Smaller households looking to reduce leftovers
If you only make a few lunchboxes each week, the pack weight, number of slices and storage instructions can help you choose an amount that suits your routine.
Who are these criteria useful for?
Parents who pay attention to the recipe
Whether you’re choosing plain brioche, a version described as lower in sugar or a recipe made with wholemeal flour, compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the product you’re planning to buy.
Families dealing with allergens at school
The allergen list and the school’s guidance should come before your choice of pack size. According to the French Ministry of National Education, an individual care plan (PAI) can be put in place to support a pupil with a food allergy.
What should you check before buying?
Start with any restrictions that apply to your child, then match the pack size to how often you prepare lunchboxes. Finally, compare the recipes that meet those requirements.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school guidance | Read the allergens on the pack, including any listed traces, and check the school’s guidance or the relevant individual care plan (PAI). | If my child needs to avoid an ingredient, the recipe is only suitable if it also meets the arrangements in place at school. Around 42% of consumers put this compatibility first when choosing. |
| Pack size and portions | Compare the weight, the stated number of slices and how much you’ll use before finishing the pack. | For a few lunchboxes each week, I prefer a pack where I can use the portions without leaving lots of slices uneaten. This is the main criterion for around 33% of consumers. |
| Type of recipe | Check the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g and per portion, where provided. | Once I’ve chosen the pack size, I want to be able to distinguish a plain recipe from one described as lower in sugar or made with wholemeal flour. Around 25% of consumers prioritise comparing the ingredients and nutritional content. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing ‘no additives’ with being allergen-free
The classic sliced brioche by Harrys described by Auchan contains wheat, eggs and milk. Traces of soya, nuts and sesame are also listed.
Check the allergen list on the specific pack separately from any descriptions of the recipe.
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Reading ‘-30% sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
Brioche Pasquier compares this reduction with the average for the best-selling plain sliced brioches, not every brioche available.
To compare two products, check the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutritional information and the basis for comparison shown on the packaging.
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Choosing a large pack without planning how you’ll use it
Pack size alone won’t tell you how much will be left over. It depends on how many lunchboxes you make and whether your household eats brioche on other occasions.
Estimate how many portions you’ll need, then follow the product’s storage instructions once it’s open.
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Assuming every school has the same rules
For a pupil with a food allergy, the French Ministry of National Education says an individual care plan (PAI) can set out specific arrangements.
Ask the school which guidance applies to your child and follow their individual care plan if they have one.
Brands and retailers to compare
Brioche Pasquier
Two sliced recipes to consider if you’re choosing between plain brioche and a version described as lower in sugar.
- Carrefour lists 450 g packs of both Pasquier recipes.
- Brioche Pasquier explains how it calculates the ‘-30% sugar’ claim; the product in question contains wheat and eggs.
Harrys
A classic brioche and a wholemeal recipe to compare, depending on the portions you need and the ingredients you’re looking for.
- Auchan describes its classic sliced brioche as a 485 g pack containing 18 slices.
- The classic recipe contains wheat, eggs and milk; Harrys’ wholemeal recipe includes ingredients such as wheat flour and wheat gluten.
Carrefour
A retailer where you can compare the listed pack sizes of several sliced brioches, including Harrys and Pasquier.
- Its range includes 450 g, 485 g and 650 g products, making it easier to match pack size to how much you use.
- For ingredients, allergens and storage instructions, check the packaging of the specific product you choose.
A brioche to consider on Joybuy
For a smaller household, this 280 g pack of brioche gives you another option alongside the 450 g and 485 g sliced brioches mentioned above. Before choosing it for lunchboxes, check whether it’s sliced and how many portions you can make from it.
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ERHARD butter brioche 280 g
This 280 g pack may suit you if you’re looking for an amount to compare with what you need for a few lunchboxes. Before buying, check whether it’s sliced, along with the allergens and storage instructions on the pack. The weight alone doesn’t guarantee there’ll be no leftovers.
Frequently asked questions
Is sliced brioche suitable for a child who needs to avoid gluten?
Don’t assume it is: the Pasquier and Harrys sliced brioches described here contain wheat, and Harrys’ wholemeal recipe also lists wheat gluten. Check the exact packaging and the arrangements made with the school for your child.
What should you check on the pack before making a lunchbox?
Start with the ingredients and allergens, then check the net quantity, date and storage instructions. The French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds consumers that allergens must be emphasised on the labels of prepacked foods.
How should you store sliced brioche once it’s open?
Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve bought. For the classic sliced brioche by Harrys featured by Auchan, the guidance is to store it at room temperature, away from heat, and to seal the bag securely after use.
Does Pasquier’s ‘-30% sugar’ version make the choice for you?
No. Brioche Pasquier calculates this reduction against the average for the best-selling plain sliced brioches. Also check the pack weight, nutritional values and allergens for this product, which contains wheat and eggs.