Only choose a pancake mix if you have a food allergy after checking the current ingredients list and warnings against the allergens you need to avoid. If you’re buying for a small household, check the stated yield too. Remember to look at what you need to add to the batter: a gluten-free mix may still require milk or eggs.
You’re looking for a mix whose ingredients and any warnings are suitable for your needs. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) points out that the 14 allergens which must be labelled have to be clearly identifiable in the ingredients list. Also check separately for any warnings about accidental contact with allergens.
A gluten-free label doesn’t automatically answer questions about milk, eggs or other allergens. Albert Heijn’s product information also shows that gluten-free pancake mixes differ in their warnings and in what you need to add when making them.
You want to choose an amount that suits the number of pancakes you’re making. To do that, compare the stated yield as well as the pack weight. Only do so once you’ve confirmed that the mix and any other ingredients are suitable for your allergen requirements.
First, check the allergens you need to avoid. Then look at the ingredients required to make the mix and the quantity it yields.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and warnings | Read the full ingredients list and any warnings, such as ‘may contain’. Compare both with the allergens you need to avoid. | I want to check both the ingredients and warnings before choosing a mix; for around 50% of consumers, checking for allergens comes first. |
| Dietary and preparation requirements | As well as checking that the mix is gluten-free, look for other relevant allergens and check what you need to add yourself, such as milk, eggs or an alternative. | If you bake gluten-free and also avoid milk or eggs, you’ll want to choose the ingredients for the finished batter too. For around 30% of consumers, this combination is the main concern. |
| Quantity for a small household | Compare the pack weight with the stated number of portions or pancakes, and check the storage instructions too. | If I’m making pancakes for just a few people, I want the yield to match what we’ll use. For around 20% of consumers, quantity is the top priority after checking for allergens. |
The gluten-free mixes from Koopmans and Consenza described by Albert Heijn differ in their ingredients and warnings. A gluten-free label alone tells you nothing about other allergens you may need to avoid.
Check the current ingredients list and warnings for every allergen that’s relevant to you.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, some of the mixes reviewed require milk and eggs during preparation. Any other ingredients you add also form part of the finished dish.
Before buying, check the full recipe, including the liquid, eggs or egg substitute, and cooking fat.
According to Jumbo, its 200 g Jumbo Mix voor Pannenkoeken Compleet contains wheat, milk and eggs, and may contain soya. Pack size tells you nothing about whether a product is suitable for someone with a food allergy.
Check the allergens first, then compare the yields to choose an amount that suits you.
The ingredients and warnings on the pack you buy are what matter when you do your final check.
Use product pages to compare options, and check the current packaging before use too.
Among the Koopmans products reviewed, the gluten-free and complete pancake mixes differ in their ingredients and preparation.
The AH Glutenvrij Pannenkoekenmix reviewed is a 400 g dry mix, and you choose the ingredients to add during preparation.
The Jumbo Mix voor Pannenkoeken Compleet reviewed is a 200 g bottle mix that makes around six portions and can be prepared with water.
According to Albert Heijn, the 250 g Consenza Pannenkoekenmix reviewed is gluten-free and wheat-free, and makes around 5–6 pancakes.
No. A gluten-free label doesn’t rule out other allergens. Check the current ingredients list and warnings for milk, eggs and any other allergens you need to avoid. Also check what you need to add during preparation.
For pre-packed foods, any allergens that must be labelled have to be clearly identifiable in the ingredients list. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists 14 such allergens. Also read any separate warnings on the current packaging.
‘May contain’ warns that the product may have come into accidental contact with the allergen named; it doesn’t mean that the allergen was deliberately added as an ingredient. Consider the warning in relation to the allergen you need to avoid, rather than relying only on a label on the front of the pack.
Compare the stated number of portions or pancakes, not just the pack weight. For the 250 g Consenza mix reviewed, Albert Heijn gives a yield of 5–6 pancakes; Jumbo says its 200 g complete mix makes around six portions. Only choose mixes whose allergen information is suitable for your needs.
