If you have coeliac disease, first look for the ‘gluten-free’ label or Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging. Then compare the ingredients, potential allergens and preparation instructions. A gluten-free mix isn’t automatically suitable if you also need to avoid eggs or milk, and the ingredients you need to add vary by product.
You’re looking for a mix clearly labelled gluten-free and want to avoid contact with gluten-containing ingredients while baking. The Voedingscentrum recommends looking for the ‘gluten-free’ label and the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
As well as checking that a product is gluten-free, you also look out for eggs or milk. So check both the ingredients and potential allergens in the dry mix, as well as what the preparation instructions ask you to add.
You want to know how much mix you’re buying, which ingredients you’ll need to add and whether the preparation method fits your kitchen routine. A shaker and a bag of mix call for different preparation.
If you’re choosing a gluten-free pancake mix to use at home, start by checking the label on the packaging. Any additional allergens and the preparation method can then help you decide.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check the current packaging for the ‘gluten-free’ label or Crossed Grain symbol. When baking, make sure your equipment and worktop are free from gluten-containing residue. | If I’m making pancakes with coeliac disease, I want to use a clearly labelled mix and avoid contact with regular batter. For roughly 50% of consumers, that reassurance comes first. |
| Eggs, milk and other allergens | Read the ingredients and any potential allergen information. Also check what you need to add yourself and whether the instructions suggest a plant-based alternative. | If I also need to avoid eggs or milk, I want to know what’s in the mix and what gets added during preparation. For around 30% of consumers, this additional suitability is the priority. |
| Quantity and preparation | Compare the pack size and preparation instructions, including any ingredients you need to add and how to mix everything. | I’m looking for an amount that suits my household and want to know in advance how much preparation is involved. For roughly 20% of consumers, convenience matters most. |
According to PLUS, the gluten-free Koopmans mix may contain eggs and milk; the Consenza shaker contains egg powder. Ingredients you add yourself can also make a difference.
Read the ingredients and potential allergen information on the packaging. Only use a plant-based drink or egg substitute if the preparation instructions say you can.
A photo doesn’t always show the ingredients, allergens or preparation instructions on the packaging you’ll be buying.
When you buy, check the gluten-free label, ingredients, potential allergens, pack size and best-before date on the packaging itself.
Words such as ‘plain’ or ‘original’ don’t tell you whether a product is labelled gluten-free.
If you have coeliac disease, choose packaging marked ‘gluten-free’ or bearing the Crossed Grain symbol.
Albert Heijn lists a 400 g gluten-free pancake mix that requires you to add the other ingredients yourself.
Koopmans’ gluten-free pancake mix is listed as a bag mix that requires you to add the other ingredients yourself.
PLUS lists the gluten-free Consenza Pancake Shaker in a 230 g pack.
No. ‘Wheat-free’ isn’t the same as being labelled gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease, look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging, and avoid contact with gluten-containing products while baking.
You should still check for the gluten-free label on the packaging; the mention of oats alone doesn’t confirm that a product is gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Association says that most people with coeliac disease can tolerate pure oats, but this isn’t the case for everyone.
That depends on both the mix and the ingredients you add. For its gluten-free mix, Albert Heijn suggests a plant-based drink and egg substitute as preparation options. According to PLUS, the Consenza shaker contains egg powder, so it isn’t vegan.
Use a clean bowl, whisk, pan, spatula and worktop, and keep flour, breadcrumbs and other gluten-containing batter separate. The Voedingscentrum notes that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms in people with coeliac disease.
