People avoiding lactose
You’re looking for a ‘lactose-free’ claim or checking the ingredients in each recipe. A ‘reduced salt’ claim alone doesn’t meet this need.
Who is this choice for?
People comparing salt levels
You check the amount per 100 ml before considering how much you plan to serve. This unit makes it easier to compare ready-to-eat liquid soups in different pack sizes.
People stocking up on soup for a quick meal
You need a format that suits your storage space and how quickly you’ll use it. Chilled soup and soup that can be kept in the cupboard unopened have different storage requirements.
What should you check?
When choosing tinned soup, first check that it’s suitable for your lactose-free shop, then compare the salt content. Finally, check the storage instructions for the product you choose.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Lactose-free suitability | Look for an explicit ‘lactose-free’ claim where available. Otherwise, read the ingredients and look out in particular for milk, cream and butter. | For my lactose-free shop, I want to rule out any recipe that lists milk, even if it says ‘reduced salt’; around 42% of consumers prioritise this suitability. |
| Salt content | Compare the salt per 100 ml in ready-to-eat liquid soups, then take the serving size into account. | If I want to limit my salt intake, a reduction claim alone isn’t enough to choose between two recipes; around 42% of consumers put salt content first. |
| Format and storage | Check whether the soup should be stored in the cupboard or in the fridge, as well as the instructions for after opening. | When I keep soup for a quick meal, I look for a format I can store and finish within the stated timeframe; around 16% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘reduced salt’ means ‘lactose-free’
The ingredients lists for the reduced- or low-salt Liebig velouté soups listed by Carrefour and Auchan include skimmed milk and butter.
Check the ingredients or look for a ‘lactose-free’ claim separately, then check the salt content.
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Comparing a pack with a bowl without checking the unit
Pack sizes and portion sizes can vary. Nutrition information per 100 ml gives you a common basis for comparing ready-to-eat liquid soups.
First compare the salt per 100 ml, then relate it to the amount you plan to serve.
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Storing chilled soup like tinned soup
Soup from the chilled aisle needs to be stored differently from soup that can be kept in the cupboard unopened.
Before choosing a soup to keep in stock, check its storage temperature and how long it will keep after opening.
If you don’t use the chilled soup within the stated timeframe, you may have to throw it away.
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Relying on the word ‘plant-based’ alone
The way a range is presented doesn’t tell you what’s in the specific recipe you’re buying, or whether it’s reduced in salt.
Check the label for the flavour and pack you’ve chosen, even if you already know the brand.
Brands to consider by recipe
Liebig
The range includes carton-packed velouté soups labelled as having reduced salt.
- Carrefour and Auchan’s product listings let you check the 12-vegetable velouté soups recipe by recipe.
- These listings mention skimmed milk and butter, so their salt claims don’t qualify them as lactose-free soups.
La Potagère
The brand includes a carton-packed soup made with Provence tomatoes and organic vegetables.
- Auchan’s listing describes this recipe as plant-based, which may help you find a soup with no obvious dairy ingredients, provided you check the exact label.
- This description isn’t a ‘lactose-free’ claim or a promise of reduced salt.
Royco
The Royco products listed by Carrefour include dehydrated soups in sachets.
- Sachets may be a handy option to keep in stock, provided the preparation method suits how you plan to use the soup.
- Check the ingredients for your chosen flavour and its nutrition information after preparation. The format doesn’t prove that it’s lactose-free or reduced in salt.
Les Printanières
This ALDI brand includes soup recipes with different ingredients.
- Checking each recipe helps you distinguish vegetable soups from varieties whose names mention cheese.
- The range name alone doesn’t show that a recipe is both lactose-free and reduced in salt; check the pack you choose.
Joybuy products
Related products are coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is reduced-salt soup necessarily lactose-free?
No. The ingredients lists for the reduced- or low-salt Liebig velouté soups listed by Carrefour and Auchan mention skimmed milk and butter. Check the ingredients or look for an explicit ‘lactose-free’ claim, independently of any salt claim.
How can you compare the salt content of two ready-to-eat soups?
Compare the salt per 100 ml, then take into account how much you’ll consume. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds shoppers that nutrition information for prepacked foods is given per 100 g or 100 ml to make comparisons easier.
What should you look for on the label when choosing lactose-free soup?
Look for an explicit ‘lactose-free’ claim if one appears on the product, and read the ingredients list for the exact recipe. For prepacked foods, the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted. If a recipe lists milk or a milk derivative, don’t assume it’s lactose-free based on its name alone.
Can you store chilled soup in the same way as tinned soup?
No. Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve bought. Chilled soup must be kept at the temperature stated on the packaging and used within the stated timeframe after opening. Tinned soup should be stored unopened according to the instructions on its own label.