For a working-from-home lunch, start by choosing a pancake mix whose organic status you can check on the packaging. Then consider how it’s prepared: according to Albert Heijn, AH Biologisch Meergranen can be made using a plant-based method, while Koopmans Bio Meergranen takes around 30 minutes to prepare and requires extra ingredients, according to the product information. If you’re mainly looking for buckwheat as the main ingredient, Smaakt Bio Boekweit is another option, but buckwheat alone doesn’t guarantee that a product is gluten-free.
You want to choose a mix for lunch based on a recognisable organic label, not just words such as ‘natural’. Skal Biocontrole and RVO identify the EU organic logo as a way to recognise organic products, so check the label on the mix you buy.
You want to know what else you’ll need besides the mix and how long it takes to prepare. Check the recipe before you buy, so you’re not caught out by the need for milk, eggs, cooking fat or a suitable alternative while you’re on your lunch break.
Perhaps you’re looking for a multigrain or buckwheat mix, or one that can be prepared without animal products. Compare the ingredients list and allergen information on each pack: the type of grain and the preparation method don’t tell you on their own which allergens may be present.
Check the organic label first, then compare the preparation method and ingredients with what you need for a working-from-home lunch.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic label | Look for the EU organic logo and the relevant organic information on the current label. | If organic status is a deciding factor for me, I want to be able to check the label on the mix itself. Around 42% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Preparing lunch | Check which ingredients you need to add and how long the preparation is said to take. | During a short lunch break, I want to know in advance whether I have everything I need to make the batter and enough time to cook the pancakes. For around 33% of consumers, the practicalities of preparation matter most. |
| Grains and allergens | Compare the types of flour and read both the ingredients list and the allergen information. | If I’m looking for a multigrain or buckwheat mix, or need to watch out for allergens, the information on the packaging helps me decide which mix suits my needs. Ingredient choice is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
An organic label doesn’t tell you how long the mix takes to prepare or which allergens may be present.
Use the label to check the product’s organic status, and also read the preparation instructions, ingredients and allergen information.
The mixes considered here also require ingredients such as milk, eggs or cooking fat. The quantities needed vary by product.
Check the recipe on the packaging and make sure you have the additional ingredients before you start making lunch.
Albert Heijn’s multigrain mix contains gluten-containing grains and may contain traces of other allergens. The product information for Smaakt Bio Boekweit says it may contain traces of peanuts, soya, nuts and sesame.
If you have an allergy, read all the information on the current packaging. Don’t judge whether a product is suitable based only on its grain or a suggested preparation method.
For Koopmans Bio Meergranen, PLUS says the batter should not be eaten raw and must be thoroughly heated.
Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging and cook the pancakes through.
These examples show how organic pancake mixes can differ in their grains and preparation methods. Check the information on the specific pack you’re buying.
Jumbo Biologisch Pannenkoekenmix is a 400 g wheat mix.
AH Biologisch Mix voor pannenkoeken meergranen, 400 g, contains spelt, rye and wheat.
Koopmans Bio Meergranen is a mix containing wheat, oats, maize and buckwheat. PLUS says each pack makes 12–14 pancakes.
According to the ingredients list, 90% of the main ingredient in Smaakt Bio Boekweit Pannenkoekenmix is organic buckwheat flour.
Check the organic label on the current packaging. According to Skal Biocontrole, the EU organic logo is compulsory for pre-packed food produced in the EU and sold as organic. Also check the relevant certification information on the label.
Albert Heijn gives instructions for preparing AH Biologisch Meergranen with a plant-based drink and, optionally, apple sauce or an egg replacer. Check the allergen information too: this preparation method doesn’t rule out possible traces of egg, milk or other allergens.
No. Having buckwheat as the main ingredient doesn’t in itself mean a mix is gluten-free. If this is essential for you, check the current packaging of Smaakt Bio Boekweit or any other buckwheat mix for an explicit gluten-free label.
Use the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you actually buy. Product information can change, so check the preparation instructions on that packaging too.
