To prepare a vegan meal while keeping control of the seasoning, choose plain rice with rice as its only ingredient. You can then decide what to add during cooking. Check the salt and ingredients for each quick-cook pouch individually; rice cakes labelled ‘no added salt’ are better suited to a snack than as a side dish.
You want to put together your own plant-based dish and decide how it’s seasoned. The Auchan product pages for the two Taureau Ailé plain rice varieties covered here list salt at 0 g and 0.01 g per 100 g. The Anses also advises paying attention to salt added during preparation.
You’re looking for something quick to prepare, but don’t assume every pouch has the same ingredients. The Auchan product pages for Taureau Ailé’s rice for salads and bowls and its Escale à Mexico recipe list different salt levels. Check the ingredients for your chosen recipe, too.
You want something to top with your favourite ingredients rather than rice to serve as a side. The Bjorg rice and buckwheat cakes described by Auchan and Carrefour are labelled ‘no added salt’. Choosing a topping is a separate decision.
First, choose a format to suit your meal or snack, then check the ingredients and the salt per 100 g for the specific product. Dry rice, rice cakes and a prepared pouch all have different uses, so the salt figure alone doesn’t make them interchangeable.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Salt in rice for cooking | The salt per 100 g, the ingredients and how you plan to season it during cooking. | If I’m making a side dish, I’d rather decide for myself how much salt to add. Around 42% of shoppers prioritise having this control over salt. |
| Convenience of a pouch | The full ingredients list, salt per 100 g and the portion you’ll eat. | When I’m short on time, I look for rice that’s quick to prepare and suits my vegan shop. Convenience is the main priority for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Rice cakes with no added salt | The exact wording on the rice cakes, their salt content and the ingredients in the topping. | For a snack to top, I want a crunchy base with no added salt rather than a portion of rice. This format comes first for around 33% of shoppers. |
A low salt figure on the label doesn’t, by itself, mean the product carries a reduced-salt claim. In the European Union, nutrition claims are regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
When choosing between products, check the exact wording, the salt per 100 g and the ingredients. Then consider how much you plan to eat.
The respective Auchan product pages list 0.21 g of salt per 100 g for the Taureau Ailé rice for salads and bowls pouch, and 0.74 g per 100 g for the Escale à Mexico recipe. These are prepared products, whereas the plain rice varieties covered here list rice as their only ingredient.
If you want to choose your own seasoning, start with plain rice. If saving time matters more, check each pouch and its portion individually.
A recipe’s name doesn’t necessarily tell you everything that’s in it. Any stock, sauces and flavourings also matter when choosing a product.
Check the full ingredients list on the pack you buy and look for a vegan label, if one is shown.
Rice cakes to top make a base for a snack or an open sandwich; they don’t serve the same culinary purpose as rice prepared to accompany a dish.
Choose them for that specific use and check the ingredients of anything you add on top.
The differences below relate to the products mentioned, not to each brand’s full range.
The Auchan product pages covered here include two plain rice varieties for cooking, as well as precooked and prepared pouches.
The long-grain and wholegrain rice products described by Carrefour are both bases to cook with.
The rice and buckwheat cakes described by Auchan and Carrefour are a base for a snack or an open sandwich.
No. ‘No added salt’ refers to salt added to the product, while a reduced-content claim involves a comparison governed by European rules on nutrition claims. Check the exact wording and final salt content on the label. Don’t assume the product is reduced salt based on the figure alone.
Yes. If the ingredients list for that product contains rice alone, you can use it in a vegan recipe. Check the ingredients in any sauces, mixes and seasonings you add separately.
If you want to limit the amount of salt added to your meal, you can cook the rice without salting the water. The Anses recommends paying attention to food labels and limiting added salt during preparation and at mealtimes.
No. The Anses warns that potassium-based salt substitutes may pose risks for some people. If you’re considering using one and are unsure whether it’s suitable for you, ask a healthcare professional for advice.