Choose a breakfast cereal whose product description and ingredients list clearly show which grains are wholegrain; the name ‘cornflakes’ alone isn’t enough. Then compare sugars, salt and fibre per 100 g, and check the allergens on the current packaging. For breakfast on the go, it’s also worth considering whether you can take a suitable container and milk, yoghurt or a plant-based alternative with you.
You’re looking for breakfast cereals that take little preparation, but don’t want to rely on the product name alone. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholegrain cereals are made from the entire grain. So check which wholegrains are listed in the ingredients.
You want to know what else is in the pack, beyond a wholegrain claim. The Voedingscentrum recommends comparing products per 100 g, so you can assess sugars, salt and fibre on the same basis.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients, it’s especially important to check the type of grain. Check the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings about traces every time you buy.
Start with the wholegrain ingredients, then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and finally consider how you plan to eat the flakes.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain cereals | Check which grains are listed as wholegrain in the ingredients and whether their percentage is stated. | If I’m looking for wholegrain flakes, I want to see which grain has been used rather than rely on the name ‘cornflakes’. For around 42% of consumers, checking for wholegrains comes first. |
| Sugars, salt and fibre | Compare the values per 100 g and check the ingredients list for sweeteners. | I don’t want one appealing claim on the front of the pack to determine my choice when other nutritional values may differ. Around 33% of consumers give this comparison top priority. |
| Eating and taking with you | Check whether you have a suitable container and something to serve with the flakes; also read the allergen information on the packaging. | When I have breakfast on the go, I need to be able to take the cereal with me and check the ingredients beforehand. These practical considerations come first for around 25% of consumers. |
A product name doesn’t automatically tell you how much wholegrain it contains. Jumbo’s range includes standard cornflakes, Special Flakes and bran products as separate items.
Check the product description and ingredients list to see which grains are wholegrain and whether their percentage is stated.
A wholegrain claim doesn’t tell you how much sugar or salt a product contains. For example, Jumbo Special Flakes lists 1,3 g sugars per 100 g, but also contains maltitol as a sweetener and has 1,15 g salt per 100 g.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the ingredients list too.
When you’re ready to eat, you’ll still need a suitable cup or bowl and something to serve with the flakes, such as milk, yoghurt or a plant-based alternative.
Think about where you’ll be eating before you buy. Take the flakes separately if you want to add them just before eating.
The product ranges discussed here include ingredients such as wheat, barley or oats. Check each pack to see which ingredients and warnings about traces are relevant to you.
Read the current allergen information before choosing a product, even if you’ve bought it before.
AH Bran flakes wholegrain is an example of flakes with an explicitly stated wholegrain base.
Jumbo Special Flakes is an example for anyone who wants to assess wholegrain wheat, sugars and salt side by side.
Kellogg's Oaties Original Crunch is an example containing wholegrain oats, alongside the brand’s other breakfast cereal ranges.
Lidl lists a ‘7-grain breakfast cereal with wholegrains’ in a 300 g pack.
These Joybuy products are crunchy muesli options for anyone considering a different type of breakfast cereal alongside flakes. They’re not classic cornflakes, so assess their ingredients, nutritional information and suitability for taking with you on their own merits.
Image unavailable
An option if you’re also considering crunchy muesli instead of classic cornflakes.
Pack size: 720 g. To compare sugars, salt and fibre, check whether the nutritional values are given per 100 g or per serving.
Check the current allergen information when choosing, paying particular attention to oats, wheat and nuts.
Image unavailable
For anyone looking to try crunchy muesli with raisins and hazelnuts for a quick breakfast instead of flakes.
Pack size: 400 g. Before comparing products, check whether the nutritional values are given per 100 g or per serving.
Check the current allergen information for ingredients including oats, wheat and hazelnuts. If you’re taking it with you, consider whether you’ll need a container with a lid.
Image unavailable
A crunchy muesli option if classic cornflakes aren’t a must for you.
Pack size: 450 g. To compare nutritional values, check the current salt information on the packaging.
Also check the allergen information for oats, wheat and nuts, and decide whether you’d like to use a separate container when taking it with you.
No. The name ‘cornflakes’ doesn’t confirm that the grains used are wholegrain. Check the product description and ingredients list to see which grains the product contains and which are labelled as wholegrain.
No. Check the full nutritional information and ingredients list too. The Voedingscentrum recommends comparing products per 100 g. For example, Jumbo Special Flakes lists 1,3 g sugars and 1,15 g salt per 100 g, and contains maltitol as a sweetener.
Take a suitable container with a lid and plan where you’ll add the milk, yoghurt or plant-based alternative. If you want to keep the flakes crunchy, you can keep them separate until just before eating.
Before buying, read the allergen information on the current packaging, including any warnings about traces. In the breakfast cereals discussed here, it’s particularly important to check for ingredients such as wheat, barley, oats and nuts. Assess each product individually.
