For an Easter lunch, choose a reduced-salt stock cube if you want to cut down on the salt added by the stock. Choose a salt-free option if you want to control separately how much salt you add to the dish. Then match the flavour to your recipe and check the dosage, salt content and allergens on the packaging of the product you choose.
If several dishes at lunch are already seasoned, check whether a stock cube is reduced in salt or salt-free before making your stock. Anses advises reading labels to find out what foods contain and limiting added salt.
For soup, vegetables or rice served without poultry, look for a vegetable stock cube and check its ingredients list. Carrefour describes Maggi’s reduced-salt vegetable stock as 100% plant-based; check this separately for any other product.
Flavour alone isn’t enough to tell you whether a stock cube is suitable for every guest. Auchan’s listing for Maggi reduced-salt chicken stock mentions wheat and celery, among other ingredients. Check the box you buy, including any warnings about possible traces.
First choose between reduced-salt and salt-free, then check that the flavour, ingredients and pack size suit the meal you’re planning.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Added salt | Look for the words reduced salt or salt-free, then check the “salt” line in the nutritional information and the volume of stock the cube makes. | When several dishes are already seasoned, I want to decide how much the stock contributes to the overall seasoning. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this control over salt. |
| Stock flavour | Check whether it’s vegetable or chicken flavour, and look at the ingredients for the specific product. | For a plant-based side, I don’t want to introduce any poultry ingredients; for chicken gravy, I’m looking for a suitable flavour. Around 29% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list, any allergens highlighted and any warnings about possible traces on the box you buy. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I choose a stock cube based on its exact recipe, not just its flavour. Around 21% of consumers would make suitability their top priority. |
| Product and pack size | Check which product is available at your shop, how many cubes are in the pack and how much you’ll need for your recipes. | When preparing several dishes, I want to find a pack size that suits the amount of stock I plan to make. Around 14% of consumers would put this search first. |
A reduced-salt stock cube still contains salt. Knorr says the “−25%” claim on its reduced-salt vegetable stock is calculated against the average of stock cubes on the market, excluding reduced-salt products.
If you want to control separately how much salt you add, compare this product with a stock cube labelled “salt-free”. In either case, follow the dosage instructions and taste before adding more salt.
Chicken flavour isn’t suitable for a dish that needs to remain vegetarian, even if the stock cube is labelled as reduced salt.
For soup or a plant-based side, choose a vegetable stock cube with an ingredients list that suits your guests. Save chicken flavour for recipes where it’s appropriate.
Recipes vary from one product to another. Auchan’s listing for Maggi reduced-salt chicken stock mentions wheat and celery, among other ingredients; you can’t assume the ingredients are the same for a vegetable stock cube or another brand.
Read the label on the box you’re using, including any warnings about possible traces. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that allergens in pre-packed food must be highlighted in the ingredients list.
Reduced-salt options are available in vegetable and chicken flavours. Choose the right recipe for your dish.
The range includes reduced-salt and salt-free stock cubes, with vegetable or chicken flavours depending on the product.
Carrefour offers a 120 g box of reduced-salt chicken stock cubes.
This reduced-salt vegetable stock cube is for anyone looking to make a soup or plant-based side with this flavour. It isn’t a salt-free alternative when deciding how to season your dish.
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A vegetable flavour to consider for soup or a plant-based side if you’re looking for a reduced-salt stock cube rather than a salt-free stock.
The “−25%” claim indicates a comparative reduction. Check the salt content and dosage on the packaging to make the amount you need.
Before serving, check the box for allergens and any warnings about possible traces, taking your guests’ needs into account.
No. A reduced-salt stock cube still contains salt, while “salt-free” refers to a different option. For its reduced-salt vegetable stock, Knorr compares the “−25%” claim with the average of stock cubes on the market, excluding reduced-salt products. Then check the “salt” line on the product you buy.
Follow the dosage instructions for the product you choose. Auchan’s listing for Maggi reduced-salt chicken stock recommends one 10 g cube per 1/2 L of water; its listing for Knorr salt-free vegetable stock recommends one tablet per 500 ml of water. Taste your stock before adding any salt.
Don’t assume it will suit everyone: choose a product with ingredients that are suitable for each guest. A chicken stock cube isn’t suitable for a vegetarian dish. For allergies, check the box for highlighted allergens and any warnings about possible traces, as set out in the labelling guidance recalled by the DGCCRF.
No. When choosing between these stock cubes, also check the “salt” line in the nutritional information, how much stock you’ll make, the ingredients and the allergens. A score doesn’t replace product-specific information or details on how to use it.