For a picnic, choose a jar explicitly labelled ‘no added salt’ if salt content is your top priority, then compare the ‘salt’ value per 100 g. Rinsing a standard tin on its own won’t tell you how much salt will be in the finished salad. Plain chickpeas let you choose the seasoning, while pre-cooked lentils make preparation easier, but it’s worth checking their ingredients list. Once opened, follow the storage instructions on the jar and keep your food chilled.
If you want to compare the salt content before making your salad, start with the value per 100 g and the exact wording on the jar. Prosain describes its chickpeas and green lentils as ‘no added salt’ and states that these products contain less than 0.1 g of salt per 100 g.
If you want to put together a salad without cooking on site, Prosain’s product information says its chickpeas and green lentils can be served cold after draining. A plain recipe gives you more choice over the seasoning than a ready-made dish.
At Carrefour, E.Leclerc, Auchan, Lidl or Aldi, check the wording on the specific product, its ingredients list, the salt per 100 g and the drained weight. The supermarket’s name or the general ‘pulses’ category alone won’t tell you what’s in the jar you choose.
For a picnic salad, start by checking the salt content. Then choose between a plain recipe and a ready-made one, and check how much is left once drained to share.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt | Read the exact wording, the ingredients and the ‘salt’ value per 100 g. Compare values calculated on the same basis, particularly when one is for the drained product. | I want to know how much salt is listed for the pulses going into my salad, rather than relying on the word ‘organic’ or ‘plain’. This could be the main priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Serving cold | Check whether the product is intended to be served cold, and choose between a plain recipe and one that’s already prepared. | If I’m making the salad quickly, I want to know whether the pulses can be served cold and how much freedom the recipe gives me to add my own seasoning. Around 33% of consumers could prioritise this convenience. |
| Size and leftovers | Compare the drained weight and read the storage instructions for after opening. | For a small group, I want a quantity of pulses that suits the portions I’m planning, without opening a jar that’s too large to finish, even if I can keep the leftovers chilled. This could be a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
These claims don’t replace checking the ingredients. E.Leclerc’s product information for Eco+ chickpeas lists chickpeas, water and salt, and shows 0.7 g of salt per 100 g.
Check the exact wording, ingredients list and nutritional information per 100 g on the jar you’re buying.
The volume or net weight includes the liquid too. Priméal states that its 370 ml jar contains 215 g of drained chickpeas; Jardin BiO étic states that its 660 g jar contains 420 g of drained lentils.
Use the drained net weight to work out how much to share.
Storage instructions for after opening still matter during a summer picnic. Anses points out that low temperatures slow the growth of micro-organisms.
Follow the instructions on the jar after opening and plan to transport your food chilled, particularly if the salad contains other perishable ingredients.
Prosain offers organic chickpeas and organic green lentils in 345 g jars, both labelled ‘no added salt’.
Priméal offers organic plain chickpeas, grown in France and labelled ‘no added salt’, in a 370 ml jar.
Jardin BiO étic offers organic plain green lentils, grown in France and labelled ‘no added salt’, in a 660 g jar.
No, the two claims aren’t interchangeable. ‘No added salt’ means that no salt has been added to that particular recipe. When comparing jars, also check the ‘salt’ value per 100 g and the conditions stated on each label.
A plain recipe with a short ingredients list gives you the freedom to choose the seasoning. For the no-added-salt chickpeas mentioned here, Priméal and Prosain list chickpeas and water as the ingredients. Check the drained weight of your chosen size to plan the portions.
Yes. Prosain says its no-added-salt green lentils can be served cold in a salad after draining. The recipe also contains vegetables and herbs, so check the ingredients if you’d prefer a plain base.
Follow the instructions on the jar you’ve bought and keep the food chilled. For the Priméal and Jardin BiO étic products mentioned here, the product information says to refrigerate after opening and consume within two days. You should still keep the salad chilled while transporting it.