Parents who want to introduce wholemeal flour gradually
You want to be able to change the flour mix from one recipe to the next, taking into account what your child actually accepts, rather than switching straight to a fully wholemeal batter.
Who are these options for?
Households putting together their first shopping list
If you want to keep the number of ingredients to a minimum, it’s worth comparing a pancake mix with buying separate flours. Separate flours give you more freedom to create your own mix.
Households that need to check ingredients
If you have a specific dietary requirement, check the exact product, its ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings before choosing a flour or mix.
What should you look for on your first shop?
First, decide whether you want to adjust the amount of wholemeal flour yourself or buy fewer ingredients. Either way, the product name and ingredients list matter more than a general claim on the packaging.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Whether the taste and texture go down well | T65 wheat flour for the base, plus flour clearly labelled as wholemeal, such as T150, so you can adjust the mix. | If a child is unsure about a pancake that’s different from the one they know, being able to change the mix between attempts matters. Around 42% of consumers put this gradual acceptance first. |
| Keeping shopping simple | The number of ingredients your recipe needs and the pack size of the mix or flours you choose. | For my first shop, I’d rather choose fewer ingredients than put several mixes together myself. Around 33% of consumers are said to prioritise this simplicity. |
| What goes into the batter | The flour’s name; for a pre-packed product, the ingredients list and nutritional information. | If I want to know which flour is going into my pancakes, I need to tell wholemeal flour apart from other wheat flour, rather than relying on a single claim on the front of the pack. Around 25% of consumers prioritise the ingredients. |
For pre-packed mixes, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) highlights the importance of the product name and ingredients list. To find out whether a pancake mix contains wholemeal flour, you need to check the specific product you’re buying.
Two things not to confuse
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Assuming ‘wholemeal’, ‘source of fibre’ and ‘no added sugars’ mean the same thing
These claims answer different questions. A claim on a packet of bread doesn’t tell you which flour will go into your pancake batter.
For a homemade recipe, choose flour clearly labelled ‘wholemeal wheat flour’ if that’s the ingredient you’re looking for. For a mix, read the ingredients list instead of relying on a claim on the front of the pack.
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Assuming a product is suitable for a gluten-free diet based on its main ingredient alone
Auchan’s product listing for Ethiquable wholemeal rice flour, which can be used for pancakes, also carries the warning ‘Possible traces of GLUTEN’. So the name of the flour alone isn’t enough to determine whether it’s suitable for someone who needs to avoid gluten strictly.
Check the warnings for the exact product and, if a medical condition means you need to take precautions, follow the advice of the relevant healthcare professional.
Brands to know for these ingredients
Francine
Carrefour and Auchan listings include T65 wheat flour and T150 wholemeal flour.
- Both products come in 1 kg packs; Auchan describes the T150 flour as suitable for cooking and baking.
- These listings can’t tell you what texture a particular recipe will have or whether a child will like it.
Carrefour Bio
Carrefour Bio’s own-brand range includes organic T65 wheat flour.
- This flour can be used as the base for a homemade mix.
- T65 doesn’t mean the flour is wholemeal: you’ll need to buy wholemeal flour separately to add it to your recipe.
Ethiquable
Auchan lists Ethiquable wholemeal rice flour among the ingredients that can be used for pancakes.
- This is a different type of flour from T65 and T150 wheat flour.
- Auchan’s listing warns that the product may contain traces of gluten. Check the exact product if this affects your choice.
Wholemeal flour and pancake mix on Joybuy
These two products suit two different approaches to your first shop: choosing a mix made for pancakes, or buying wholemeal flour to use in a homemade recipe. To adjust a mix of white and wholemeal flour, you’ll need to pair the wholemeal flour shown here with white flour bought separately.
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Francine pancake mix, 2 × 190 g
Worth considering if you’d rather choose a mix made for pancakes than put together a blend of separate flours. The pack contains two 190 g sachets. If you want to introduce wholemeal flour, check the ingredients list for the product you buy. Also check the allergen information to suit your household’s needs.
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Francine T150 wholemeal wheat flour, 1 kg
Choose this as the wholemeal component of a homemade batter if you want to adjust the proportions. This is a 1 kg pack of T150 wholemeal wheat flour, not a ready-made mix of white and wholemeal flour. You’ll need separate white flour to create your blend, then you can adjust the recipe to get the result you want.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use T150 wholemeal flour for pancakes?
Yes. Auchan describes Francine T150 wholemeal flour as suitable for cooking and baking. That doesn’t guarantee how your recipe will turn out or whether a child will like it. If you want to introduce wholemeal flour gradually, you can start by mixing it with white flour.
Where can you check the allergens in a packaged pancake mix?
Read the ingredients list on the packaging of the product you buy, and check any ‘may contain’ warnings that are relevant to you. The DGCCRF states that allergens in pre-packed foods must be clearly distinguished in the ingredients list.
Is rice flour always suitable for someone who needs to avoid gluten strictly?
No. The type of flour alone doesn’t establish whether it’s suitable. Auchan’s listing for Ethiquable wholemeal rice flour warns that it may contain traces of gluten, so check the information for the exact product before buying.