Reduced-Salt Stock: Cubes or Concentrate for Meal Delivery

Who is this choice for?

Menu planners who need to monitor salt

If the salt content of the full menu matters for the people you serve, check how much each prepared portion contains. The claim on the stock cube alone is not enough to assess the meal being delivered.

Meal delivery kitchens making the same recipes regularly

If you make the same recipe for every delivery round, the stock’s dosage, yield and pack size need to suit the quantity you prepare. The ingredients and allergen list also matter when several people receive the same menu.

Buyers preparing small batches or family meals

A stock cube can be handy for making small quantities of soup, rice, sauces or vegetables. Before choosing a reduced-salt option, compare the amount used with the number of portions you actually cook.

Which criteria should you prioritise?

For meal delivery, choose a format to suit the volume you prepare. Then compare the salt content, ingredients and dosage for the recipe you serve.

Reduced-salt stock cubes or tablets

Consider this: for small batches where the recipe specifies a set number of cubes or tablets.

Bear in mind: the stated reduction is relative to a comparison product; on its own, it does not tell you how much salt is in each meal portion.

Low-salt professional concentrate

Consider this: for a kitchen that regularly prepares volumes matching the yield stated on the product.

Bear in mind: the Knorr vegetable concentrate offered by Unilever Food Solutions comes in a 900 g pack and is stated to make up to 90 L; this size may be excessive for a small batch.

Using less of a standard stock

Consider this: if the format, flavour or ingredients of a reduced-salt product are not suitable and you can adjust the recipe.

Bear in mind: using less stock does not tell you how much salt is in the finished dish; you need to recalculate it for your chosen stock and all the other ingredients.

Criterion	What to check	Who it matters to
Salt in the menu	Compare the ‘salt’ line in the nutrition information on the same basis, then check the amount used per portion and any other salty ingredients.	If the salt in the whole meal is my priority, I want to know what the recipe adds to the plate, not just read the claim on the stock cube; around 36% of consumers put this need first.
Consistent dosage	Check the dilution instructions and the volume produced, as well as whether the pack size suits the quantities you prepare.	When several delivery rounds use the same recipe, I want to reproduce the quantities without keeping an oversized pack; consistent dosage comes first for around 29% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens	Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour before adding it to the menu.	When serving people with different dietary requirements, I need to know exactly what the stock contains; around 21% of consumers make this compatibility their top priority.
Small pack size	Check the number of cubes, the pack weight and the product offered by your chosen collection or delivery service.	If I prepare only a few meals at a time, I prefer a pack size that suits my needs and that I can find again for the next delivery round; this is the top priority for around 14% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

Confusing ‘reduced salt’ with ‘salt-free’

A percentage reduction compares the stock with a reference product; it does not tell you how much salt is in the finished dish. Other ingredients in the menu also contribute to the total.

Note how much stock you use per portion and compare the ‘salt’ line on its label with the full recipe.
Assuming ‘vegetable stock’ means there are no allergens

A vegetable recipe can still contain an allergen: the Auchan product information for a reduced-salt Knorr vegetable stock tablet lists celeriac, among other ingredients.

Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact product, including when you change flavour or batch.
Choosing a large pack that does not match your cooking volumes

The Knorr vegetable concentrate offered by Unilever Food Solutions comes in a 900 g pack and is stated to make up to 90 L. This yield is only useful if your preparations will use that quantity.

Estimate how many litres you prepare each week and check the dosage and storage instructions after opening before choosing a professional-size pack.
Forgetting the temperature of delivered meals

Choosing a dry ingredient does not address how a prepared dish is handled and transported. The French Ministry of Agriculture’s guide to home meal delivery states that, on receipt, meals should be no warmer than 3 °C for chilled delivery and above 63 °C for hot delivery.

Plan to check the meal’s temperature according to the delivery method you use, regardless of the stock you choose.

Brands and retailers to know

MAGGI

MAGGI offers dried stock cubes, including products labelled ‘reduced salt’.

According to MAGGI’s product information published by Nestlé GoodNest, KUB OR reduced-salt stock contains 25% less salt than its comparison product.
This reduction does not tell you how much salt is in the meal: check the label for the variant you choose and the amount added to each portion.

Knorr

Knorr offers a reduced-salt vegetable stock tablet and, for professional kitchens, a low-salt vegetable concentrate.

Knorr says its vegetable stock tablet contains 25% less salt than the average stock on the market, excluding reduced-salt products. Unilever Food Solutions also offers a 900 g concentrate, stated to make up to 90 L.
These formats are designed for different preparation volumes. The ingredients list for the Knorr vegetable stock tablet listed by Auchan includes celeriac.

Carrefour

Carrefour lists a reduced-salt MAGGI vegetable stock; in this case, Carrefour is the retailer, not the stock brand.

Carrefour’s product information lists a 120 g pack, which helps you check that the product you choose is the one specified in your recipe.
Check which product your shop offers and your chosen collection or delivery option before planning a delivery round.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a ‘reduced-salt’ stock cube salt-free?

No: ‘reduced salt’ means less salt than a comparison product, not no salt at all. Knorr says its vegetable stock tablet contains 25% less salt than the average stock on the market, excluding reduced-salt products. To find out how much salt it adds to a meal, check the ‘salt’ line and the amount used.

What should I check on the label before cooking for several people?

Check the salt content, recommended amount, ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product. The DGCCRF identifies the nutrition declaration as the source of the values shown on the packaging; the Knorr vegetable stock tablet listed by Auchan includes celeriac, among other ingredients.

Is reduced-salt stock suitable for a strict medical diet?

The ‘reduced salt’ claim alone does not establish that a product is suitable for a strict medical diet: the full recipe and the guidance given to the person concerned both matter. If a product you are considering contains a potassium chloride-based salt substitute, Anses highlights risks for some people. Ask the healthcare professional responsible for their care before using it.

Is choosing the stock enough to organise meal delivery?

No: you also need to control the temperature of the prepared meal during handling and transport. The French Ministry of Agriculture’s guide to home meal delivery states that, on receipt, meals should be no warmer than 3 °C for chilled delivery and above 63 °C for hot delivery.