Who is this choice for?

Employees putting together lunch at work

You want a ready-cooked base to pair with other foods, without needing to soak or cook anything on site. Manger Bouger recommends tinned or jarred pulses for making quick recipes.

People keeping an eye on added sugars

You want to distinguish the amount of sugars shown in the nutrition information from a ‘no added sugars’ claim, without assuming that ‘reduced sugar’ appears on the product.

People who have lunch on their own

You want a portion that suits one meal, or you can store any leftovers according to the pack instructions once opened.

What should you check before buying?

For a quick lunch at work, first decide what matters most to you: preparation on site, checking the sugars, portion size or what else to include in your meal. Then check the relevant details on the packaging.

Criterion What to check Who it matters to
Quick preparation Choose chickpeas that are already cooked and check the instructions for serving them cold. If I need to put my lunch together at work, I want to avoid soaking and cooking. Around 33% of consumers would put speed first.
Checking sugars Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g with the ingredients; look for a ‘no added sugars’ claim if this is important to you. I want to know whether the product I choose actually carries a claim about added sugars, rather than trying to infer this from the nutrition table. This would be a priority for around 27% of consumers.
Portions and leftovers Check the drained weight and storage instructions once opened. When I have lunch on my own, I prefer an amount I can finish or store as directed. Around 20% of consumers would put portion management first.
What else to include in your meal Compare the salt per 100 g and plan what else to have with your lunch. I want to choose my tin with the salt content in mind, then decide what to serve with the chickpeas. Around 20% of consumers would put what else to include in the meal ahead of other criteria.

Things to avoid getting wrong

  • Assuming a low sugar figure means ‘reduced sugar’

    The ‘of which sugars’ line shows the amount in the product concerned; on its own, it does not demonstrate a reduction compared with another product. A Bonduelle product featured by Auchan carries a separate ‘no added sugars’ claim.

    For the product you’re thinking of buying, check the nutrition information, ingredients and exact wording on the packaging.

  • Choosing a large pack without planning for leftovers

    Once opened, a tin needs to be stored according to the instructions. For one product we looked at, Auchan says to transfer the contents to an airtight container, keep them in the fridge and eat them within two days.

    Compare the drained weight with the amount you expect to use for your meals. Choose a smaller pack if you can’t store the leftovers as directed.

    Any portion you don’t use could go to waste if you keep it longer than the stated storage time after opening.

  • Overlooking the salt in plain chickpeas

    Plain tinned chickpeas don’t all contain the same amount of salt: the product listings from Monoprix and Notre Jardin at E.Leclerc show 0.4 g and 0.7 g per 100 g respectively for the products concerned.

    Compare the ‘salt’ line per 100 g for the products you’re interested in, and follow the instructions for draining or rinsing them.

  • Assuming all products carry the same allergen information

    The listing for Monoprix Bio’s 120 g plain chickpeas warns that they may contain traces of cereals containing gluten, sesame and soya. This information applies to that specific product.

    If allergen information is important to your purchase, check the label on the product you choose.

Brands and retailers to know

Carrefour

Carrefour’s range includes Carrefour Classic’ and Carrefour Bio chickpeas in several pack sizes.

  • The range of pack sizes makes it easier to find an amount that suits one meal or several uses.
  • Check the ingredients and nutrition information for the product you choose: the pack size doesn’t tell you what it contains.

Auchan

Auchan offers its own-brand chickpeas in several pack sizes, as well as POUCE and Bonduelle products.

  • Listings for some products give details of the ingredients, nutrition information and storage instructions after opening.
  • Auchan says that the ingredients may vary depending on the online grocery service and date of purchase, so check the label on the product you receive.

Notre Jardin / Marque Repère (E.Leclerc)

E.Leclerc’s listing for 530 g of Notre Jardin chickpeas shows soaked chickpeas, water and salt.

  • This product lists 0.7 g of sugars and 0.7 g of salt per 100 g, so you can compare both figures on the same basis.
  • E.Leclerc also sells dried chickpeas, which need soaking and cooking before you can use them.

Bonduelle

A Bonduelle product of cooked chickpeas in very little juice is sold in a multipack on the Auchan listing we checked.

  • This product carries a ‘no added sugars’ claim and lists chickpeas, water and salt as its ingredients.
  • The claim and ingredients apply to this product only, so check them if you choose a different Bonduelle product.

Monoprix

Monoprix offers 530 g of ready-to-use chickpeas and a 120 g product of plain organic chickpeas.

  • The 530 g ready-to-use pack lists chickpeas, water and salt, and contains 0.4 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The 120 g organic product may contain traces of cereals containing gluten, sesame and soya. Check its specific information before buying.

Chickpeas available on Joybuy

These two GÜNES VADIS pack sizes are options for choosing a base to put together a lunch at work. Compare the stated quantities, then check the ingredients, sugars, drained weight and storage instructions after opening for the product you choose.

GÜNES VADIS chickpeas 820 g

GÜNES VADIS chickpeas 820 g

A pack size to consider if you’re planning to use the chickpeas for several lunches. The product name states 820 g; check the drained weight and storage instructions before deciding on portions.

View on Joybuy
GÜNES VADIS chickpeas 540 g

GÜNES VADIS chickpeas 540 g

Another pack size to consider for putting together lunch at work. The product name states 540 g; check the drained weight, instructions and nutrition information for this product to decide how much to use.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does a low sugar figure mean ‘reduced sugar’?

No. The ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g does not, on its own, prove a reduction compared with another product. If you’re choosing chickpeas based on this, check the exact wording on the packaging. If you’re looking for ‘no added sugars’, check for that claim and read the ingredients list for the product.

Is one tin of chickpeas enough to put together lunch at work?

Chickpeas can be the base for a lunch, with other foods added to suit the meal you have in mind. Manger Bouger recommends tinned or jarred pulses for quick recipes; you could pair them with vegetables or a grain-based food.

Should you rinse chickpeas before serving them cold?

Follow the instructions for the product you choose. The POUCE listing featured by Auchan says to drain and rinse the chickpeas before using them cold, while the Bonduelle product we checked says to drain them before serving.

How long can you keep chickpeas after opening?

It depends on the product. For its 530 g chickpeas, Auchan says to keep them in the fridge in an airtight container and eat them within two days. Check the instructions on the packaging you buy and choose your pack size accordingly.