For gluten-free shopping, first choose pulses according to the level of care you need to take. If you must avoid gluten strictly, check that the specific product is labelled ‘gluten-free’, even if it’s organic or made from pulses. Then choose between plain pulses to cook yourself and ready-to-heat recipes, depending on how much time you have. Don’t overlook added grains or other allergens.
If you need to avoid gluten, particularly if you have coeliac disease, the ingredients and labelling on the specific pack matter more than whether it’s organic. Pulses that are naturally gluten-free can still be exposed to contamination during transport or packaging.
You’re looking for lentils or other plain pulses to keep in the cupboard and prepare to suit your recipes. Carrefour Bio, Bio Village and GOLDENSUN offer organic dried pulses; check their gluten labelling separately if needed.
A ready-made pouch can be a good option when saving time matters more than choosing separate ingredients. For example, Auchan stocks Jardin BiO étic lentils and chickpeas described as organic and gluten-free, with heating instructions that take just a few minutes.
For gluten-free shopping, start by checking the labelling on the product you’ve chosen. Then compare plain and ready-made options based on your recipes and how much time you want to spend preparing them. Organic certification relates to how a product is made; it doesn’t replace checking for gluten.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten precautions | If you need to avoid gluten strictly, look for ‘gluten-free’ on the specific product and the crossed grain logo, if shown. | If I need to avoid gluten strictly, I can’t rely on the name of the pulse or its organic label alone. This would be the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Organic and simple ingredients | Check the organic labelling and ingredients list to tell plain pulses apart from mixes containing grains. | When I’m making my own recipes, I prefer to start with an organic pack containing just one type of pulse. Around 33% of consumers would put this cupboard staple first. |
| Preparation time | Compare the cooking or heating instructions, then check the ingredients and allergens in any ready-made recipe. | When I have little time to cook, a ready-to-heat pouch suits my needs better than a dried product. Speed would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Organic certification relates to how a product is made, not whether it’s gluten-free. AFDIAG also distinguishes between ‘gluten-free’ labelling and the crossed grain logo, which is associated with specific checks.
If you need to avoid gluten strictly, look for ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen and check whether the logo is present.
A mix containing pulses may also include bulgur wheat, spelt, wheat or barley. So the presence of lentils alone isn’t enough to tell you whether it’s suitable for gluten-free shopping.
Read the ingredients list and check the labelling on the specific mix. Choosing a single type of pulse makes the ingredients easier to check, but you should still look for gluten warnings.
A ready-made recipe may contain allergens you hadn’t considered when choosing pulses. The Auchan listing for Jardin BiO étic lentils and chickpeas, for example, mentions sesame and possible traces of soya.
Before you buy, read the full ingredients list and allergen information, then check the storage instructions for after opening.
Carrefour offers organic green lentils in a 500 g pouch, among other products.
E.Leclerc offers 500 g of organic green lentils and 450 g of organic red lentils under this brand.
The Auchan range includes organic green and red lentils in 500 g packs, among other products.
Auchan stocks a pouch of prepared lentils and chickpeas described as organic and gluten-free.
Lidl offers several organic pulses under this brand, including lentils, split peas, chickpeas and beans.
Bjorg describes its products as organic; Auchan stocks the brand’s express lentil and carrot pouch, among other products.
No. Organic certification and ‘gluten-free’ labelling relate to different criteria. Even though pulses are naturally gluten-free, contamination can happen during transport or packaging. If you need to avoid gluten strictly, check the packaging of the specific product.
First, look for ‘gluten-free’ on the product you’ve chosen, then read its ingredients list and allergen information. If the crossed grain logo appears on the packaging, AFDIAG says it is associated with product testing and an audit of the manufacturing site.
Not necessarily. Mixes sold in the pulses aisle may also contain bulgur wheat, spelt, wheat or barley. Check the ingredients and gluten labelling on the specific mix, even if it contains lentils.
For the Jardin BiO étic lentils and chickpeas sold by Auchan, the product listing says to keep the pouch chilled and use it within 2 days of opening. This applies to that specific product, so follow the instructions on the pouch you buy.