When shopping for Candlemas, first decide whether you’re looking for canned soup or biscuits to serve with pancakes: these products can’t be compared on the same criteria. If you’re choosing soup and sugar content is a priority, check the exact claim on the packaging and compare the nutritional values on the same basis. Instant soup in a sachet isn’t canned soup.
If you’re choosing soup with its sugar content in mind, check the product category and its nutritional information. The name of a recipe, or a claim unrelated to sugar, isn’t enough to establish its sugar content. Depending on your needs, you should also check the ingredients, allergens and salt content.
For a purchase related to Candlemas, first identify the product you’re looking for. The information you’ll need to compare depends on the category.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Product category | The product name and format: canned soup, dried soup mix or biscuits. | If I’m looking for biscuits to serve with pancakes, the label on a soup won’t help me choose; around 45% of consumers would prioritise the product category. |
| Sugars | The exact claim on the packaging and the “of which sugars” line, compared on the same basis. | I want to be able to compare the sugar content of the products I’m actually considering buying; around 33% of consumers would have this as a priority. |
| Ingredients and preparation | The ingredients and allergens; for dried soup, the serving size and preparation instructions. | Before choosing a soup, I need to check whether its recipe suits my dietary requirements and how to prepare it; around 22% of consumers would put this need first. |
The format and intended use affect which information is useful when comparing products. The Royco vegetable and vermicelli soup listed by Auchan is an instant soup in sachets, not canned soup.
First choose the category that matches what you’re buying, then compare products within that same category.
These claims refer to different characteristics. A claim about preservatives doesn’t mean you can conclude that a product contains less sugar.
To compare sugar content, read the nutritional claim actually displayed and the “of which sugars” line.
The ingredients, allergens, salt content and serving size may also matter when choosing a recipe. For dried soup, the preparation instructions tell you how much to serve.
Check this information for each product before comparing its nutritional values with those of another soup.
Royco features several soup ranges on its website. The vegetable and vermicelli product described by Auchan is an instant soup in sachets.
No. Check the claim actually displayed and the product’s nutritional information. The European Commission explains that nutrition claims are regulated by Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 and its annex.
Not as if they were the same format: the Royco vegetable and vermicelli product listed by Auchan is a dried instant soup in sachets. Check the preparation method and serving size before comparing nutritional information.
Sugar content alone doesn’t tell you everything about a soup recipe. Also check the ingredients, allergens, salt content and serving size shown on the product you’re planning to buy.