Anyone comparing sugar content
You’re preparing several portions and want to check the ‘of which sugars’ line and the ingredients list before choosing, without confusing the tomatoes’ natural sugars with a reduced-sugar claim.
Who are these criteria useful for?
Anyone making sauces and slow-cooked dishes
You prefer to start with whole tomatoes and decide, depending on the recipe, whether to crush them, blend them or let them cook down. Mutti describes its Pelati as firm, while Cirio says its tomatoes are suitable for long cooking.
Anyone sharing a tin between several recipes
You need a pack size that suits the portions you’re planning, plus clear instructions for storing any leftovers after opening.
Which criteria should you check first?
When preparing several dishes, check the sugars and ingredients first, then choose the texture and pack size to suit the recipes you have planned.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and read the ingredients list. This figure alone does not prove that the sugars have been reduced. | If I want to compare recipes before cooking, nutritional values and ingredients come first; around 36% of consumers would give this criterion priority. |
| Texture when cooked | Choose whole peeled tomatoes if you want to decide for yourself what texture they have in your sauce. A brand’s claims about how well they hold their shape during cooking don’t guarantee the result. | For sauces where I want to adjust the texture by crushing or blending the tomatoes, the whole shape matters more; this would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Pack size and leftovers | Compare the tin’s weight with the recipes you have planned, and follow the stated storage time after opening. | When one tin needs to go into several dishes, I want to use up the leftovers within the stated time; around 21% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Organic and origin | Check the organic and origin claims on the product you’re buying, separately from its listed sugars. | If the production method or origin guides my choice, I check these details on the tin; this would be the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a sugar figure means the product has reduced sugars
The 2.5 g of sugars per 100 g listed on the D’Aucy and Auchan product pages describes these products, but on its own it doesn’t prove a reduction compared with a similar product.
Compare the figures per 100 g and the ingredients. For a ‘reduced in sugars’ claim, check the specific product and the comparison on which the claim is based.
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Opening a tin without planning how to use the leftovers
The D’Aucy 476 g and Auchan 480 g product pages say to refrigerate the contents and use them within two days of opening.
Plan which dishes will use the opened tin, and follow the instructions on the product you buy.
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Assuming the online product page always matches the tin you receive
Auchan notes that the ingredients in its whole peeled tomatoes in tomato juice may vary depending on the store and purchase date.
Check the label on the tin you receive if the ingredients, sugars or origin matter to your choice.
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Using a tin that looks damaged
The DGCCRF says that a dented or swollen tin, or one showing signs of rust, may indicate deterioration.
If you’re unsure about the condition of the tin, discard it. Don’t taste the contents to check.
Peeled tomato brands to know
Mutti
The Pelati range includes whole peeled tomatoes, including an organic option. Mutti describes its Pelati as firm and versatile.
- Worth considering if you want to control the texture of whole tomatoes in your sauces.
- To compare sugars, check the ‘of which sugars’ line for the product you’re buying rather than relying on its texture.
Cirio
Cirio offers classic and organic Pelati, and describes its peeled tomatoes as suitable for recipes that involve long cooking, among other uses.
- The whole tomatoes may suit you if you want to crush them as you cook.
- Suitability for long cooking is Cirio’s own description, not a guarantee of results or an indication of sugar content.
D’Aucy
The Auchan product page for D’Aucy 476 g whole peeled tomatoes lists 2.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The listed figure lets you compare this product with others on the same per-100 g basis.
- The product page says to use the contents within two days of opening, so plan how you’ll use the leftovers before opening the tin.
Auchan
The product page for Auchan 480 g whole peeled tomatoes in tomato juice lists 2.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
- You can compare the pack size and ‘of which sugars’ figure with your recipes and other labels.
- Auchan notes that the ingredients may vary depending on the store and purchase date, so check the tin you receive.
Compare the sugars listed
This comparison of Auchan and Joybuy product pages is ordered from lowest to highest sugars per 100 g. Where the figures are the same, D’Aucy comes before Auchan, whose product page notes that the ingredients may vary. This is neither an overall quality ranking nor proof that sugars have been reduced.
| Rank | Product | Details | Reason for comparison | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D’Aucy whole peeled tomatoes 476 g | 2.5 g of sugars per 100 g, according to the Auchan product page. | The Auchan product page also says to use the contents within two days of opening, which is worth bearing in mind if you’re using the tin for several recipes. | Auchan |
| 2 | Auchan whole peeled tomatoes in tomato juice 480 g | 2.5 g of sugars per 100 g, according to the Auchan product page. | This figure can be compared on a per-100 g basis; however, Auchan notes that the ingredients may vary depending on the store and purchase date. | Auchan |
| 3 | La Molisana 100% Italian peeled Pelati tomatoes 400 g | About 3.5 g of sugars per 100 g, according to the Joybuy product page. | The Joybuy product page lists whole peeled tomatoes and tomato juice among the ingredients. The difference between the figures listed does not, on its own, prove a reduced-sugar claim for another product. | Joybuy |
Joybuy products related to this topic
Products related to this topic will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are peeled tomatoes listing 2.5 g of sugars per 100 g ‘reduced in sugars’?
Not on the basis of this figure alone. It lets you compare nutritional information given per 100 g, but doesn’t prove a reduction compared with a similar product. EU rules on nutrition claims govern this type of wording; check the label of the specific product before describing it this way.
How long can you keep peeled tomatoes after opening?
Follow the storage time and conditions shown on the tin you buy. The Auchan product pages for D’Aucy 476 g and Auchan 480 g say to refrigerate the contents and use them within two days of opening. The French Ministry of the Economy also advises following the manufacturer’s instructions.
What should you do if a tin is rusty, dented or swollen?
If in doubt, discard it and don’t taste the contents to check. The DGCCRF says that rust, dents or swelling may indicate deterioration.
Do organic peeled tomatoes necessarily contain less sugar?
No. Organic refers to the production method and doesn’t, on its own, let you compare sugar content. When choosing between an organic product and another one, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and the ingredients list for each separately.