To prepare a small amount of tinned peas, compare the net drained weight of each tin. A multipack of smaller tins lets you open just one, while a 265–280 g tin may suit a meal shared with others. The word ‘tender’ may help you choose a softer texture for everyday comfort, but it does not guarantee that the peas are suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties. If this applies to you, follow your healthcare professional’s advice. Also compare the salt content and ingredients of the product you choose.
If firm textures are uncomfortable for you, look for peas you can prepare to suit your chewing needs. However, the word ‘tender’ alone cannot tell you whether whole peas are suitable if you have difficulty swallowing. The Paris Nord Val de Seine University Hospitals of AP-HP remind us that food should be adapted to each person’s ability to chew and swallow.
If you want to prepare a side dish without opening a large tin, check the net drained weight of each tin rather than the weight of the multipack. Carrefour, for example, lists multipacks of three tins, each with a net drained weight of 140 g.
If you’d like to season the dish yourself, compare the nutritional information and ingredients list for each product. E.Leclerc’s listing for the Notre Jardin mix states 0.0 g of salt per 100 g drained, while Auchan’s listing for the 280 g Cassegrain peas states 0.8 g per 100 g.
For this meal, start by choosing an amount that suits the number of people eating, then check the texture you want, the label and the preparation time. A small tin can help you avoid leftovers, but it won’t address any prescribed texture requirements.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Texture to suit your needs | Don’t confuse the marketing description ‘tender’ with the texture you actually need. If you have swallowing difficulties, follow your healthcare professional’s advice. | If chewing or swallowing is difficult, I want to be able to serve a texture that suits my abilities rather than rely on the product name; around 34% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Amount per tin | Compare the net drained weight of each tin and the number of portions stated, especially when buying a multipack. | For a small meal, I’d rather open an amount close to what I’m going to serve to limit leftovers; around 25% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Salt and ingredients | Check the salt per 100 g and the ingredients list for the exact product. | If I want to season the dish myself, I need to know what’s in the tin; around 16% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Preparation | Check the instructions and, if necessary, allow time to adjust the texture according to the advice you’ve been given. | When I need the vegetables ready quickly, I look for a preparation method that fits the time I have; around 25% of consumers would put speed first. |
A product description can’t tell you whether whole peas are suitable for someone who has difficulty swallowing. AP-HP stresses that each person’s ability to chew and swallow should be considered individually.
If a particular texture has been prescribed, follow that advice, including any instructions to mash or blend food.
A small tin with a net drained weight of 140 g and the 280 g Cassegrain tin, which is listed as two portions, don’t meet the same needs.
Before choosing an individual tin or a multipack, check the net drained weight per tin and the number of portions stated.
E.Leclerc and Auchan list 0.0 g of salt per 100 g drained for the Notre Jardin mix mentioned here and 0.8 g per 100 g for the 280 g Cassegrain peas, respectively. These figures apply to two specific products.
Check the nutritional information and ingredients on the tin you’re buying. Don’t assume it has the same contents as another product.
The DGCCRF warns that dents, rust or a bulging tin may indicate that it has deteriorated. Once opened, it’s important to follow the product’s storage instructions.
Don’t eat the contents of a damaged tin, and follow the label when storing leftovers. The Joybuy listing for the 530 g Bonduelle mix says to refrigerate it and consume it within two days of opening.
Bonduelle sells peas on their own as well as pea and carrot mixes, including products with a net drained weight of 420 g and 530 g.
Carrefour sells peas in multipacks of smaller tins, including three tins with a net drained weight of 140 g each.
The Notre Jardin product listed by E.Leclerc is a 265 g mix of extra-fine peas and young carrots, with no added sugar or salt.
Cassegrain describes its 280 g peas as ‘tender and meltingly soft’, and Auchan’s listing says they make two portions.
Auchan’s range includes pea and carrot mixes in a 265 g tin and in a multipack of three 130 g tins.
This 530 g Bonduelle pea and carrot mix is better suited to a shared meal or using up leftovers than to anyone looking for a small tin of peas on their own. If you plan to serve it over more than one meal, check the ingredients and storage instructions after opening.
Image unavailable
Consider this pack if several people are sharing a meal or you can use up the leftovers quickly. It’s a ready-to-eat vegetable mix, not a small tin of peas on their own.
The Joybuy listing says to refrigerate the product after opening and consume it within two days. The description ‘tender’ doesn’t guarantee a texture suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties.
No. This description alone isn’t enough to establish whether whole peas are suitable. AP-HP says that food should be adapted to each person’s ability to chew and swallow. Follow your healthcare professional’s advice on the texture to serve.
No. The number of portions depends on the product and the meal you’re planning. Carrefour sells multipacks of tins with a net drained weight of 140 g each, while Auchan’s listing for the 280 g Cassegrain peas says they make two portions. Compare the weight of each tin with the stated number of portions.
Compare the salt per 100 g shown in the nutritional information for each product, then read its ingredients list. E.Leclerc’s listing for the Notre Jardin mix mentioned here states 0.0 g per 100 g drained, compared with 0.8 g per 100 g on Auchan’s listing for the 280 g Cassegrain peas.
Follow the storage instructions and use-by period stated for the tin you’ve bought. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that the relevant instructions change once a product has been opened. For the 530 g Bonduelle mix shown on Joybuy, the listing says to refrigerate it and consume it within two days.
According to the DGCCRF, a product isn’t necessarily unsafe to eat after its best-before date, provided, among other things, that the packaging is intact. Don’t eat the contents of a tin that is bulging, rusty, dented or shows any other sign of damage.