If you’re looking for canned soup and keeping an eye on sugar, compare the ‘sugars’ line on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 ml where that unit is given, and compare soups that are ready to eat. Then check the ingredients, allergens and packaging. If you’re actually shopping for biscuits for your Christmas baking, comparing soups won’t help you choose.
You want to choose between pre-packed soups without confusing the figures for a ready-to-eat product with those for a dried mix. The nutrition declaration, as described by the DGCCRF, helps you find the ‘sugars’ line and see which unit is used.
You’re looking for a convenient format, but certain ingredients or allergens may affect your choice. Carrefour’s product information for dried soups shows that the Royco and Knorr recipes mentioned contain different ingredients, so it’s worth checking each pack individually.
When choosing pre-packed soup and keeping an eye on sugar, start by deciding what matters most to you: the nutritional comparison, whether the ingredients suit you, or the format.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | The ‘sugars’ line, using the same unit and comparing soups in their ready-to-eat state; for a sachet, check the figures after reconstitution if they’re shown on the pack. | If I’m choosing between two soups, I want to compare what I’ll actually eat, rather than comparing a powder with a soup that’s already prepared; around 44% of consumers prioritise comparing sugar this way. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list and any allergens highlighted for each recipe. | If certain ingredients are a problem for me, their presence may rule out a recipe even if I’m interested in its sugar content; around 33% of consumers prioritise ingredient suitability. |
| Format and preparation | The exact packaging, number of portions and preparation required. | When I’m planning meals over the festive season, I look for packaging and preparation that suit the way I organise things; around 23% of consumers put format and convenience first. |
These claims don’t replace the amount of sugars shown in the nutrition declaration. The DGCCRF explains that this includes a ‘sugars’ line.
Read the exact wording on the pack, then compare the nutritional values of like-for-like soups.
A dried mix and a liquid soup are shown in different states. Comparing their figures without taking reconstitution into account could lead you to the wrong choice.
For a sachet, use the figures for the reconstituted soup if they’re provided, and make sure you’re using the same unit as for the liquid soup.
The dried Royco and Knorr soup recipes featured by Carrefour include wheat-based ingredients. The Knorr recipe mentioned also contains egg and soya.
Check the ingredients list and highlighted allergens on the product you’re buying, even if you already know the name.
Comparing soups helps you choose a soup to eat; it won’t help you pick biscuits for baking.
If you’re buying biscuits for a Christmas recipe, compare biscuits in their own category before adding them to your basket.
Royco features several ranges of dried soups on its French website.
In its French range, Carrefour offers liquid soups under the Carrefour and Carrefour Classic’ brands, alongside other brands.
Carrefour’s range includes a dried Knorr sweet and sour Chinese soup.
Compare the ‘sugars’ line using the same unit and for soups that are ready to eat. For a sachet mix, use the figures after reconstitution if they’re provided. The DGCCRF explains that the nutrition declaration gives sugars per 100 g or 100 ml, among other values.
No. Seeing the word ‘sugar’ in the ingredients list isn’t enough to tell you how much sugar the product contains. Also check the ‘sugars’ line in the nutritional information, using a comparable unit.
Check the allergens listed for the specific recipe you’re thinking of buying. Carrefour’s product information for dried Royco and Knorr soups mentions wheat, among other ingredients; the Knorr recipe mentioned also lists egg and soya. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the label.
No. This claim doesn’t replace comparing the nutritional values of soups that are ready to eat. Nutrition claims are covered by European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. Read the exact wording on the pack and compare the ‘sugars’ line using the same unit.