People who make breakfast at home
For crêpes, pancakes, cakes or homemade pastries, check that the oil you choose is suitable for cooking and that you like its flavour.
Who is this guide for?
People who care about organic certification
If organic status is your top priority, look for a claim that applies to the oil itself rather than relying solely on words such as “natural” or “organic”.
People who care about origin
If traceability guides your choice, distinguish between the origin of the sunflower seeds, where the oil is made and its organic certification. These details don’t mean the same thing.
What should you check?
For a sweet recipe, first check the organic claim and whether the oil is suitable for cooking. Then consider the flavour you can expect, the pack size and how it fits in with the other oils you use.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic status | Check the product for an organic designation, the EU organic logo or certification details. | I want to be able to confirm that the oil I’m choosing for my recipes is organic before settling on a brand. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Flavour and cooking | Check that the product is suitable for cooking. If you don’t know what it tastes like, try it in a small batch first. | I don’t want the oil to overpower the flavour of my crêpe or cake batter. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Pack size and availability | Choose a size that suits how often you use oil, and check availability at your retailer. | If I only cook occasionally, I’d rather choose a bottle I can use and store in line with its label instructions. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
| Quantity and variety | Measure out the amount needed for your recipe, and check the nutrition information without assuming the organic label means the oil has nutritional benefits. | I want to use this oil in sweet recipes without making it my only everyday cooking oil. For around 14% of consumers, portion size and variety come first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Taking “natural” or “organic” to mean certified organic
These words don’t replace an organic claim that applies to the oil you’re choosing. France’s Ministry of Agriculture points out that organic farming is covered by a European regulatory framework.
Read the product name and certification details on the bottle or its full product listing.
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Assuming virgin oil will taste neutral in a cake
E.Leclerc and Auchan describe their Bio Village and Auchan Bio products as virgin oils suitable for cooking. This doesn’t guarantee how the oil will taste in your recipe.
If you’re after a subtle flavour, try the oil in a small sweet recipe first.
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Choosing a pack size without considering how you’ll use it
The Carrefour Bio, Bio Village and Auchan Bio products mentioned here come in 75 cl bottles, compared with 1 L for the Lesieur product. A larger bottle is only useful if it suits the way you cook and the storage instructions on the label.
Check the volume and availability at your retailer, then follow the storage instructions on the bottle you choose.
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Confusing organic certification with a balanced breakfast
Organic certification alone doesn’t determine how much fat you add to a recipe. Manger Bouger advises consuming added fats in small amounts and choosing oils such as rapeseed, walnut and olive oil.
Measure the oil you use in your recipe and consider your other cooking needs when choosing your oils.
Brands to know for this choice
These products have different details to consider, including how to use them, pack size and origin. They don’t guarantee how the oil will taste in a sweet recipe.
Carrefour Bio
Carrefour offers organic sunflower oil in a 75 cl bottle.
- The product name and pack size are listed on Carrefour’s product page.
- To compare this oil with a virgin oil for your recipes, check the usage information and ingredients on the packaging of the product you choose.
Bio Village
E.Leclerc offers 75 cl of organic virgin sunflower oil for dressing and cooking.
- E.Leclerc’s product page distinguishes between the oil being made in France and the sunflower seeds being of European origin.
- The term “virgin” alone doesn’t tell you whether the oil will taste subtle in crêpes or cake.
Auchan Bio
Auchan offers 75 cl of organic virgin sunflower oil for cooking and dressing.
- Auchan’s product page lists organic virgin sunflower oil as the ingredient and displays the Eurofeuille, AB and FR-BIO-01 certification details.
- These details alone can’t tell you how the oil will taste in every sweet recipe.
Lesieur
Auchan’s product page for Lesieur Cœur de Tournesol Bio shows a 1 L bottle for dressing, cooking and deep-frying.
- The product page states that it contains 100% organic sunflower oil of French origin.
- The recommended maximum temperature of 175 °C for deep-frying applies to this product. It doesn’t describe the flavour you’ll get in baking or the properties of other Lesieur oils.
Joybuy products related to this choice
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if sunflower oil is organic?
Look for an organic claim linked to the product, such as its designation, the EU organic logo or its certification details. France’s Ministry of Agriculture points out that organic farming is covered by European regulations; the word “natural” alone doesn’t confirm organic status.
Is organic virgin sunflower oil suitable for crêpes and cakes?
It can be, as long as the product is suitable for cooking. E.Leclerc and Auchan, for example, present their Bio Village and Auchan Bio virgin oils as suitable for cooking. If you’re after a subtle flavour, try the oil in a small batch before using it in a full recipe.
Is the organic label enough to choose an oil for everyday use?
No. The organic label tells you about how the oil is produced, not whether all your dietary choices are balanced. Manger Bouger advises consuming added fats in small amounts and choosing oils such as rapeseed, walnut and olive oil.
How should you store an opened bottle?
Follow the instructions for the bottle you choose. The Auchan Bio and Lesieur product pages say to store the oil away from heat and light. The Auchan Bio page also says to close the bottle tightly after use.
Do “origin France” and “made in France” mean the same thing?
No. These phrases describe different details, so check them for each product. E.Leclerc states that the Bio Village oil is made in France using sunflower seeds of European origin, while Auchan’s product page for Lesieur Cœur de Tournesol Bio states that the sunflower oil is of French origin.