For a hotel breakfast, choose the recipe and serving format first rather than looking for a ‘reduced sugar’ claim: some Petit Navire and Saupiquet tuna in spring water products already declare 0 g of sugars per 100 g. Then compare the salt content, drained weight and storage instructions after opening. Tuna in oil or with added seasoning needs a separate check of its ingredients and nutritional information.
If you want to serve tuna without a sauce, compare the ingredients list and sugars declared per 100 g. The tuna in spring water products described by Petit Navire, Saupiquet and Auchan also make it possible to check the salt content.
The tin’s weight alone isn’t enough to plan your service: check the drained weight, the number of portions you need and the product-specific instructions for use after opening. A small pack may be easier to work into portioned service, while a buffet needs a suitable plan for leftovers.
As well as sugars, you can compare the salt content per 100 g on a like-for-like basis and check the species or any certification stated for your chosen product. Make sure you also provide clear information about the presence of fish in the food you serve.
When serving tuna at breakfast, start with the recipe, then check whether the format and instructions for use after opening suit the way your service is organised. Salt content and the information you give customers are still worth checking, even when no sugars are declared.
| Criteria | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Recipe and sugars | The ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ line per 100 g, particularly if the recipe is seasoned. | If I want to serve tuna without a sauce at the buffet, I need to be able to distinguish a plain recipe from a flavoured one before checking the sugars. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this simple ingredients list. |
| Portions and storage | The net weight, drained weight and product-specific storage instructions after opening. | If the food is served in portions, I look for a pack size that matches the number of covers so I can manage leftovers. This would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Salt and product information | Salt per 100 g on a comparable basis, along with the ingredients and information needed to present the product. | When preparing buffet information, I need to be able to compare salt levels and clearly identify the fish in the food being served. Checking these details would be a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A declaration of 0 g of sugars does not, by itself, mean that a product carries a ‘reduced sugar’ claim. The tuna in spring water products reviewed and a seasoned recipe also have different ingredients lists.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ line alongside the ingredients. For a tuna, water and salt recipe, check the ingredients for the exact product rather than relying on a phrase you have searched for.
A tin intended for a buffet can leave you with leftovers if the amount opened exceeds the number of portions served. Instructions for use after opening vary by product.
Match the drained weight to the portions you plan to serve, and check how your team will store the product once the tin has been opened.
In the product information reviewed, Auchan declares 0.71 g of salt per 100 g for its tuna fillets in spring water, compared with 1 g for some Petit Navire and Saupiquet products in spring water. These figures relate to specific products, not their entire ranges.
If salt matters for your requirements, compare the relevant line per 100 g and check the label on the pack you choose.
Fish is one of the allergens that must be identified; a mixed dish may also contain other ingredients that need to be highlighted. The product information for plain tuna may not describe the finished dish you serve.
Make sure the ingredients lists for products and prepared dishes are available to the team responsible for informing buffet customers.
These examples are for comparing specific products; their characteristics should not be assumed to apply to every tinned product from a brand.
The range includes a 160 g MSC Tuna in Spring Water product presented by Petit Navire.
Saupiquet offers MSC whole tuna in spring water in several sizes, from 93 g to 280 g, according to its product page.
Carrefour offers, among other products, a 93 g drained tin of Carrefour Classic’ whole tuna in spring water.
Auchan offers, among other products, 81 g packs of tuna fillets in spring water.
E.Leclerc stocks a 140 g drained tin of Pêche Océan whole albacore tuna in spring water.
This selection includes tuna in spring water in sizes that can help you plan portions or prepare a buffet, as well as a sunflower oil recipe to consider separately. The size in a product title does not replace the drained weight or the instructions on the packaging you choose.
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For portioned service, the 93 g size makes it easier to plan how many tins you need. Check the drained weight and instructions for use after opening on the packaging.
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If you’re preparing tuna to serve cold, match this 140 g size to the number of portions you plan to serve. Check the drained weight and storage instructions after opening.
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To plan portions, start with the 112 g size shown in the product name. Check the drained weight and storage instructions before deciding how much to open.
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To calculate the portions of tuna you’ll actually serve, the title distinguishes 112 g drained from 160 g total. Also plan how to store any contents left over after opening.
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If a tuna recipe in oil suits your buffet, this 160 g tin is a different option from tuna preserved in water. Check its ingredients list and nutritional information before comparing it with products in spring water.
No. A value of ‘0 g of sugars’ is not enough to establish that the tin carries a ‘reduced sugar’ claim. Some Petit Navire and Saupiquet products in spring water declare 0 g per 100 g; for the tin you buy, check the claim actually shown on the packaging and its nutritional information.
Plan your service around the instructions for the product you choose rather than assuming that an opened tin can be left on the buffet. For the products reviewed, Auchan says to refrigerate its fillets at +4 °C and consume them within 24 hours, while Saupiquet recommends refrigerating its MSC whole tuna in spring water and consuming it within two days.
Clearly identify the fish in the information provided for the tuna you serve, and also check the ingredients of any accompanying dish. Service Public Entreprendre provides guidance on allergen information for processed foods; for the requirements that apply to your buffet, follow your venue’s procedures and the rules in force.
First compare the ingredients, sugars and salt per 100 g on a like-for-like basis, then check the drained weight and instructions for use after opening. The product information reviewed includes 0.71 g of salt per 100 g for Auchan tuna fillets and 1 g per 100 g for some Petit Navire and Saupiquet products. Always check the product and pack size you choose.