If you have coeliac disease, choose a pancake mix whose current packaging clearly says it is gluten-free; buckwheat as an ingredient isn’t enough on its own. Then compare the allergen information and check what you need to add to make the batter. If you want seeds for texture, check them separately for a gluten-free label: none of the published ingredient lists for the mixes discussed here mention seeds.
You want to see clearly on the current packaging that a mix is gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Society also highlights the Crossed Grain symbol as a recognisable sign that the manufacturing process has been taken into account too.
If you also need to consider eggs, milk or oats, don’t just assess the dry mix. Check the allergen information as well as the ingredients you need to add yourself according to the preparation instructions.
You want to know which flours are in the mix, or add seeds yourself for texture. Buckwheat is listed in the ingredient information for some of the mixes discussed here; if you want to use seeds, check their packaging separately for a gluten-free label.
Start by checking for a gluten-free label on the current packaging. Then compare any additional allergens, the ingredients needed to make the batter and the types of flour you want.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Read the current packaging: does it say gluten-free, and does it also carry the Crossed Grain symbol? | I don’t want to assume a mix is suitable for coeliac disease based on the type of flour alone. For around 50% of consumers, a clear gluten-free label comes first. |
| Additional allergens | Check the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, as well as anything you add to the batter yourself. | If I also need to avoid eggs or milk, both the dry mix and the additions I choose need to be suitable. For around 30% of consumers, these additional ingredients are the most important factor in their choice. |
| Preparation and texture | Compare the preparation instructions, yield and ingredients such as buckwheat; check any seeds separately. | I want to know in advance what else I’ll need to bake and which flours are in the mix. For around 20% of consumers, these practical considerations make the difference, once they have checked for a gluten-free label. |
The name of a type of flour doesn’t tell you whether the whole mix is gluten-free. For example, according to Albert Heijn, the standard Koopmans Mix voor pannenkoeken compleet contains wheat flour and rye flour.
If you have coeliac disease, look for a gluten-free label on the current packaging rather than relying on words such as buckwheat, wholemeal or multigrain.
You may need milk, eggs or substitutes to make the batter. Albert Heijn also states that Koopmans Pannenkoeken Glutenvrij may contain eggs and milk.
Read both the allergen information and the preparation instructions, and check the ingredients you plan to add yourself.
Ingredient and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn’s product information therefore advises you to read the packaging itself.
When you buy, check the packaging of the exact variant you’re taking home.
None of the published ingredient lists for the Koopmans, Jumbo and AH mixes discussed here mention seeds. Buckwheat and seeds are different ingredients.
If you want to add seeds, first choose a gluten-free base mix and check the seeds separately for a gluten-free label. When preparing the batter, take care to avoid cross-contamination, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Society.
These product ranges mainly differ in their listed ingredients, allergen information and packaging labels. Always check the current version before making your choice.
According to the manufacturer, Koopmans Pannenkoeken Glutenvrij contains potato and maize starch, buckwheat flour and rice flour, among other ingredients. Koopmans says this mix meets the AOECS standard.
Albert Heijn describes its 400 g gluten-free pancake mix as a vegan, lactose-free dry mix, made in a completely gluten-free environment.
For its 400 g gluten-free pancake mix, Jumbo lists maize starch, rice flour and buckwheat flour, and mentions the Crossed Grain symbol with licence code NL-106-010.
No, buckwheat as an ingredient doesn’t make the whole mix gluten-free. For example, Albert Heijn lists wheat flour and rye flour in the standard Koopmans Mix voor pannenkoeken compleet. If you have coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free label on the packaging of the mix you want to buy.
No, it isn’t the only label to look for. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises checking for both the term ‘gluten-free’ and the gluten-free symbol when reading labels. It also describes the Crossed Grain symbol as a sign that the manufacturing process has been taken into account. Always check the current packaging.
Yes, as long as you check the seeds separately for a gluten-free label and avoid cross-contamination during preparation. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that cross-contamination can affect people with coeliac disease. Use clean kitchen utensils and check any other ingredients that come into contact with the batter.
Yes, read the packaging of the product you’re buying. Albert Heijn says that product information, including ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information, can change.
