Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet contains 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g.

  • Looking only at sugars

    Low sugars don’t necessarily mean low carbohydrates. Jumbo states that Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet contains 85 g of carbohydrates and 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g.

    Compare total carbohydrates and fibre too, and calculate what’s in your portion. Diabetes Fonds recommends checking the fibre and overall nutritional profile of breakfast cereals.

  • Assuming a higher-fibre flakes option is the same as unsweetened cornflakes in every respect

    According to Jumbo, Jumbo Special Flakes contains 7.2 g of fibre per 100 g, but also contains maltitols and wheat. The product also states that it contains 76 g of carbohydrates and 1.15 g of salt per 100 g.

    As well as fibre, check the sweetener, allergens, carbohydrates and salt content in this option. These are wheat and rice flakes, not cornflakes.

Brands to consider

Smaakt

Worth considering if you’re specifically looking for unsweetened cornflakes with a short ingredients list.

  • According to Jumbo, Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet contains organic maize as an ingredient and 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.
  • Jumbo also states that it contains 1.0 g of sugars, 85 g of carbohydrates and 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g. This option therefore does not meet the EU limit for ‘sugar-free’.

Jumbo

Offers cornflakes and Special Flakes, among other products. These types of cereal aren’t interchangeable.

  • According to Jumbo, Jumbo Special Flakes contains wholegrain wheat and rice and provides 7.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The same option contains maltitols and provides 1.3 g of sugars, 76 g of carbohydrates and 1.15 g of salt per 100 g. Check the allergens on the packaging.

Kellogg's

A reference point for classic cornflakes, alongside other flakes products with a different nutritional profile.

  • Kellogg's lists maize, barley malt extract, sugar and salt as ingredients in its Corn Flakes.
  • According to Kellogg's, Corn Flakes contains 84 g of carbohydrates, 8.0 g of sugars, 3.0 g of fibre and 1.1 g of salt per 100 g. This option is not sugar-free.

Albert Heijn

A place to compare products including AH Cornflakes, AH Biologisch Cornflakes and other breakfast flakes.

  • Albert Heijn stocks a range of cornflakes and flakes products.
  • Check the ingredients and nutritional information on the individual pack of your chosen option. Different types of product don’t automatically have the same nutritional profile.

Lidl

A place to find standard cornflakes; Lidl describes a 500 g pack.

  • Lidl sells these cornflakes as a store product.
  • Before buying, read the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack to assess the sugars, carbohydrates, fibre and allergens in this option.

Cornflakes and breakfast cereals on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are cornflakes with no added sugars also sugar-free?

No, these claims don’t mean the same thing. Under the EU regulation on nutrition claims, ‘sugar-free’ means a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. A product with no added sugar may contain more sugars. For example, Jumbo states that Smaakt Bio Cornflakes Ongezoet contains 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g.

What should I look for in cornflakes besides sugar?

Compare total carbohydrates, fibre and salt per 100 g, then calculate the figures for your own portion. For breakfast cereals included in the Wheel of Five, Diabetes Fonds recommends, among other things, no added sugar, at least 8 g of fibre and no more than 0.69 g of salt per 100 g.

Are regular cornflakes automatically suitable for a diabetes-conscious breakfast?

No, assess the nutritional profile and portion size rather than relying on the type of product alone. Diabetes Fonds recommends paying attention to fibre at breakfast. Kellogg's states that its Corn Flakes contains 84 g of carbohydrates and 3.0 g of fibre per 100 g. The portion that’s right for you depends on your own diet or treatment plan.

Does gluten-free also mean low in sugar?

No, being gluten-free and sugar content are separate characteristics. Jumbo stated that Lekker Vrij van Gluten Cornflakes contains sugar as an ingredient and 4.0 g of sugars per 100 g. Check both characteristics on the pack of the product you choose.

Should I compare only the figures per 100 g?

No, use the figures per 100 g to compare products on a like-for-like basis, then work them out for the portion you eat. This helps you assess the carbohydrates and other nutritional values in your breakfast as part of your own diet plan.