For Sunday lunch, don’t choose rice based solely on a “reduced sugars” claim: sugars and starch are two distinct types of carbohydrate, as Anses explains. Compare the nutritional values and ingredients of similar products, then choose a variety to suit the dish, preparation time and, if it matters to your guests, their preference for wholegrain or semi-wholegrain rice.
You want to distinguish added sugars from other carbohydrates before choosing your rice. Anses points out that sugars and starches are two distinct types of carbohydrate, so the “of which sugars” line doesn’t tell you everything about a product’s composition.
You’re looking for a wholegrain or semi-wholegrain accompaniment for a family meal. Manger Bouger recommends these cereal-based starchy foods, particularly for their fibre content. Choose the flavour and texture to suit the dish and your guests.
You want to serve a quick accompaniment and are choosing between dry rice and a microwave rice pouch. Ingredients vary by recipe: Auchan’s plain express pouch contains precooked basmati rice, sunflower oil and salt.
First, choose a variety to suit the dish you’re planning. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional values on a like-for-like basis: dry rice and ready-to-eat rice aren’t necessarily labelled in the same way.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and carbohydrates | Check “carbohydrates” and “of which sugars” per 100 g, then read the ingredients list. Compare products in the same state, either dry or ready to eat. | If I want to avoid a recipe with added sugar, the “of which sugars” line alone isn’t enough to tell me what I’m buying. Around 33% of consumers would put checking this information on the label at the top of their list. |
| Wholegrain or semi-wholegrain rice | Look for the description “wholegrain” or “semi-wholegrain” and check that the variety suits the dish. | For a family meal, I prefer wholegrain or semi-wholegrain rice if its flavour and texture suit my guests. This would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Preparation time | Check the cooking or reheating instructions, as well as the ingredients and salt content of an express pouch. | When everything needs to be ready quickly, I mainly need an easy-to-prepare accompaniment without having to settle for a default seasoning. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise speed. |
| Dish and pack size | Choose a variety to suit the recipe, then check the pack weight and cooking instructions. | If I’m making risotto or cooking for several guests, the variety and quantity matter more than a nutritional claim alone. Choosing rice to suit the dish would be the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Anses distinguishes sugars from starch, which is found in starchy foods. So a low figure on the “of which sugars” line doesn’t tell you the rice’s total carbohydrate content.
Check both figures per 100 g before putting too much weight on a claim about sugars.
Ingredients vary depending on the seasoning. Auchan lists oil and salt in its plain express basmati, while its curry recipe also contains sugar.
Compare the ingredients lists for plain and seasoned versions, then check the salt content in the nutritional information.
Wholegrain or semi-wholegrain rice suits those who prefer wholegrain starchy foods, but its flavour and texture may change the dish you had in mind.
Check that it works with your recipe, and consider another variety if your guests have different preferences.
Carrefour stocks, among other options, a parboiled wholegrain rice from Ben’s Original with a stated cooking time of 12 minutes.
The range includes rice for different dishes, including a variety specially suited to risotto and basmati rice.
Carrefour sells its own-brand Carrefour Extra long-grain basmati in a 1 kg pack and Carrefour Bio semi-wholegrain basmati in a 500 g pack.
Auchan sells dry basmati rice whose ingredients list contains rice alone, as well as plain and seasoned express pouches.
Lidl stocks a range that includes Taureau Ailé and Golden Sun basmati rice.
These options suit two different Sunday lunch dishes: making risotto or serving basmati as an accompaniment. The product descriptions and pack sizes can help you choose. To compare sugars, carbohydrates or fibre, check the nutritional information and packaging for the product you select.
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Worth considering if you’re making risotto for Sunday lunch. The pack contains 500 g. Check the cooking instructions and nutritional values for this product before planning your meal.
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Consider it for a basmati accompaniment if 20 kg is the right quantity for your needs. Make sure you have enough storage space and check the cooking instructions on the sack.
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This 5 kg pack could be a good choice if you’re planning several basmati dishes. Check the cooking time on the packaging to help you plan your meal.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a 450 g pack of basmati to serve with your main dish. The description says it cooks quickly, but check the cooking time and method on the packaging.
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This 500 g pack is worth considering if you’re serving basmati as an accompaniment. Check the packaging for the cooking time and instructions before planning your meal.
No: the “of which sugars” line only accounts for part of the carbohydrates. Anses distinguishes sugars from starch, among other things. To compare two types of rice, check both lines in the nutritional information on a like-for-like basis.
Yes, if its flavour, texture and preparation time suit the dish and your guests. Manger Bouger recommends choosing wholegrain or semi-wholegrain cereal-based starchy foods, particularly for their fibre content. Check the exact description of the rice you choose.
No: it depends on the recipe. Auchan lists precooked basmati rice, sunflower oil and salt in its plain express pouch, while sugar is among the ingredients in its curry version. Check the ingredients list on the pouch you buy.
It’s a regulated nutrition claim, not a statement that the rice is low in carbohydrates overall. The DGCCRF notes that the use of nutrition claims on food products in the European Union is subject to the conditions set out in Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. When choosing a product, check its ingredients and nutritional values too.