Hotels looking for a wholegrain base
For purchasing teams comparing breakfast cereals by wholegrain ingredients, fibre, sugars and salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking beyond the wholegrain label when choosing breakfast cereals.
Which hotels is this for?
Hotels serving breakfast cereals for self-service
For buffet managers using bowls or dispensers, who need to give guests clear information about allergens before they make their choice. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the rules for unpackaged foods.
Hotels offering a choice of textures
For buffets looking to pair a simple cereal base with crunchy muesli or flakes. The preparation and serving method will determine what facilities you need at the buffet.
What should you look for when buying?
Start by considering how you want to serve the cereals and how you’ll manage allergen information. Then compare the nutritional information for the exact variants you plan to offer together.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this most relevant for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain and fibre | Check which grains are wholegrain and compare the fibre per 100 g and per portion. | If I’m looking for a simple buffet staple, I want to be able to compare ingredients and fibre without relying solely on the front of the pack. For around 33% of consumers, this wholegrain and fibre foundation is a priority. |
| Allergen management | Check the current allergen declaration and how information will be made available before guests choose from open bowls or dispensers. | For self-service, I want to be able to tell guests which cereals containing gluten or nuts are in a product. Around 27% of consumers give allergen management their highest priority. |
| Texture and preparation | Compare the serving method and portion size, and check what facilities a hot option requires. | When guests need to choose between a soft cereal dish and something crunchy, it’s also important to consider how much preparation the buffet can manage. This combination is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Added sugar | Compare the ingredients and total sugars per 100 g; consider any claim about added sugars alongside the rest of the nutritional information. | I want to be able to offer a crunchy option while distinguishing between added and naturally occurring sugars. Limiting added sugar is a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Using wholegrain as the only measure
Wholegrain ingredients don’t tell you how much sugar, salt or fat a breakfast cereal contains. For example, Albert Heijn lists 9 g of added sugars per 100 g for AH Biologisch Krokante muesli naturel.
Use wholegrain as one selection criterion, then compare the ingredients list and nutritional information for each exact variant.
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Confusing no added sugars with sugar-free
According to Quaker’s product information, Zero Sugar Added Strawberry & Peach contains no added sugars, but it does contain naturally occurring sugars. The claim also says nothing about whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy.
Alongside the claim, check the total sugars and allergen declaration on the packaging.
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Filling dispensers without product-specific allergen information
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, guests must be able to get information about the allergens present in unpackaged foods before making their choice. The specific types of cereals containing gluten and nuts must be made clear.
Match each bowl or dispenser with current product information, and arrange written information or a verbal procedure that meets the relevant requirements.
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Offering just one texture
A hot cereal base and crunchy muesli need different serving methods. A hot option also requires suitable facilities for preparation during breakfast service.
Consider offering both textures if your buffet space, preparation facilities and allergen information are set up to accommodate them.
Brands to consider
Brinta
A simple wholegrain cereal base for those who also want to offer a soft, prepared option.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt contains wholemeal wheat flour and salt, with 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Preparation and serving require suitable facilities; this variant contains wheat and gluten.
Quaker / Cruesli
A brand to consider for crunchy muesli, including a variant reviewed that contains no added sugars.
- According to Quaker’s product information, Zero Sugar Added Strawberry & Peach contains wholegrain oat and wheat flakes, with no added sugars or sweeteners.
- The variant contains naturally occurring sugars and cereals containing gluten; also check the information about possible traces of milk and nuts.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket own-brand option to consider when looking for crunchy wholegrain muesli.
- Albert Heijn lists 6.6 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Biologisch Krokante muesli naturel.
- The same variant lists 9 g of added sugars per 100 g and contains oats and wheat; check the current packaging for full allergen information.
Kellogg's
A flake option to serve alongside a simple cereal base or muesli.
- According to Kellogg's Netherlands, Special K Original contains whole wheat, barley and rice.
- For this variant, the manufacturer lists 15 g of sugars and 0.84 g of salt per 100 g. Compare the nutritional information if these figures are important to your range.
Nestlé
A range to explore if you’re looking for different types of crunchy breakfast cereal.
- According to Nestlé Cereals, products in the FITNESS range contain whole wheat and whole oats.
- Check the recipe, nutritional information and allergens on the specific Dutch packaging; the brand description doesn’t automatically apply to every variant.
Breakfast cereals on Joybuy
These products include both a cereal base that needs to be prepared and crunchy Cruesli variants. Choose a combination to suit your preferred serving method, and check the packaging for each chosen variant for buffet and allergen information.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
An option to consider for a cereal dish that needs to be prepared, served alongside crunchy breakfast cereals. Check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the packaging before adding it to your buffet.
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Quaker Zs Cruesli Nuts & Seeds 720 g
A crunchy variant to compare with a soft cereal base. For the exact Nuts & Seeds variant, check the ingredients, total sugars and specifically listed cereals and nuts; don’t infer a nutritional claim from the shortened name Zs.
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Brinta Wholegrain cereal breakfast 500 g
A whole wheat option for a soft cereal dish, if your buffet can accommodate preparation and serving. Albert Heijn lists 10 g of fibre per 100 g for Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt; the product contains wheat and gluten.
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Quaker Cruesli 4 Nuts 450 g
A crunchy self-service option to serve alongside breakfast cereals that need to be prepared. For this 4 Nuts variant, check which nuts and cereals are listed on the current packaging, and compare the sugars with other buffet options.
Frequently asked questions
Do hotels have to list allergens in loose breakfast cereals?
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, guests must be able to get information about the allergens present in unpackaged foods before making their choice. Written information must be available with the product, unless the requirements for providing information verbally are met.
Should buffet labels specify which cereals or nuts are present?
The specific types of cereals containing gluten and nuts must be made clear, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. Use the current information for the product actually being served.
Does no added sugar also mean sugar-free?
No. According to Quaker’s product information, Zero Sugar Added Strawberry & Peach contains no added sugars, but it does contain naturally occurring sugars. So be sure to compare the total sugars in the exact variant too.
How do you keep buffet labels up to date?
Match the labels and allergen information to the packaging of the product you’re currently serving. Check the information again whenever the packaging, variant or delivered product changes.