For a Christmas market breakfast, start by choosing a pancake mix whose organic credentials you can check on the packaging. Then compare the type of flour, the ingredients you need to add and the allergen information. If you plan to sell pancakes at a Christmas market in the Netherlands, you’ll also need to consider food safety, allergen information and whether your market stall needs certification.
You want to choose a pancake mix for your Christmas market breakfast that is demonstrably organic. If you sell the pancakes from a market stall as organic, Skal Biocontrole says the stall will generally need certification too; check what applies to your type of sales.
You’re choosing between a wheat-based mix and options such as multigrain, spelt or buckwheat. As well as the ingredients, compare the preparation instructions and allergen information on the pack you plan to use.
You must be able to tell customers about any allergens before they buy. This means taking into account not only the mix, but also the milk, eggs and toppings you use, as specified by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority for unpackaged food.
For a Christmas market breakfast, the packaging will help you choose a mix that suits your ingredient preferences. If you’re selling pancakes on site, you’ll also need to organise preparation and customer information.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic labelling | Check the exact pack for the EU organic logo, the code of the control body and the indication of origin. | If I want to offer pancakes as organic, I need to be able to check the labelling on the mix I’ve chosen. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Allergens when selling | Check the allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack; include any added ingredients and toppings in the information you give customers. | When selling unpackaged food, I want to be able to clearly explain which allergens are in the recipe before the first order. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Preparation on site | Compare the ingredients to be added for each recipe and work out what workspace and refrigeration you’ll need. | When things get busy, I want to know whether I can prepare and store the batter with the space and facilities available to me. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this practicality. |
| Type of flour | Check which grains or types of flour the mix contains and compare the full ingredient lists. | For my breakfast, I want to choose a wheat, multigrain, spelt or buckwheat profile. Around 17% of consumers give this preference top priority. |
Multigrain, spelt and buckwheat describe ingredients, not a mix’s certification. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo is intended for certified organic products.
Check the organic labelling, control body code and indication of origin on the packaging you buy.
Spelt contains gluten. A buckwheat mix may also carry warnings about other allergens; this information varies from product to product.
Read the full allergen information for the mix and everything you add. If you’re selling the pancakes, use this information for the finished recipe.
Organic pancake mixes don’t all call for the same quantities of milk and eggs. At a market, these ingredients also affect what you need to prepare and store.
Compare the preparation instructions on the packs you’re considering, then plan the ingredients, workspace and suitable refrigeration for your recipe.
A certified mix doesn’t automatically mean you can sell organic products from your market stall without further checks. Skal Biocontrole says a market stall selling organic products will generally need certification.
Before selling, check with Skal which rules or exceptions apply to your type of sales. You’ll also need to ensure food is prepared safely and allergen information is available.
Albert Heijn’s organic multigrain mix comes in a 400 g pack and includes wholemeal spelt, rye and wheat.
Jumbo has a 400 g organic pancake mix made with organic wheat flour.
According to the product information, Koopmans Bio Meergranen (400 g) combines wheat, oats, maize and buckwheat.
According to PLUS, Smaakt Boekweitpannenkoekenmix bio (400 g) contains 90% organic buckwheat flour, as well as tapioca flour.
Leev Biologische Oermix Spelt Pannenkoeken is a 500 g mix which, according to Albert Heijn, contains 91% spelt flour as well as buckwheat flour.
At PLUS, you can compare the product information for Koopmans Bio Meergranen and Smaakt Boekweitpannenkoekenmix bio.
Lidl has an organic range and also sells standard pancake mix.
ALDI has an organic range and also sells standard Albona pancake mixes.
For a prepacked mix, check for the EU organic logo, the control body code and the indication of origin. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo may only appear on certified products made up of at least 95% organic ingredients.
The mix’s organic certification alone isn’t enough to determine the rules for your market stall. Skal Biocontrole says a stall selling organic products will generally need certification, although exceptions may apply; check which rules cover your type of sales.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, customers must be able to get information about any allergens in unpackaged pancakes before buying. Base this information on the full recipe, including the mix, milk, eggs and toppings, and make sure customers know how to ask for it.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, anyone selling food and drink at a market must prepare, sell and store it safely and hygienically. Make sure your workspace, handwashing facilities and any refrigeration are suited to your ingredients and the way you sell.
No. Don’t assume a mix is gluten-free just because it’s called buckwheat. Check the dietary and allergen information on the exact pack; for example, PLUS lists possible traces of peanuts, soya, nuts and sesame for the Smaakt buckwheat mix.
