When choosing a single-serve tin of soup and avoiding an allergen, first check the ingredients and any warnings about traces for the exact recipe. The size of the container says nothing about whether it is suitable: only compare the volume and nutritional information after this first check. The examples in sachets and bottles can help illustrate what to look for, but they are not tinned soups.
Whether you’re choosing for yourself or someone else, first identify the allergen in question. The DGCCRF advises that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the ingredients list on pre-packed foods. Also check for any trace warnings on the recipe you’re considering.
If you’d like to prepare or serve less soup at a time, compare the volume in the container or the amount you’ll get after preparation. A smaller size is no substitute for checking allergens.
Once you’ve checked the ingredients and trace warnings for each recipe, compare the volume, preparation method and nutritional values on a like-for-like basis, particularly the salt per 100 ml.
For a single-serve tin of soup, start by checking the ingredients for the exact product, then consider how much you’ll actually eat. The sachets and bottles mentioned for comparison have their own volumes and ingredients.
| What to check | Points to consider | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and traces | Read the ingredients list and the ‘may contain’ warning for the exact recipe, and follow the guidance relevant to you. | If I need to avoid a specific allergen, I want to check both the ingredients and any trace warnings before choosing a size; around 42% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Quantity and preparation | Compare the volume of the container or the prepared soup, as well as the number of sachets and the instructions. | For a single serving, I’m looking for an amount that minimises leftovers and a preparation method that works for me; this would be the top priority for around 17% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Once you’ve checked for allergens, compare the salt per 100 ml in particular, then consider the amount you’ll consume. | If several recipes meet my allergy requirements, I want to compare their nutritional values on a like-for-like basis; around 8% of consumers would put this first. |
| Exact product | Check the product name, size and ingredients for the variant you’ve chosen, then check the label on the product you receive. | If several variants look similar, I want to find the one whose ingredients I can check before buying; around 33% of consumers would see this as their main concern. |
The packaging doesn’t change the ingredients. Product information from Royco and Liebig published by Auchan France and Carrefour France shows that smaller formats can contain wheat, milk or celery, depending on the recipe.
Check the ingredients and trace warnings for each soup before choosing a format.
Depending on the product, Royco and Liebig recipes listed by Carrefour France and Auchan France contain ingredients such as croutons, celery or dairy products.
Read the full ingredients list and any trace warnings, even if the name highlights a particular vegetable.
A recipe or variant with a similar name may not be the same one you’re buying today.
Use the product information for your chosen item to shortlist options, then check the label on the product you receive.
These brands offer examples of formats and ingredients to check recipe by recipe; they don’t tell you what’s in a single-serve tin of soup.
Instant soups in sachets: Auchan France lists, among others, a pumpkin recipe supplied in three sachets, each making 20 cl.
Liquid soups listed by Carrefour France, including 36 cl bottles and 1 L cartons, depending on the recipe.
In France, allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the ingredients list on pre-packed foods, as the DGCCRF advises. When choosing a soup, read the list for the exact product and check for any trace warnings.
No: the format tells you about the quantity or how to prepare it, not whether it’s free from allergens. Royco and Liebig recipes listed by Auchan France and Carrefour France contain different allergenic ingredients, depending on the product; check the recipe you’re interested in.
This warning indicates that traces may be present, separate from the ingredients listed in the recipe. If it relates to an allergen you need to avoid, follow the avoidance guidance you’ve been given rather than assuming the soup is suitable based on its format alone.
First compare the value given per 100 ml, then take into account how much you’ll consume. The DGCCRF states that nutritional information is given per 100 g or 100 ml; information about salt is no substitute for checking the ingredients.
No: it can help you rule out a recipe before buying, but you should also check the label on the product you receive. In particular, make sure the variant and size match the ones you checked.