For a school lunchbox for a child with coeliac disease, choose a pancake mix whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. Then check the allergens in the mix and in any ingredients you add yourself. Cook the pancakes according to the product instructions, follow the storage guidance and check what the school allows.
If your child has coeliac disease, start by looking for a clear gluten-free statement on the packaging. Check the labels of any ingredients you add, too, and take care to avoid contact with gluten-containing products while cooking.
Egg, milk, oats or lupin may also be relevant. Product information from Albert Heijn, Koopmans and Consenza shows that ingredients and warnings vary between mixes, so take the preparation method into account as well.
If you’re cooking ahead, you’ll need to consider the ingredients required, making sure the pancakes are cooked through, and the storage instructions for your chosen mix. Also check the school’s rules on food brought from home.
First, check for a gluten-free statement. Then make sure the mix, any additional ingredients and the preparation method are suitable for your child and the school day.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free statement | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging and check the ingredients. Under EU Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this statement may only be used when the product contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. | If my child has coeliac disease, I want to be able to identify the mix by an explicit statement rather than assume it’s gluten-free because wheat isn’t mentioned in the name. This check comes first for around 42% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings, and check what the recipe says you need to add. Also check the toppings and cooking utensils. | If egg, milk, oats or lupin are also a concern for my child, I need to assess the whole preparation process. Around 33% of consumers give these additional allergens the highest priority. |
| Cooking ahead and storage | Check the ingredients required, cooking instructions and storage guidance on the packaging of your chosen mix. | If I’m making pancakes for school in advance, I need to know how to store and transport them after cooking. Preparation is the biggest consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
An ingredient name or type of grain is no substitute for a gluten-free statement. Under EU Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a product carrying this statement must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
Before choosing a mix for a child with coeliac disease, check the current packaging for the words ‘gluten-free’.
Koopmans says its gluten-free mix may contain egg and milk, and that milk and eggs are needed to prepare it. Other mixes may have different ingredients or require different additions.
Read the label and recipe together. Check the ingredients you plan to add, too, and discuss any relevant allergens with the child’s parents or carers and the school.
A product may be listed online without being available to order from your chosen retailer.
Check current availability before planning a school lunch around a particular mix.
If you’re preparing pancakes in advance, cooking them through, cooling them and storing them all need to be part of your plan. Instructions may vary by product.
Follow the instructions on the packaging of your chosen mix and check how the school handles food brought from home.
Koopmans offers Pannenkoeken Glutenvrij. The brand says this mix meets the AOECS standard.
AH Glutenvrij Pannenkoekenmix is a 400 g dry mix. Albert Heijn says it is made in a completely gluten-free environment.
Jumbo has listed a 400 g Lekker Vrij van Gluten Pannenkoeken Mix.
Consenza offers several gluten-free pancake products, including a 230 g shaker listed by PLUS.
PLUS is a retailer with product information on items including Koopmans Pannenkoeken Glutenvrij and the Consenza Pannenkoekshaker.
Under EU Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food may only be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check for this statement on the current packaging of the mix you buy, along with the ingredients and allergen information.
No. ‘Gluten-free’ on its own says nothing about egg or milk. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Koopmans Pannenkoeken Glutenvrij may contain egg and milk, and milk and eggs are needed to prepare it. For every mix, read both the label and the preparation instructions.
Yes, as long as you prepare and store them according to the instructions. PLUS says that cooked Koopmans Pannenkoeken Glutenvrij pancakes can be kept covered in the fridge for up to two days once cooled. For other mixes, follow the instructions on the packaging and check the school’s rules.
Don’t pack raw batter for lunch if you’re using the Koopmans mix: the product instructions say it must be heated all the way through. Cook the pancakes thoroughly, then follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
