Families who often eat cereal flakes
If cereal flakes are a regular feature at your table, you’ll want to know whether a larger pack is right for how your household uses them. Also check that everyone likes the variety you choose.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Fans of a sweet breakfast who compare labels
If you’re looking for a sweet, crunchy variety, Kellogg’s product information shows that Corn Flakes and Special K Original have different sugar, fibre and salt values. So make sure you compare the exact varieties.
Households checking for allergens
For these shoppers, the ingredient list on the pack they’re actually buying is what matters. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority and the European Commission explain what information about ingredients and allergens used must appear on pre-packed foods.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which variety suits your household and check for any allergens. Then see whether the pack size, flavour and nutritional information meet your breakfast needs.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Check the pack size, use-by date and how often you eat this variety. | When we eat cereal flakes often, I want a pack we’ll finish while we still enjoy them. Around 36% of consumers prioritise pack size when making this choice. |
| Sweet flavour | Check the exact variety and ingredients, for example in plain cornflakes or chocolate cereal flakes. | I’m looking for a sweet variety that people at home will actually eat, even if another flavour looks tempting. Around 29% of consumers put flavour first. |
| Nutritional information | Compare the sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g in the varieties you’re considering. | For a sweet breakfast, I want to be able to weigh up the differences between the values on the labels for myself. This comparison is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current ingredient list, the allergens highlighted and any warnings on the packaging. | If I need to avoid a particular ingredient, I want to check whether this exact pack is suitable before considering the flavour or size. Around 14% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all sweet cereal flakes have the same ingredients
According to Kellogg’s Netherlands, Corn Flakes contains 8.0 g of sugars and 3.0 g of fibre per 100 g; Special K Original lists 15 g of sugars and 6.0 g of fibre per 100 g. So a brand name or general product category is no substitute for checking the nutritional information for the exact variety.
Put the packs of the varieties you’re considering side by side and compare sugars, fibre and salt on the same per-100 g basis.
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Assuming all cornflakes have the same allergen status
Ingredients can vary from one product to another. The European Commission states that ingredients used from specified allergen groups must be clearly identified.
Check the ingredient list, highlighted allergens and any warnings on the current packaging every time you buy. Don’t assume a product is suitable based on the name ‘cornflakes’ alone.
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Choosing a large pack without considering how quickly you’ll use it
A larger pack only suits your household if you eat that variety often enough. The use-by date can help you decide before you buy.
Check the date on the pack and consider whether its contents suit how quickly you’ll get through it.
An opened pack left standing for a long time may become less appealing to eat. Store dry breakfast cereal according to the instructions on the packaging.
Relevant brands and own-label ranges
Kellogg’s
The range includes Corn Flakes and Special K Original, among other products. For comparing labels, the product line and exact variety matter more than the brand name alone.
- Kellogg’s Netherlands lists 8.0 g of sugars, 3.0 g of fibre and 1.1 g of salt per 100 g for Corn Flakes.
- For Special K Original, the same manufacturer lists 15 g of sugars and 6.0 g of fibre per 100 g. Use the values for the variety you’re buying.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range includes plain cornflakes and Special Flakes, as well as breakfast cereals from other brands.
- The range gives you different types of cereal flakes to compare.
- Compare plain cornflakes and Special Flakes as separate varieties, checking their ingredients and nutritional information.
Golden Bridge (ALDI)
ALDI Netherlands lists cornflakes, Special Flakes and sweeter breakfast cereals among its Golden Bridge products.
- Golden Bridge Cornflakes is listed in a 500 g pack.
- Products in this range don’t necessarily have the same ingredients or nutritional values, so check the variety you choose.
Albert Heijn
The range includes AH Cornflakes, as well as other cereal flakes and brands.
- Albert Heijn lists AH Cornflakes in a 500 g pack.
- Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. So check the current packaging.
Lidl
Lidl lists cornflakes in its breakfast range.
- The product listing gives you another variety to look at in store.
- Check the pack size, ingredients and nutritional information on the pack before comparing it with other cereal flakes.
Brinta
Brinta Havermout is an oat product for a different kind of breakfast, not a variety of crunchy breakfast cereal flakes.
- Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredient in Brinta Havermout.
- Only consider porridge oats as an alternative if a breakfast without crunchy cereal flakes also suits your preference.
Breakfast cereal at Joybuy
These products include two distinctly sweet Kellogg’s varieties and plain cornflakes to compare them with. Check each pack to make sure the flavour, size and current packaging suit your household.
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Kellogg’s Frosties Breakfast Cereal 330 g
For anyone looking for a sweet cornflakes variety for breakfast. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients with those of other varieties on the current packaging.
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Kellogg’s Spk Dark Choco 300 g
For shoppers considering a chocolate variety instead of plain cornflakes. If you’re checking for allergens, look at the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging.
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Kellogg’s Cornflakes 375 g
For anyone wanting to compare plain cornflakes with a distinctly sweet variety. Decide which flavour you prefer, and compare the nutritional information and allergens on the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is a larger pack of breakfast cereal always the right choice?
No. Whether a large pack suits your household depends mainly on how often you eat that particular variety. Check the pack size and use-by date, and don’t choose a flavour that rarely gets eaten at home based on size alone.
How do I compare the ingredients in sweet cereal flakes?
Compare the nutritional information for similar products per 100 g and read the ingredient list too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies sugars, fibre and salt as some of the values you can compare on labels. According to Albert Heijn, a Nutri-Score can also help when comparing products of the same type, but it doesn’t replace the full label.
Are cornflakes automatically gluten-free?
No, don’t assume they are based on the product name. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. The European Commission states that cereals containing gluten must be clearly identified when used as an ingredient.
Which information should I use if the product page and packaging differ?
For ingredients, allergens and nutritional values, check the current pack you’re buying. Albert Heijn notes that this product information can change.
How can I stop a large pack being left uneaten?
Choose a variety your household eats regularly and check the use-by date before buying. Once opened, follow the storage instructions on the packaging.