Who is this choice for?

Care home kitchen with regular meal production

You often prepare soups, sauces, vegetables or starchy foods in large quantities and need consistent measurements and a stated yield for each pack.

Team catering for residents with dietary requirements

You need to check the salt, ingredients and allergens in each stock against residents’ individual dietary requirements. A ‘reduced salt’ claim does not remove the need for these checks.

Kitchen with occasional top-ups from shops

You buy stock cubes for limited use or as a back-up, and need to check that the pack size, ingredients and dosage suit the recipe you have planned.

What should you look for?

For care home meals, first compare the amount of stock you can make using the recommended dosage. Then check the ingredients and storage requirements for the pack you choose.

Criteria What to check Who this matters to
Yield and dosage Compare the stated litres per pack and the dosage in g/L or cubes per litre for the type of stock you are making. When I regularly prepare large quantities, I want to be able to make the same recipe consistently from one service to the next; around 31% of consumers would prioritise this need.
Salt in the recipe Check the amount of salt per 100 ml of prepared stock, where stated, the dosage used and whether it contains potassium chloride. If I need to manage the salt in a dish, I take all its ingredients into account, not just the claim on the pack; around 25% of consumers would make this their priority.
Ingredients and allergens Read the label on the product you receive, paying particular attention to allergens and ‘may contain’ statements, then check it against the dietary requirements for the meals. When meals have to meet different dietary requirements, I need to know which product goes into each recipe; around 25% of consumers would put this check first.
Storage and restocking Check the best-before date on the batch, the storage instructions after opening and how much you use between restocks. If my usage is irregular, I prefer a pack that the team can store and use according to the label; around 19% of consumers would prioritise this.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Comparing packs by weight alone

    Weight alone does not tell you how much stock you can make. Nestlé Professional states that its 1 kg MAGGI vegetable stock makes 66 L, while Unilever Food Solutions states that its 1.1 kg Knorr Pot-au-feu stock makes up to 55 L. These are also different recipes.

    Start with the number of litres you need for your dishes, compare the stated dosages and check that the stock’s flavour profile suits your recipes.

  • Confusing ‘reduced salt’ with ‘salt-free’

    A reduced-salt claim is a comparison, not a guarantee that a product contains no salt. Some products may contain potassium chloride, which must also be taken into account when a resident has individual dietary requirements.

    Consider the prepared recipe as a whole. Follow your care home’s procedures to have any seasoning changes for a particular diet approved.

  • Relying on the flavour rather than checking the allergen list

    Two products labelled as vegetable stock can have different ingredients and different ‘may contain’ statements. The product name alone is not enough to decide which meals it can be used in.

    Check the label on the product you actually receive and record its details on the relevant recipe sheets.

  • Opening a large pack without planning how to store it

    A tub intended for use in several dishes must remain identifiable and be stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions after opening.

    Choose a quantity that suits how often you use it, close the tub as instructed and keep the batch details with the product.

Brands and retailers to know

These products illustrate the difference between professional packs and smaller formats. Always check the ingredients of the product you choose.

MAGGI

Nestlé Professional lists a 1 kg MAGGI vegetable stock that makes 66 L. METRO France states that 1.425 kg of MAGGI KUB OR makes 95 L.

  • The stated yields make it easier to plan how much to prepare.
  • Ingredients and allergens vary by product. The 1 kg vegetable stock, for example, may contain celery, eggs, wheat and milk.

Knorr

Unilever Food Solutions lists 1.1 kg of dehydrated Knorr Pot-au-feu stock, which makes up to 55 L.

  • The recommended dosage for this product is 20 g per litre.
  • This recipe contains beef extract, so it cannot be used interchangeably with vegetable stock.

Auchan

Auchan lists a vegetable-flavour stock in a box of 12 x 10 g cubes.

  • The recommended dosage of one cube per 0.5 L makes it easy to plan for smaller quantities.
  • This product contains celery and soya, among other ingredients. Check for ‘may contain’ statements before use, too.

Carrefour

Carrefour’s SIMPL brand lists a vegetable-flavour stock in a box of 12 cubes, weighing 120 g.

  • This smaller pack may suit occasional use.
  • The product information lists several possible traces. Check the label on the product you receive.

E.Leclerc / Marque Repère

E.Leclerc stocks Marque Repère stocks and cooking bases, including small packs from its Rustica and Bio Village ranges.

  • These pack sizes may suit occasional needs or help you vary your recipes.
  • Before choosing them for regular production, compare their dosage and yield with the quantities you actually prepare.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a reduced-salt stock cube automatically suitable for a salt-free diet in a care home?

No. ‘Reduced salt’ does not mean ‘salt-free’ or guarantee that a product meets every individual dietary requirement. Check the salt in the prepared recipe and the ingredients list. If the product contains potassium chloride, have its use reviewed in line with the protocol that applies to the resident.

What should you check on the label of stock received by a care home?

For a prepacked food product sold in France, check the name of the food, ingredients and highlighted allergens, nutritional information, net quantity and the date shown on the packaging. Keep a record of the batch identification in line with your care home’s traceability procedures.

How should you store a large tub of stock after opening?

Follow the instructions on the label of the tub you receive. Close it as directed by the manufacturer, follow the stated storage conditions and make sure you keep the product and batch details if your procedures involve transferring it to another container.

Are meals served in care homes subject to nutritional quality requirements?

Yes. In France, Decree No. 2012-144 of 30 January 2012 covers the nutritional quality of meals served in social and medico-social establishments. Its provisions came into force on 1 July 2013, according to Légifrance. When choosing stock, consider the whole recipe and the dietary requirements that apply to residents, rather than assuming that one product alone makes a meal compliant.