If sugar content matters for your lunch at work, start with plain fillets: Petit Navire’s Vapeur Nature range lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g, while Saupiquet’s plain fillets contain less than 0.5 g per 100 g. A recipe in olive oil or sauce may also suit your preferences, but compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure, the ingredients and the basis used for the nutritional values on the tin you choose. If you can’t refrigerate leftovers, choose a size you can finish in one sitting, too.
You want to see a clear sugar figure and choose a simple recipe, rather than relying on a claim on the packaging. The plain varieties mentioned by Petit Navire and Saupiquet list 0 g and less than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, respectively.
You’re looking for a tin you can store until lunchtime, without having to deal with leftovers afterwards. For the Saupiquet varieties mentioned, the instructions say to store them in a cool, dry place before opening, then refrigerate and consume within two days once opened.
You’d like a mustard, tomato or olive oil recipe that saves you from bringing separate seasoning. Depending on the variety, you’ll also need to compare the ingredients, allergens, sugars and nutritional values.
Choose these if: you prefer a simple recipe and a sugar figure that’s easy to check. Petit Navire lists 0 g per 100 g for its Vapeur Nature fillets; Saupiquet lists less than 0.5 g per 100 g for its plain fillets.
Bear in mind: bring seasoning if you want it, and compare the salt content too: the two varieties mentioned list 1.0 g and 1.2 g per 100 g, respectively.
Choose this if: you prefer a recipe that’s already seasoned. Saupiquet lists less than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g of drained product for its grilled fillets in extra virgin olive oil.
Compare: this variety lists 252 kcal per 100 g drained; check whether the other nutritional values you’re looking at are also for the drained product.
Choose this if: mustard or tomato sauce saves you from bringing separate seasoning, and you’re happy to compare each recipe individually.
Check: sugar is listed as an ingredient in the Carrefour Extra mustard recipe and the Petit Navire tomato recipe mentioned; the mustard also adds an allergen to check.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and the ingredients list for the exact variety. | If I want to keep sugars down at lunchtime, I need to be able to tell the listed amount apart from a simple marketing claim. Around 42% of consumers would put this criterion first. |
| Size and storage | Check the tin’s weight and the instructions for storing it after opening, especially if there’s no fridge at work. | If I can’t keep leftovers chilled, I’d rather have a tin I can finish at lunchtime; this would come first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Seasoned recipe | Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare nutritional values on the same basis, especially for drained product. | A ready-to-eat sauce means I don’t have to bring seasoning, as long as I’m happy with the ingredients. This would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
The plain varieties mentioned by Petit Navire and Saupiquet list 0 g or less than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, while some sauces include sugar in their ingredients. A search term alone doesn’t tell you what’s in a particular tin.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure and ingredients for each variety, using the same 100 g basis.
For the Saupiquet varieties mentioned, the instructions say to refrigerate the product after opening and consume it within two days.
Choose a size you can finish at lunch, or make sure you can store leftovers according to the instructions on the tin.
Without a fridge for leftovers, an opened tin could go to waste.
For a recipe in oil, a value given per 100 g drained doesn’t necessarily reflect how much you consume if you eat the oil too.
Check whether the values are for the drained product or the product as sold, then consider what you actually eat.
The Carrefour Extra wholegrain mustard recipe lists fish and mustard, among other ingredients. Another sauce may have a different composition.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety you’re buying.
The varieties mentioned let you compare Vapeur Nature fillets with a tomato sauce recipe.
The varieties mentioned include plain fillets and fillets grilled in extra virgin olive oil.
The variety mentioned is a 169 g tin of mackerel fillets in wholegrain mustard.
Read the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, then check the ingredients list for each tin. Petit Navire lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g for its Vapeur Nature fillets, while Saupiquet lists less than 0.5 g per 100 g for its plain fillets; a recipe in sauce may include sugar in its ingredients. Also check whether the values are for the drained product.
The Saupiquet varieties mentioned can be stored in a cool, dry place before opening, away from sources of heat. Once opened, the instructions say to refrigerate them and consume within two days. If there’s no fridge, choose a size you can finish at lunchtime.
Check the information for the exact recipe, as the sauce may add ingredients to the fish. The Carrefour Extra wholegrain mustard variety lists fish and mustard, among other ingredients; don’t assume the same ingredients apply to another variety.
The net quantity, ingredients and nutritional information help you compare the portion, recipe and values per 100 g. The DGCCRF notes that this information must be provided for pre-packed foods; also check the storage instructions for the tin you choose.