Choose porridge oats with only wholegrain oats or oat flakes as the ingredient if you want to create a sweet breakfast with your own toppings. Fine flakes or an express version can be handy when preparation time matters, but check the ingredients and nutritional information for each variety: wholegrain does not automatically mean that no sugar has been added. If you have coeliac disease, a standard wholegrain label is not enough; check for the Crossed Grain symbol and read the allergen information on the pack.
The key question is whether you want to control the sweetness yourself, have very little time to prepare breakfast or need to be careful about gluten because of coeliac disease.
Fruit, cinnamon or unsalted nuts let you choose the flavour of your breakfast. An ingredients list that names only wholegrain oats gives you a simple base; you should also compare the nutritional information on the pack you choose.
Fine flakes and express products are worth comparing when preparation time matters. Check the ingredients too: a quick-cooking variety can be plain, but a flavoured one may contain sugar.
A label stating oats, wholegrain or organic does not, by itself, tell you enough about gluten. Look for the Crossed Grain symbol and check the latest allergen information before choosing a pack.
Start with the ingredients if you want to control the sweetness yourself. Then compare the preparation method and nutritional information, and check the gluten information on the same pack if you need to.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and sweetness | Read the ingredients list and compare sugars per 100 g or per serving when weighing up different varieties. | If I add my own fruit or cinnamon, I want to know what is already in the oats. For around 40% of consumers, having control over the ingredients comes first. |
| Preparation time | Check the type of flakes and the preparation instructions; check the ingredients of express varieties too. | I want a bowl of porridge that takes very little time to make on a busy morning. Around 30% of consumers give quick preparation the highest priority. |
| Wholegrain and fibre | Check the ingredients and compare fibre on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | I want to be able to compare the wholegrain ingredients and fibre content of different packs. This is the most important buying consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Gluten and coeliac disease | Check for the Crossed Grain symbol and read the allergen information on the pack. | If I need to consider coeliac disease, I cannot rely on the word wholegrain. For around 10% of consumers, gluten information is the first thing they look for when making this choice. |
Wholegrain describes the grain used, not every other ingredient. Quaker Netherlands lists sugar and natural flavourings as well as 81% wholegrain oats in Oats Express Cinnamon.
Read the ingredients list for the specific flavour. Compare the nutritional information per serving if you are weighing it up against plain oats.
If you have coeliac disease, general labels such as oats, wholegrain or organic do not give you the information you need to choose a product. Warnings about other grains are worth checking too.
Check for the Crossed Grain symbol and read the allergen information on the pack.
If you have allergies or want to avoid added sugar, the information on the pack itself matters. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority notes that ingredients and allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods.
Before use, read the ingredients, allergen information and preparation instructions on the pack you actually have.
Always compare specific varieties within a brand: the type of flakes, ingredients and allergen information can differ.
Offers both plain oats and flavoured express varieties.
An option to consider if you are looking for extra-fine flakes for a warm bowl of porridge.
An own-label option with fine wholegrain oats for adding your own toppings.
An own-label range that includes fine and organic wholegrain oats.
Fine or coarse wholegrain oats for choosing the type of flakes you prefer.
A supermarket option if you are looking for coarse oat flakes.
These products are worth comparing if you are looking for oats for a sweet breakfast with your choice of toppings. Pay particular attention to the ingredients in the variety you choose; the word Express alone tells you nothing about added sugar.
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If you want to add your own fruit or cinnamon, compare the ingredients on this pack with those of other varieties of oats. If you have coeliac disease, also check for the Crossed Grain symbol and read the allergen information.
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A simple base if you want to control the sweetness with your own toppings. For this 600 g variety, Joybuy Netherlands lists 100% wholegrain oats as the ingredient and warns that the product may contain barley and wheat.
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Worth comparing if a quick, hot breakfast matters and you want to choose your own toppings. Read the ingredients and preparation instructions for this specific Express variety; the flavoured Quaker Oats Express Cinnamon has a different composition.
Wholegrain oats can be a good base if you want to choose the flavour yourself, but check the other ingredients and what you add too. Fruit, cinnamon and unsalted nuts make for a different combination from a pre-sweetened variety of oats.
Read the ingredients list; the word wholegrain on the front of the pack does not tell you everything. For Oats Express Cinnamon, Quaker Netherlands lists sugar and natural flavourings as well as wholegrain oats. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g or per serving when weighing up products.
Do not assume they are based on the words oats or wholegrain. Check for the Crossed Grain symbol and read the allergen information on the pack of the specific product.
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information, and read the preparation instructions if speed matters. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that ingredients and allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods.
