Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents weighing up chocolate flavour and nutritional value

You’re looking for a chocolate option, but don’t want to rely on the front of the pack. Compare fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g, and read the ingredients list before choosing.

Families planning a regular breakfast for their toddler

You want to decide which breakfast cereals you can serve regularly. For children aged 1 to 3, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends porridge oats, muesli and other wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt as an alternative to bread.

Parents considering allergens or childcare arrangements

If your child has a known allergy or there are rules about food brought in, the exact product matters. Check the current pack for cereals containing gluten and other relevant allergens, and ask your childcare provider or school what rules apply.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’re looking for a breakfast cereal for regular use or specifically want a chocolate flavour. For the latter, compare the nutritional information and ingredients per 100 g; fibre content alone doesn’t tell you everything about a product.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Everyday breakfast choice Wholegrain ingredients and added sugar and salt. I’m looking for breakfast cereals I can regularly serve as an alternative to bread, while following the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice for children aged 1 to 3. For around 42% of consumers, this everyday choice comes first.
Chocolate flavour and fibre Fibre and sugars per 100 g; compare the same product type where possible. If chocolate flavour matters, I want to know how much fibre the specific product contains without losing sight of the sugars. Around 33% of consumers give this combination top priority.
Allergens and taking food in The current ingredients list, any cross-contamination warnings, and the rules at the childcare setting or school. If my child has a relevant allergy or I want to send breakfast cereal in with them, I first need to know whether the exact product and the location’s rules allow it. This matters most to around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Treating a fibre claim as the whole story about breakfast

    Fibre content doesn’t tell you how much sugar, fat or salt a chocolate option also contains. Jumbo lists 16 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Cruesli Chocolade and 22 g per 100 g for Kellogg's Coco Pops Chocos.

    Read the full nutritional information per 100 g. If you’re looking for a regular breakfast choice for a toddler, also bear in mind the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice on wholegrain options with no added sugar or salt.

  • Assuming one product has the same allergens as another

    Ingredients vary between products, even within the same brand. The Kellogg's Extra with dark chocolate and hazelnuts listed by Albert Heijn contains, among other things, oats, wheat, milk, soya, hazelnut and barley.

    Check the current pack of every product you choose, including any warnings about possible cross-contamination. If your child has an allergy, don’t rely on a pack you bought before with a different name.

  • Assuming crunchy muesli, muesli and chocolate cereals are all the same type of product

    Comparing products on chocolate flavour alone can hide differences in their ingredients. Jumbo lists 19 g of fat per 100 g for Quaker Cruesli Chocolade and 2.2 g per 100 g for Kellogg's Coco Pops Chocos; their fibre and sugar content also differs.

    Decide which type of product you’re looking for, then compare the nutritional values per 100 g, rather than just the name or a stated serving size.

  • Relying on a nutritional table you looked at previously

    Ingredients and nutritional values may change with a new pack or a reformulated product. This is particularly important if allergens or added sugar are key to your choice.

    Use online information to compare products, then read the pack you actually have before serving it.

Brands to consider

Quaker

The Quaker products mentioned are chocolate crunchy muesli, not simple chocolate cereal. Compare the standard version separately from Zero Sugar Chocolade.

  • Jumbo lists 10 g of fibre and 16 g of sugars per 100 g for Cruesli Chocolade; Joybuy Netherlands lists 3.4 g of sugars per 100 g for Zero Sugar Chocolade.
  • Both of the versions mentioned are listed as containing 19 g of fat per 100 g. Also check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose.

Kellogg's

Coco Pops Chocos and Extra with dark chocolate and hazelnuts are different types of product; the nutritional values for one don’t apply to the other.

  • Jumbo lists 6 g of fibre per 100 g for Coco Pops Chocos; Albert Heijn lists the same fibre content for the Extra muesli mentioned.
  • According to the same product information, the versions contain 22 g and 24 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. The Extra muesli contains milk, soya and hazelnut, among other ingredients.

Albert Heijn

AH Chocosmaak kussentjes are filled breakfast cereal pillows; assess them as that specific type of product.

  • Albert Heijn lists 6.4 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Chocosmaak kussentjes.
  • The same product information lists 20 g of sugars per 100 g, including 18 g of added sugars, and names cereals containing gluten and milk.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s range includes different types of chocolate breakfast cereal, including crunchy muesli, chocolate pillows and chocolate chips.

  • Choosing the type of product first helps you compare the labels of individual products more effectively.
  • Base your assessment of fibre, sugars or allergens on the nutritional information for the exact product, not the range name.

ALDI / Golden Bridge

ALDI’s Golden Bridge range includes chocolate flakes, crunchy chocolate muesli and chocolate pillows, among other products.

  • The different types give you a starting point for deciding what kind of breakfast cereal you’re looking for.
  • Before comparing products, check the label of the one you choose for fibre, sugars, ingredients and allergens.

Chocolate breakfast cereals on Joybuy

These two products are chocolate muesli and chocolate crunchy muesli, and should be assessed separately. Use the nutritional information on the pack you choose to compare them with a wholegrain breakfast cereal with no added sugar or salt.

Holie's Crunchy Muesli Chocolate Chunks 400 g

Holie's Crunchy Muesli Chocolate Chunks 400 g

A crunchy muesli with chocolate pieces for anyone looking for this particular type of product. Check the pack for fibre and sugars per 100 g, and check the allergens before choosing it for your toddler or sending it in with them.

View on Joybuy
Quaker Cruesli Choco Zero Sugar 400 g

Quaker Cruesli Choco Zero Sugar 400 g

A chocolate crunchy muesli for anyone looking to compare an option with no added sugars. Joybuy Netherlands lists 3.4 g of sugars per 100 g; check the pack for fibre per 100 g if you’re comparing fibre content. If your child has a relevant allergy, also read the information about milk, cereals containing gluten and possible traces of nuts.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does a high fibre content make chocolate breakfast cereal suitable for a toddler’s regular breakfast?

No, fibre content alone doesn’t tell you that. Compare sugars, salt and ingredients too. For children aged 1 to 3, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt as an alternative to bread.

What should I compare on two packs of chocolate breakfast cereal?

Compare fibre, sugars, fat and salt per 100 g, so differences in stated serving sizes don’t mislead you. Then read the ingredients list for added sugar and allergens, among other things, and bear in mind the differences between muesli, crunchy muesli and other chocolate cereals.

Are cereals containing gluten and other allergens shown on the label?

Yes. Under European Commission rules, allergens present as ingredients must be clearly indicated, including cereals containing gluten. If your child has a relevant allergy, also check the current pack for any warnings about possible cross-contamination.

How should I store an opened pack of chocolate breakfast cereal?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack of the exact product. After opening, keep the pack closed as indicated on the label, so you’re following the instructions for that product.