Who are these options for?

Diners keeping an eye on their salt intake

If you want to limit the salt in your side dish, compare a product clearly labelled ‘no added salt’ with plain frozen peas, then check the amount per 100 g on the product you choose.

Hosts short on time when serving

A tin or jar that just needs heating can make New Year’s Eve preparations easier. Still, check the ingredients and salt content: a claim about flavourings tells you nothing about added salt.

Shoppers choosing based on where they shop

If you shop online for collection or at a local store, check the format and label of the product you actually receive. Auchan says the ingredients in its extra-fine peas may vary depending on the collection service and purchase date.

What should you prioritise for New Year’s Eve?

Jar with no added salt

Choose this if: you want a jarred side dish while prioritising salt content. The Prosain jar featured by the brand contains less than 0.1 g of salt per 100 g.

Bear in mind: the Prosain recipe also contains onion, carrot, cane sugar and herbs and spices; it isn’t made from peas alone.

Plain frozen peas

Choose these if: you have freezer space and can cook the peas before the meal. The Bonduelle and Auchan products featured here each contain 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.

Bear in mind: you’ll need to cook them, and they can’t be stored in the same way as tinned peas.

Standard tinned peas

Choose these if: you want a side dish that’s easy to store and heat up.

Check: the standard tinned peas featured by Bonduelle, Auchan and Carrefour contain salt; ‘no added flavouring’ does not mean ‘no added salt’.

What to consider What to check Who is it for?
Salt content Compare the ‘salt’ value per 100 g, the ingredients list and, where applicable, the ‘no added salt’ claim. If I want to limit salt in my side dish, I need to be able to compare products using the same quantity. Around 42% of consumers would make salt content their main consideration.
Ease of serving Check the preparation instructions and how many peas you plan to serve. When the kitchen is already busy preparing the meal, I look for a vegetable that’s easy to serve. Ease of serving would be the priority for around 33% of consumers.
Pack size and local shopping Check the drained weight of tinned peas and the ingredients in the product stocked by your shop. If I shop at a particular retailer, I want to find a suitable pack size without relying on the label of a different product. For around 25% of consumers, pack size and local shopping would come first.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Confusing ‘no added flavouring’ with ‘no added salt’

    The Bonduelle tin labelled ‘Peas with no added flavouring’ contains salt and provides 0.49 g of salt per 100 g. These two claims describe different things.

    Read the ingredients list and the ‘salt’ value per 100 g, even if another claim is prominently displayed on the packaging.

  • Comparing pack sizes without considering how much you’ll serve

    A multipack of small tins and a large jar won’t necessarily provide the same amount of peas for your plate. The number of containers doesn’t tell you the drained weight.

    Work out how much you need for the meal using the drained weight, then compare the nutritional values per 100 g separately.

  • Assuming an online collection listing covers every product

    Auchan says the ingredients in its extra-fine peas may vary depending on the collection service and purchase date. So the listing you check in advance may differ from the product you receive.

    If salt content determines your choice, check it on the label of the tin or jar you receive.

  • Adding salt before tasting

    Standard tinned peas may already contain salt, and any seasoning you add when serving will change the salt content of your side dish.

    Taste the peas before adjusting the seasoning. Herbs or other flavourings may also work well in your recipe.

Brands to compare

Prosain

An option to consider if you’re looking for a jar of peas clearly labelled ‘no added salt’.

  • Prosain states that its organic extra-fine peas with no added salt contain less than 0.1 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The recipe includes onion, carrot, cane sugar and herbs and spices, among other ingredients, so check that it suits the dish you’re planning.

Bonduelle

Two different formats to compare: standard tinned peas and frozen peas precooked with steam.

  • The listing for Bonduelle’s sweet, tender peas precooked with steam lists only sweet peas and gives a salt content of 0.01 g per 100 g.
  • The tin labelled ‘Peas with no added flavouring’ contains salt and provides 0.49 g per 100 g. The frozen peas, meanwhile, need freezer space and cooking.

Auchan

Tinned and frozen options whose pack sizes and labels should be compared separately.

  • The frozen extra-fine peas featured by Auchan contain 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.
  • Auchan’s extra-fine tinned peas contain salt and provide 0.53 g per 100 g. The retailer notes that the ingredients may vary depending on the collection service and purchase date.

Carrefour

A standard option in small tins to consider if pack size matters for your meal.

  • The Carrefour Classic’ extra-fine peas featured by the retailer come in a pack of three tins, each with a drained weight of 140 g.
  • The ingredients list includes sugar, salt and natural spice flavouring. Check the ‘salt’ value on the label before choosing this product to limit your salt intake.

Aldi

Frozen peas and tinned peas and carrots to choose between, depending on the dish you have in mind.

  • Aldi sells ALL SEASONS® frozen extra-fine peas in a 1 kg bag.
  • For FLEURS DES CHAMPS® tinned peas and carrots, check the ingredients and salt content on the packaging. This mix isn’t the same as plain peas.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are peas labelled ‘no added flavouring’ also free from added salt?

No. The Bonduelle tin labelled ‘Peas with no added flavouring’ contains salt and provides 0.49 g of salt per 100 g. To compare products, read the ingredients list and check the ‘salt’ value per 100 g.

How do I compare two tins or jars of different sizes?

Compare their salt content per 100 g, then check their drained weight against the amount you want to serve. The French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control notes that nutritional information is given per 100 g or 100 ml.

Can plain frozen peas replace tinned peas for New Year’s Eve?

Yes, if you have freezer space and can allow time to cook them. The plain frozen peas featured by Bonduelle and Auchan each contain 0.01 g of salt per 100 g. Also check how much seasoning you’ll add to the dish.

Should I add more salt to the peas when serving?

Not automatically: some standard tinned peas already contain salt. Taste them before adding more, and choose a seasoning that works with the rest of the meal.

How should I store an opened tin or jar of peas?

Follow the storage time and temperature instructions on the packaging for the opened product. The date on an unopened container doesn’t replace this guidance once it has been opened.