Who is this guide for?

Households planning several meals

You’re looking for a quantity that suits the number of meals you have planned. You compare the volume of ready-to-serve soups rather than judging by the apparent size of the packaging.

People living alone or short on time

You prefer portions that are easy to measure and simple to prepare. A smaller pack or an individual sachet may suit your needs, but it isn’t the same as soup in a tin.

Shoppers who pay attention to ingredients and salt

You want to compare recipes before buying. Anses lists soups and broths among the foods that contribute to salt intake in France, so it’s worth checking the ingredients list and nutritional information.

What should you check?

Start by distinguishing between soup in a tin, soup in a carton and instant soup: their pack sizes don’t always represent the same quantity of soup ready to serve.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
Enough for several meals Compare the volume of ready-to-serve soups and the stated number of portions. If I’m planning several meals, I want a container with enough for what we’ll eat. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this.
Portions and preparation Check the number of sachets, the volume once prepared and the preparation instructions. For a quick individual meal, I prefer to prepare just the portion I need. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers.
Salt and ingredients Read the ingredients list, any highlighted allergens and the ‘salt’ value for a comparable portion. If the recipe’s ingredients influence my choice, I want to be able to compare the ingredients and salt content across products. Around 21% of consumers would put this check first.
Storage Check the date shown, the condition of the packaging and the instructions for after opening. If I’m keeping soup for later, I need to know how to store it and when to use it after opening. This would be the main concern for around 14% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming every format contains the same quantity of soup

    A 1 L carton, a pack of 2 × 30 cl cartons and sachets of dried soup won’t necessarily provide the same quantity ready to serve.

    Compare the volumes of liquid soups with each other. For sachets, check the volume once prepared and the number of portions.

  • Confusing soup in a tin, carton and sachet

    These packs are designed for different uses and may have different preparation or storage instructions. Soup in a carton or dried soup isn’t automatically a substitute for the tinned soup you’re looking for.

    If you specifically want soup in a tin, check the product’s stated packaging before choosing a recipe.

  • Treating best-before and use-by dates as the same

    The DGCCRF distinguishes between a minimum durability date (DDM, similar to a best-before date) and a use-by date (DLC). A food past its DDM isn’t necessarily unsafe to eat if the packaging is intact; a DLC must not be exceeded.

    Look for the exact wording on the packaging, check its condition and follow the storage instructions, particularly after opening.

  • Overlooking the salt in prepared soups

    Anses lists soups and broths among the foods that contribute to salt intake in France. Two recipes won’t necessarily have the same nutritional values.

    Compare the ‘salt’ figure in the nutritional information for equivalent portions, and read the ingredients list.

Soup brands to know

Carrefour Classic’

Carrefour’s range of liquid soups in cartons, including 1 L recipes and 2 × 30 cl packs.

  • A choice of pack sizes makes it easier to find the right number of portions.
  • A carton won’t meet your needs if you’re specifically looking for soup in a tin.

Régal Soupe / Marque Repère

E.Leclerc’s range of soups in cartons, with 1 L recipes and smaller sizes.

  • Different pack sizes let you tailor your purchase to the meals you have planned.
  • Check the volume of each recipe: the pack sizes in the range aren’t interchangeable.

Les Printanières

ALDI’s own-brand range of liquid soups and veloutés.

  • You can compare liquid recipes by their volume and label.
  • Check the pack size and availability of the recipe you want before making a trip.

SIMPLEMENT BON & BIO®

ALDI’s range of organic soups, including vegetable recipes.

  • The range offers organic soup options across its recipes.
  • The organic label alone doesn’t tell you the salt content or other nutritional values of each recipe.

Royco

A brand of instant soups in sachets; Auchan lists packs of four sachets for 20 cl portions.

  • Sachets let you prepare portions separately.
  • This is soup that needs to be reconstituted, not tinned soup that’s ready to serve.

Joybuy products

Products related to this topic will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does instant soup contain the same quantity as soup in a carton?

Not necessarily. For instant soup, check the volume once prepared and the number of portions. For soup in a carton, look at the volume of soup ready to serve.

Why check the ‘salt’ value of a soup?

It lets you compare the salt content of different recipes for equivalent portions. Anses lists soups and broths among the foods that contribute to salt intake in France.

Should you throw away soup that’s past its DDM?

Not automatically. According to the DGCCRF, food can be eaten after its minimum durability date if the packaging is intact, although some of its qualities may have changed. Don’t confuse this date with a DLC, which must not be exceeded, and follow the storage instructions.

How should you store soup after opening?

Follow the storage conditions and use-by period after opening shown on the packaging. The DGCCRF explains that once the packaging has been opened, the original date alone is no longer enough to determine how to store the product.