Cooks keeping an eye on the sugars listed
You’re making a sauce for an international cooking evening and want to compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g without mistaking it for information about added sugars alone.
Who is this choice for?
Fans of slow-cooked dishes
You’re looking for whole peeled tomatoes for a sauce, a tomato curry or a stew that needs a long cooking time.
Shoppers who check ingredients and origin
You want to check the ingredients, the stated origin or a particular feature, such as whether the product is organic, on the tin you’re planning to buy.
What should you look for?
For peeled tomatoes for an international cooking evening, start by comparing the sugars listed if that’s your priority. Then choose a texture and pack size to suit your recipe.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars listed | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for similar peeled tomatoes, then read the ingredients. According to their respective product details, Pouce peeled tomatoes contain 2,5 g of sugars per 100 g, while E.Leclerc’s Notre Jardin tomatoes contain 3,0 g per 100 g. These figures don’t prove a ‘reduced sugars’ claim. | If I want to compare tins before making my sauce, the sugar content listed is my top priority. Around 33% of consumers would also prioritise the sugars listed. |
| Texture when cooked | Check whether the tomatoes are whole and packed in juice or purée, depending on the texture you want for your recipe. | For a slow-cooked dish, I want to start with whole tomatoes and decide when to crush them. Texture would come first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and origin | Read the ingredients and check the origin of the variant you’ve chosen. If you’re looking for an organic option, check that this is stated on its label. | Before choosing a tin, I mainly want to know its ingredients and where it comes from. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise this information. |
| Pack size and leftovers | Check the drained net weight, estimate how much your recipe needs and read the storage instructions for after opening. | To serve everyone without opening a tin that’s too large, I choose the amount I need first. This would be the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing a mild taste with a ‘reduced sugars’ claim
The ‘of which sugars’ figure doesn’t distinguish between sugars that occur naturally and any sugars that may have been added. A mild taste or a low figure per 100 g isn’t enough to justify a comparative claim either.
Compare products in the same category, read their ingredients and check any ‘reduced sugars’ claim made for the product you’ve chosen.
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Assuming all Auchan variants have the same ingredients
Auchan says that the ingredients in its 480 g tin of whole peeled tomatoes in juice may vary depending on the Drive and the date of purchase.
Check the nutrition information, ingredients and origin on your store’s product page or on the tin you receive.
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Forgetting how to store an opened tin
A large tin may leave you with tomatoes left over after cooking. Storage instructions after opening vary by product.
Choose the amount you need and follow the label’s instructions for storing any leftovers. Auchan’s Pouce product details advise transferring the tomatoes to a suitable airtight container, keeping it in the fridge and using the contents within two days.
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Assuming a recall applies to every peeled tomato from a brand
RappelConso has issued a recall for a specific batch of SIMPL Carrefour whole peeled tomatoes in juice, due to the risk of datura seeds being present. It doesn’t apply to every tin from the brand.
If you have an affected tin, check the GTIN 3560070479467 and batch L25252. If they match, don’t eat the product and follow RappelConso’s instructions.
Peeled tomato brands to know
Mutti
The range includes classic and organic peeled tomatoes, in 400 g and 800 g pack sizes, as well as a product called ‘Zero Pesticide Residues’.
- According to Mutti, the classic product contains whole peeled tomatoes and tomato juice. The organic version also contains the acidity regulator citric acid.
- These variants have different ingredients. Check the nutrition information and the exact wording of any claims on the tin you choose. A range name doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product contains.
Cirio
Cirio’s Pelati whole peeled tomatoes come in 400 g and 800 g pack sizes, and are suitable for sauces and slow-cooked dishes.
- The listed ingredients are peeled tomatoes, tomato purée and citric acid.
- Describing the taste as naturally mild doesn’t mean the product is ‘reduced in sugars’. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure for the variant you buy.
Notre Jardin
E.Leclerc’s Notre Jardin product is a tin of whole peeled tomatoes in juice, with a drained net weight of 480 g.
- E.Leclerc’s product details list 3,0 g of sugars per 100 g, along with whole peeled tomatoes, tomato juice and citric acid.
- This figure applies to the product listed. It doesn’t prove that the product carries a ‘reduced sugars’ claim.
Auchan / Pouce
Auchan offers several varieties of whole peeled tomatoes in juice, including a 238 g tin from its Pouce range.
- The Pouce product details list 2,5 g of sugars per 100 g and include storage instructions for after opening.
- The ingredients in Auchan’s 480 g product may vary depending on the Drive and the date of purchase, so compare the details for the variant actually on offer.
Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does a low sugar content mean ‘no added sugars’?
No. The ‘of which sugars’ figure includes sugars that occur naturally as well as any sugars that may have been added, without distinguishing between them. To find out what’s in the recipe, read the ingredients list too.
Can I call the peeled tomatoes with the lowest figure ‘reduced in sugars’?
No. A lower figure on a product page isn’t enough to support this comparative claim. Check whether the claim appears on the product in question and look at the comparison with a similar product on which it’s based.
How should I store peeled tomatoes after opening?
Follow the instructions on the tin you’re using. For its Pouce product, Auchan advises putting any leftovers in a suitable airtight container in the fridge and using them within two days. Instructions may differ for other products.
Does the SIMPL peeled tomato recall apply to every Carrefour tin?
No. The recall published by RappelConso applies to an identified batch of SIMPL Carrefour whole peeled tomatoes in juice: GTIN 3560070479467, batch L25252. If your tin matches, don’t eat it and follow the recall instructions.