If you have a food allergy, first check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the exact product packaging. Only then compare quantity and ease of preparation. A cheaper plain mix is only good value if the extra ingredients you need are suitable too. And even a gluten-free or complete mix may contain allergens you need to avoid.
If an ingredient or a warning about possible presence is a deciding factor, the allergen information on the exact packaging matters more than quantity or convenience. Check what you add during preparation too.
A gluten-free label doesn’t automatically tell you whether the mix is suitable if you need to avoid egg or milk. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information for Koopmans Pannenkoeken Glutenvrij states that the mix may contain egg and milk.
A plain mix lets you choose the extra ingredients you need separately. So, once you’ve confirmed that the dry mix is suitable, compare those ingredients and the quantity you’re making too.
Start with the packaging of the variant you’ve chosen. If the mix and all the extra ingredients are suitable, you can compare plain mixes, complete mixes and gluten-free options by quantity and method of preparation.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Especially relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Specific allergens | Read the ingredients list and check the packaging of your chosen variant for any warnings that an allergen may be present. | If I have to strictly avoid an allergen, I also want to know whether the mix carries a warning about its possible presence. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free base | Check the gluten-free label, as well as the information about other allergens and any extra ingredients you’ll need. | I’m looking for a gluten-free mix, but I also need to check whether egg or milk is suitable; around 29% of consumers prioritise this combination of requirements. |
| Overall value | Compare the pack size and preparation instructions, including any ingredients you’ll need to provide yourself. | If it’s safe for me to add ingredients myself, I want to know the total cost of the pancakes once prepared. This is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ease of preparation | Check what else you need to add and whether the ingredients already included in a complete mix are suitable. | I want to use as few extra ingredients as possible, as long as the mix itself is suitable; this convenience is the deciding factor for around 14% of consumers. |
A gluten-free mix may contain other allergens or carry a warning about their possible presence. Albert Heijn’s product information for Koopmans Pannenkoeken Glutenvrij states that the mix may contain egg and milk.
Check the full allergen information and preparation instructions against the ingredients you need to avoid.
With a plain mix, you may still need to add milk, eggs or cooking fat to your shopping list. A complete mix may need fewer extra ingredients, but gives you less flexibility to choose them yourself.
Compare what you need to prepare the mix and how many pancakes you can make using the same preparation method.
Suitable alternatives that you need to buy separately count towards the total cost of making the pancakes.
Plain, complete and gluten-free mixes can have different ingredients, even within the same brand. Online product information may also differ from the packaging you buy.
Check the label on the exact variant every time you buy it. If you can’t find full information beforehand, ask the retailer about the product and check the packaging before use.
Koopmans offers an original mix, a gluten-free option and a complete shaker bottle, among other products. Allergens and the extra ingredients required vary from product to product.
The own-label range includes a plain mix; assess it separately from other mixes in the range.
Jumbo offers both a plain and a complete pancake mix. The difference in preparation goes hand in hand with a difference in ingredients.
PLUS’s plain mix is an own-label option; remember to take any ingredients you add yourself into account too.
ALDI sells pancake mixes under its Albona own label, including a plain option.
Belbake Pannenkoekenmix origineel is a 400 g Lidl own-label option, sold in Lidl stores.
These mixes come in different varieties and pack sizes for you to compare. Always check the current packaging against your allergy; none of these product listings is a substitute for that check.
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If you’re considering this wholegrain option, check the packaging for wheat, rye, oats and barley, warnings about egg and milk, and what you need to add yourself.
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With this basic mix, you can choose the extra ingredients separately. Koopmans lists wheat and rye for Pannenkoeken Origineel and warns that it may contain egg and milk; check the packaging of the variant you buy too.
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If you want to add as few extra ingredients as possible, compare the preparation instructions with the full allergen list. In particular, check whether this complete mix is suitable if you need to avoid wheat, egg or milk.
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For this small pack, the allergen list is especially important: check for wheat, whether the preparation requires egg, and whether the stated milk flavour means milk is also an ingredient.
No. A gluten-free label doesn’t mean the mix is free from other allergens. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information for Koopmans Pannenkoeken Glutenvrij says the mix may contain egg and milk. Also check the ingredients you add during preparation.
Yes, check the packaging of the exact variant you’re buying. Online product information and the packaging may differ, and recipes can change.
A plain mix gives you more choice over the ingredients you add yourself, provided the dry mix is suitable for your allergy. According to Jumbo, Jumbo Compleet already contains egg, milk and wheat, so you can’t replace these by choosing different extra ingredients.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the 14 designated allergens must be listed on the label. Read the ingredients list for the exact mix and also consider any warnings about possible presence in light of the allergens you need to avoid.
