People prioritising sugar content
If the sugar content of a stock cube is your main concern, check the ‘of which sugars’ line and compare values shown on the same basis. A claim about salt alone doesn’t tell you whether the sugar content is lower.
Who are these criteria for?
People mainly watching their salt intake
For seasoning Easter soups, vegetables or sauces, you could consider reduced-salt or salt-free stock cubes. Compare their salt content for the portion you prepare, without assuming they contain less sugar.
Households checking ingredients and allergens
The exact recipe matters as much as the type of stock: some products list celery or soya, while others warn that they may contain traces of gluten, milk or eggs. Check the packaging of the stock cube you plan to use.
What should you check before choosing?
For your Easter dishes, start with the nutrient or dietary requirement behind your choice, then check how much stock cube to use. Values per 100 g of dry product and values for a serving of prepared stock aren’t directly comparable.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | The ‘of which sugars’ line on the same basis, and exactly what any ‘reduced in sugars’ claim refers to. | For a soup or sauce, I want to choose based on sugar content without confusing it with salt. Around 37% of consumers put checking sugar content first. |
| Salt | The salt content for the prepared portion, based on the recommended amount, and any claim about a reduction. | If I season several dishes with stock, the amount of salt in each prepared dish guides my choice. Keeping salt in check comes first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact product. | When I’m cooking for people with dietary requirements, I need to check the recipe before serving the dish. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this compatibility. |
| Pack size and availability | The number of cubes, the recommended amount and whether the product is available at your chosen shop. | To prepare the planned dishes without changing the recipe at the last minute, I look for a pack I can get at my local shop. This is a priority for around 9% of consumers. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
-
Confusing ‘reduced salt’ with ‘reduced sugar’
The two claims refer to different nutrients. Carrefour lists sugar among the ingredients of its reduced-salt MAGGI vegetable stock; Knorr states that its reduced-salt vegetable stock contains 0.7 g of sugars per serving.
First decide which criterion matters for your dish, then check the ‘of which sugars’ and ‘salt’ lines separately, using comparable values.
-
Comparing only values per 100 g of dry stock cube
A stock cube is measured out into water or added to a dish. A value per 100 g of dry product therefore doesn’t, by itself, show how much you’ll get in the portion you prepare.
Check the weight and number of cubes you use, then compare values for the same amount of prepared stock when the packaging provides them.
-
Assuming the name ‘vegetable stock’ tells you which allergens are present
A vegetable-based recipe may list celery or soya, or warn that it may contain traces of other allergens. The recipe name is no substitute for the ingredients list.
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the exact product packaging, especially if you switch product or pack size.
Brands to consider when comparing labels
These ranges include products worth checking against your main criterion; ingredients and nutritional values vary from one product to another.
MAGGI
The range includes a vegetable stock cube advertised as containing 25% less salt.
- This claim helps you identify a product to consider if salt is your priority.
- According to Carrefour’s product listing, the ingredients include sugar and the product may contain traces of eggs, gluten and milk. The claimed reduction is in salt, not sugars.
Knorr
The vegetable stock range includes classic, reduced-salt and salt-free versions.
- Knorr’s product listings state that, per serving, its salt-free stock contains 0.02 g of salt and 0.9 g of sugars, compared with 1.7 g of salt and less than 0.5 g of sugars in its classic stock.
- These figures show that salt-free doesn’t mean reduced in sugars. Check how a serving is defined before making any comparisons, too.
Carrefour Original
The brand offers, among other products, a dehydrated vegetable stock in cube form.
- Carrefour’s product listing gives the ingredients and states that this product contains 15 g of added sugars per 100 g.
- This figure alone isn’t enough to describe the cube as ‘reduced in sugars’. Check its nutrition declaration and any claims on the packaging before making your choice.
E.Leclerc – Rustica et Bio Village
Both ranges include stock products whose listings show nutritional values per 100 g.
- E.Leclerc states that its Rustica stock contains 7.4 g of sugars and 48.9 g of salt per 100 g, while the Bio Village stock cited contains 15.1 g of sugars and 49.0 g of salt per 100 g.
- These figures relate to two different products. Check the recommended serving and exact recipe before choosing one for a dish.
Auchan
The brand offers a vegetable-flavour stock cube weighing 10 g.
- Auchan’s product listing states that this product contains 7.7 g of sugars and 48 g of salt per 100 g.
- The ingredients list includes soya and celery. Check the packaging for other allergen warnings and the recommended amount to use.
A reduced-salt cube to consider
This cube could be an option for seasoning Easter dishes if salt is your priority. Its reduction claim doesn’t refer to sugars: if sugar content guides your purchase, compare its nutrition declaration with those of the other products you’re considering.
Image unavailable
MAGGI KUB vegetable stock, 25% less salt, 120 g
Worth considering for soups or vegetable dishes if you’re primarily looking for a stock cube with a reduced-salt claim.
The ‘25% less salt’ claim refers to salt; sugar is listed among the ingredients of this product. The product listing also warns that it may contain traces of eggs, milk and gluten. Check the packaging before cooking for anyone affected by these allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Is a reduced-salt stock cube also reduced in sugars?
No. A reduction in salt doesn’t, by itself, mean there’s less sugar. The product listings for reduced-salt MAGGI and Knorr stocks also list sugar among their ingredients; Knorr states that its reduced-salt version contains 0.7 g of sugars per serving. Check both nutrition lines separately.
How should I choose a stock cube if I’m looking for a lower sugar content?
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ line for specific products on the same basis, then check exactly what any ‘reduced in sugars’ claim on the packaging refers to. The DGCCRF notes that nutrition claims are regulated; a claim about salt doesn’t let you draw conclusions about sugars.
Which allergens should I check in vegetable stock?
Check the packaging of the product you’ve bought rather than relying on the word ‘vegetable’. The Carrefour and Auchan product listings mentioned in this article include celery or soya in some recipes, as well as warnings about possible traces of other allergens, depending on the product.
Is Nutri-Score enough to compare the sugar content of stock cubes?
No. It doesn’t replace checking the ‘of which sugars’ line, ingredients or allergens. The DGCCRF describes Nutri-Score as a voluntary label; for this particular choice, compare the stock cubes’ nutritional values on the same basis.