Joybuy

Who is this choice for?

Shoppers who look for organic certification

You’d like to add sardines to your organic shop and understand whether the organic claim applies to the tin as a whole, an agricultural ingredient or the sardines themselves.

Households stocking up on tinned food

You’re looking for several tins to keep in the cupboard and want to compare the weight of each tin as well as the total amount in the pack.

Shoppers who pay attention to the recipe

You choose according to the meals you have planned: whole sardines or boneless fillets, the type of oil and the seasoning.

Which criteria should you prioritise?

Start by deciding what you expect from the organic claim. The pack size and recipe can then help you choose between packs that meet your needs.

Criterion	What to check	Who is it for?
What the organic claim covers	Read the ingredients list and check exactly which ingredient is identified as organic. For a tin sold as organic, also look for the EU organic logo and the code of the certification body on the packaging.	If I’m putting together an organic basket, I want to know exactly what the certification covers before choosing the pack size. Around 50% of shoppers would make this their main priority.
Pack size	Compare the number of tins, the weight of each one and the total weight: packs listed range from 3 × 70 g to 3 × 135 g.	When stocking the cupboard, I look for tins in quantities that suit the meals I have planned, rather than relying on the word ‘family’. Pack size would come first for around 30% of shoppers.
Recipe and bones	Check whether the pack contains whole sardines or boneless fillets, then look at the oil and other ingredients in the specific recipe.	When the household’s tastes determine what goes in the cupboard, I choose a preparation everyone can use in the meals we have planned. This would be the main criterion for around 20% of shoppers.

What not to confuse

Assuming organic oil means wild sardines are organic

An organic claim relating to an agricultural ingredient does not necessarily describe the status of the sardines. INAO states that organic standards cover products from organic farming and aquaculture, among others. So it’s important to check exactly what the claim applies to when choosing tinned sardines.

Read the ingredients list and certification information on the tin. Don’t assume that everything is organic based on the product name alone.
Comparing packs by the number of tins alone

Three 70 g tins add up to 210 g, while three 135 g tins add up to 405 g. So the same number of tins can suit different uses.

Compare the weight of each tin with the meals you plan to make, then check the total amount.
Choosing a recipe without thinking about who’s eating

A pack of whole sardines won’t suit everyone looking for boneless fillets. The oil and seasoning also matter if you’re buying tins for several meals.

Check how the fish are prepared and read the ingredients for the exact product before buying several tins.
Confusing a product listing with local availability

When checked, the Carrefour listings for packs described as organic showed that they were unavailable for drive collection. A listing is useful for comparing product details, but it doesn’t guarantee you can add the pack to your local basket.

Select your store or collection point and check availability when you place your order. If you choose a different product, check its organic labelling again.

Brands and retailers to know

Saupiquet

Carrefour lists a 3 × 70 g pack of fillets in olive oil with an organic claim; Auchan lists another Saupiquet pack of boneless fillets in 3 × 100 g tins.

The two pack sizes make it easy to compare smaller tins of fillets with larger tins of boneless fillets.
Don’t assume the organic claim on the 70 g pack also applies to the 100 g boneless fillets: check the label of the product you choose.

Connétable

Auchan lists, among other options, a pack of sardines in extra virgin olive oil in 3 × 135 g tins.

The listing for this pack gives a recipe made with sardines, extra virgin olive oil and salt.
This ingredients list doesn’t identify any organic ingredients, so on that basis alone, this pack isn’t a substitute for a product chosen for its organic claim.

Carrefour

The retailer lists a pack of three 115 g tins of sardines in olive oil. The listing mentions an ‘ingredient certified organic’.

The weight per tin and the wording of the organic claim give you two specific details to check on the packaging.
The listing showed the product as unavailable for drive collection when checked; check your selected store before choosing this pack.

Auchan

Auchan listings include several pack sizes and recipes, including Connétable and Saupiquet packs.

Comparing these listings helps you distinguish between the weight per tin, whole sardines and boneless fillets.
A product appearing in the sardines section doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether it has organic certification.

Joybuy products

Frequently asked questions

Does an organic claim mean that wild sardines are organic?

Not necessarily: the claim may relate to an agricultural ingredient in the tin. The organic standards described by INAO and the European Commission cover farming and aquaculture, among other things. Read the ingredients list and certification information on the packaging to understand exactly what the claim applies to.

How do I choose the right size pack of sardines for my household?

Start by comparing the weight per tin with the meals you have planned. The packs listed by Carrefour and Auchan include sizes of 3 × 70 g, 3 × 100 g, 3 × 115 g and 3 × 135 g, among others. ‘Family pack’ alone doesn’t tell you how much you’ll open for each meal.

Does an online listing guarantee that a pack is available for drive collection?

No. Check availability after selecting your store or collection point. When checked, the Carrefour listings for packs with an organic claim showed that they were unavailable for drive collection. If you choose a different product, check its labelling too.