People keeping an eye on sugars
You compare the amount of sugars per 100 g with the ingredients list, without assuming that this information alone proves a nutrition claim.
Who is this choice for?
People stocking their kitchen cupboard for the first time
You’re looking for rice that’s quick to prepare, and which you can pair with a sauce or accompaniment of your choice.
People who prefer a seasoned recipe
You want a pouch that’s already prepared with tomatoes or herbs, and would also like to compare its sugars, salt and ingredients.
What should you look for first?
First decide between a base you can season yourself and a ready-to-serve recipe, then compare the nutritional information using the same 100 g measure. Product pages from E.Leclerc and Auchan list 0.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Comptoir du Grain plain express rice, compared with 2.5 g for Ben’s Original Méditerranéen and 2.3 g for Auchan Provençale. These figures apply to these specific products, not every recipe of each type.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, then check the exact recipe for any sweetening ingredients. | I want to choose my rice with its sugars in mind and stay in control of what I add to the meal. This would be the top priority for around 45% of consumers. |
| Quick preparation | Check the cooking time, preparation method and pouch size. | For my first meals, I mainly need a simple source of carbohydrates that doesn’t involve lots of steps. Around 33% of consumers would put convenience first. |
| Seasoned recipe | Check the recipe, sugars and salt per 100 g, as well as any listed allergens. | If I don’t have sauces or spices yet, I’d prefer rice that’s already seasoned. This would be the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing a low sugar figure with the ‘reduced sugars’ claim
A nutritional value describes the product; on its own, it doesn’t establish that the product carries a particular claim. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that nutrition claims are regulated.
If this claim is important to your purchase, check that it appears on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen. Also read the ‘of which sugars’ figure and the ingredients list.
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Comparing portions of different sizes
A figure per portion and one per 100 g don’t provide the same basis for comparing two pouches.
Compare the figures per 100 g first, then check the pouch weight and the portion you plan to serve.
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Looking only at sugars
Salt and ingredients can also affect your choice. Auchan product pages list 0.56 g of salt per 100 g for Ben’s Original Méditerranéen and 0.59 g for Auchan Provençale.
After checking the sugars, look at the salt, ingredients list and any allergens listed on the pouch you’re interested in.
Express rice brands to know
Ben’s Original
The range includes plain, wholegrain and seasoned options. Carrefour and Auchan product pages for the products featured state that they take two minutes in the microwave or three minutes in a frying pan.
- According to Carrefour, the wholegrain rice product featured contains steamed parboiled wholegrain rice (98%) and sunflower oil.
- According to Auchan, the Méditerranéen recipe featured contains sugar in its ingredients and has 2.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Ingredients vary by recipe.
Comptoir du Grain
This E.Leclerc brand offers plain express rice, among other products.
- The E.Leclerc product page for the plain pouch lists four ingredients and 0.1 g of sugars per 100 g.
- This figure applies to the plain product featured. Check the label if you choose a different recipe.
Auchan
The range includes Provençale-style rice in a 250 g pouch, described as serving two people.
- Auchan’s product page for this recipe says it takes two minutes to prepare in the microwave.
- It lists 2.3 g of sugars and 0.59 g of salt per 100 g. It’s worth comparing both figures for a seasoned recipe.
Related Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is rice with no added sugar always ‘reduced in sugars’?
No. ‘No added sugars’ and ‘reduced in sugars’ are separate claims, and neither should be inferred from an ingredients list or a low sugar figure. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that nutrition claims are regulated. Check the exact claim on the product and compare its figures per 100 g separately.
What should you read on a rice pouch when doing your first food shop?
Start with the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g, particularly the sugars and salt. Then check any listed allergens, the net quantity, the date and the preparation instructions for the pouch you’ve chosen.
How should you store an express rice pouch after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the pouch and check the stated time limit after opening. Don’t assume that the instructions for one recipe apply to all the others.