When choosing organic peeled tomatoes to keep in your cupboard, first check for the EU organic logo and the information that accompanies it. Then compare the ingredients and how much you’ll use once the tin is open. A 400 g tin can help keep leftovers to a minimum for a smaller recipe; an 800 g tin is suitable if you plan to use its contents within the time stated for the product you choose. If your recipe calls for no added salt, check that this is specified on the exact product.
If organic certification is your top priority, don’t rely on the colour of the packaging or the word ‘natural’. For the relevant prepacked foods, the European Commission says that the EU organic logo identifies a certified product. Also check the code of the control body and the indication of origin.
If you use whole tomatoes as the base for a sauce or slow-cooked dish, choose a quantity that suits your recipe. Mutti and Cirio offer 400 g products, while Auchan lists an 800 g product for Jardin BiO étic. Compare the sizes with the amount you plan to cook.
If you cook smaller portions, check the instructions for after opening before choosing a larger tin. Auchan’s product listings for 240 g and 800 g products give different time limits, so the tin’s weight alone won’t tell you how long you can keep the leftovers.
When stocking up on organic peeled tomatoes, start with the organic labelling. Then compare the recipe, the quantity you need for your dishes and the instructions to follow once the tin is open.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Look for the EU organic logo, the control body code and the indication of origin of the agricultural raw materials near the logo. | If I’m making room in my cupboard for organic products, I want to be able to tell certification apart from a simple ‘natural’ presentation. Around 36% of consumers put this check first. |
| Ingredients and salt | Read the ingredients list and nutritional information; look for an explicit statement if you want a recipe with no added salt. | When I make my own sauce, I want to know what’s in the tin before seasoning it. Ingredients are the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Recipe and quantity | Compare the net weight and the presentation of the whole tomatoes with the quantity your dish requires. | For a slow-cooked dish or several portions of sauce, I look for a suitable quantity without having to open several tins. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this type of cooking use. |
| Leftovers after opening | Check the time limit and storage conditions after opening for the product you choose. | If I only use some of the tin, I need to be able to use the rest within the stated time. Avoiding leftovers is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Italian origin or a short ingredients list alone doesn’t certify that a tin is organic. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo is reserved for products certified by an authorised control body.
For a relevant prepacked tin, check the logo, control code and indication of origin before comparing brands.
Instructions vary between products: Auchan’s listings state that a 240 g Jardin BiO étic product should be used within two days of opening, while the 800 g product should be used within three days.
Choose a size to suit your recipe and plan to use the leftovers within the time stated on the tin.
Any quantity you can’t use within that time may go to waste.
Organic certification and having no added salt are based on different criteria. One Jardin BiO étic product is listed as having no added salt, but this doesn’t apply to all organic peeled tomatoes.
If you want to control the amount of salt in your dish, check the statement on the product you choose and look at the ‘salt’ line in the nutritional information.
Anses distinguishes between the best-before date (DDM) and the use-by date (DLC). The date on a closed tin doesn’t replace the instructions that apply once it has been opened.
Read the exact wording of the date, follow the storage instructions for the unopened tin, then follow the product’s specific instructions after opening.
Mutti offers its Pelati Bio peeled tomatoes in a 400 g tin, worth considering if this size suits your recipes.
Cirio offers a 400 g product of organic peeled tomatoes for tomato-based dishes.
E.Leclerc’s Bio Village range includes a 400 g product of whole organic peeled tomatoes.
Jardin BiO étic offers whole organic peeled tomatoes in the 240 g and 800 g sizes listed by Auchan.
For prepacked organic food produced and sold in the European Union, look for the EU organic logo, the control body code and the indication of origin of the agricultural raw materials. The European Commission states that this logo can only be used for products certified by an authorised body.
No, the organic label doesn’t mean that tomatoes are the only ingredient. Product listings from Mutti, Cirio and E.Leclerc describe products containing organic tomatoes, organic tomato juice and citric acid. Check the ingredients list on the tin you choose.
Follow the time limit and storage instructions on your tin, as they vary by product. Auchan’s product listings state that a 240 g Jardin BiO étic product should be used within two days of opening and the 800 g product within three days. A 240 g Rochefontaine product should be refrigerated in a non-metallic container and used within two days.
A best-before date (DDM) doesn’t mean the same as a use-by date. Anses states that a product may lose some of its taste or nutritional qualities after its best-before date. Check the condition of the tin and follow its storage instructions, then follow the specific instructions for after opening.