If you want to check the ingredients easily, start by comparing plain organic lentils, chickpeas, beans and split peas. Jars, tins and prepared pouches save time, but you’ll need to check the ingredients and allergen information more carefully. The organic logo confirms organic certification; it doesn’t mean a product is lactose-free.
Plain organic pulses are a good starting point if you want a short ingredient list. Even so, read the label on pre-packed products. For prepared recipes, pay particular attention to dairy ingredients and declared allergens.
Organic pulses that are already cooked in a jar, tin or pouch save you having to cook them from dried. Compare the added ingredients and nutritional information for each recipe.
Look for organic certification on the packaging, then choose between dried pulses that you cook yourself and a ready-to-use format, depending on how much preparation time suits you.
First decide how much preparation you want to do, then check the organic certification and the product’s ingredients separately.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients list and check any highlighted allergens, especially for prepared recipes. If you need to avoid milk, don’t rely on a ‘lactose-free’ label alone. | When buying a prepared recipe, I want to be able to spot dairy ingredients before I buy it; around 50% of consumers make checking the ingredients a priority. |
| Preparation | Compare the format, stated serving sizes and instructions: dried pulses to cook or pulses that are already cooked. | When I’m short on time, I prefer pulses that are already cooked rather than having to cook them myself; this convenience is a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Organic certification | Look for the relevant certification on the packaging. The European Commission states that the EU organic logo is reserved for products certified by an approved control body. | If organic status guides my choice, I want to be able to identify it on the product, whatever the format; around 20% of consumers would make it their top priority. |
Organic certification and the ingredients in a recipe answer two different questions. An organic lentil dish may contain other ingredients.
Look for the organic logo to check certification, then read the ingredients list and allergen information to see whether the product suits your needs.
A ready-to-heat recipe may contain extra ingredients. Auchan’s product information for a pouch of prepared lentils and chickpeas, for example, warns that it may contain traces of soya.
Before switching formats, compare the ingredients, allergens and salt content per 100 g.
French Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie) distinguishes between difficulty digesting lactose and an allergy to milk proteins. So a ‘lactose-free’ label isn’t enough to assess a product if you have a milk allergy.
If you have a diagnosed or suspected allergy, follow your medical advice and check the allergens on every pack.
A range or product featured by a retailer may only be available at certain stores or at certain times. Lidl, for example, has featured several varieties of organic pulses as part of a time-limited offer.
Check the product and format at the store where you plan to shop.
A range worth exploring if you’re looking for dried organic lentils.
Dried organic lentils to compare with the ready-cooked options in Auchan’s range.
An organic pulses range to explore, depending on the time of year and the store.
A brand to consider for prepared organic lentil dishes, rather than for comparing plain pulses alone.
ALDI’s general organic range can be a useful reference when browsing its food selection.
No. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo identifies products covered by organic certification; it doesn’t tell you whether a product is lactose-free. Check the ingredients and allergen information on pre-packed products too.
Yes. A short ingredients list makes it easier to check what’s in a product, but other information may matter depending on your needs. For example, Carrefour warns that its organic green lentils may contain traces of gluten.
No. French Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie) distinguishes lactose intolerance from an allergy to milk proteins. If you have a milk allergy, don’t choose a product based on a ‘lactose-free’ claim alone: check the allergen information and follow the medical advice you’ve been given.
Compare the values per 100 g rather than servings of different sizes. France’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) states that nutritional information is given per 100 g or 100 ml. For a prepared recipe, check the ingredients and salt content too.