Shoppers who prioritise salt content
You want to buy several tins of a recipe with clearly stated salt levels, without assuming that plain sardines necessarily contain less salt.
Who is this option for?
Households stocking up on tinned food
You’re looking for tins of the same recipe and size to make several meals. The contents of the multipack and availability for your chosen shop or delivery option will also affect your choice.
Shoppers who have a particular recipe in mind
You prefer plain sardines or sardines without oil, or you have a particular texture in mind. Check these features separately from the “salt” value in the nutritional information.
What should you check?
When buying several tins, start by checking the recipe and its salt content, then make sure the multipack contains tins of that same product.
| What to check | Check for | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt content | The exact product name and the “salt” value per 100 g. Where necessary, check whether this refers to drained fish or the whole product. | I want to buy several tins without confusing a plain recipe with a reduced-salt one; around 50% of shoppers rank this distinction as their top priority. |
| Consistent multipack | The recipes included, the number and weight of the tins, and availability for your chosen way of shopping. | When planning several meals with the same tinned fish, I want to know exactly which tins I’ll receive; around 30% of shoppers prioritise a consistent multipack. |
| Recipe and texture | Whether the sardines contain oil or marinade, and whether they have skin and bones, depending on the product. | If I have a particular dish in mind, I want a recipe and texture that will work for it; around 20% of shoppers put this ahead of the other criteria. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming “plain” means “reduced salt”
The published figures relate to different recipes. Connétable states that its reduced-salt lemon marinade contains 0.20 g of salt per 100 g of drained fish, compared with 0.90 g for its plain, skinless and boneless sardines. Auchan lists 0.66 g per 100 g for its plain sardines.
Compare the “salt” value for the exact products, taking into account the basis given for each figure.
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Choosing a multipack without checking each recipe
An assortment may contain different preparations. The number of tins won’t tell you whether each one is the reduced-salt recipe you’re looking for.
Check the product name, quantity and weight of each tin before confirming your order.
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Relying on a product page alone for ingredient information
The Connétable product page and the Auchan listing for the lemon-marinated recipe do not show exactly the same ingredient list. This matters particularly if you need to avoid a specific ingredient.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the tins you receive, especially before using several of them.
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Assuming availability will be the same everywhere
A product’s availability may depend on the shop, collection or delivery option. Lidl also notes that some products in its promotional leaflets are not available in every store.
Check the exact product and its availability for your chosen way of shopping just before you order.
A change in availability may mean revising your order or planned trip.
Brands to consider for these recipes
Connétable
Connétable offers oil-free organic sardines in lemon marinade, labelled as reduced salt. The brand states that they contain 0.20 g of salt per 100 g of drained fish.
- Connétable says they contain 30% less salt than the average tinned sardines in marinade, not than all tinned sardines.
- Its plain, skinless and boneless sardines are a different recipe. The brand states that these contain 0.90 g of salt per 100 g of drained fish.
Auchan
Auchan lists the Connétable lemon-marinated recipe as well as its own brand of plain sardines.
- The Auchan listing for the Connétable recipe lets you check the product name and nutritional information before choosing it.
- Auchan’s 135 g tin of plain sardines lists 0.66 g of salt per 100 g. Don’t confuse it with Connétable’s reduced-salt recipe.
Saupiquet
Saupiquet offers a range of sardine preparations, including plain fillets and flavoured recipes.
- Choosing between fillets, whole sardines and different preparations helps you narrow down the recipe you’re looking for.
- If salt content is your priority, check the nutritional information and product name for the specific Saupiquet product rather than guessing its salt content from the type of preparation.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Do “no added oil” or “plain” mean “reduced salt”?
No. These labels describe how the sardines are prepared; they don’t tell you the salt content on their own. Connétable states that its reduced-salt lemon marinade contains 0.20 g per 100 g of drained fish, while the listings for plain Auchan and Connétable sardines show 0.66 g and 0.90 g per 100 g of their products respectively.
What should I do with sardines after opening a tin?
Follow the storage instructions on the tin in question. The Auchan listing for Connétable’s reduced-salt recipe says to refrigerate it after opening and eat it within two days.
Do reduced-salt sardines still contain fish?
Yes. The Connétable recipe mentioned here contains sardines: the reduced-salt claim relates to the salt, not the fish allergen. Check the ingredients and allergen information on each tin before eating.
Is Nutri-Score enough to compare the salt content of different sardines?
No. Check the “salt” value in the nutritional information for each recipe. Anses advises reading food labels to find out what foods contain. When comparing several tins, also make sure the figures are based on the same quantity and the same type of product.