Those who like to build their own store cupboard
You prefer to choose taco shells, salsa and pulses separately so you can vary the fillings rather than follow a kit recipe.
Who are these options for?
Those who prefer a kit
You want to get the base, sauce and spices in one purchase, while planning a plant-based filling and checking the ingredients in each component.
Those who need to check for wheat
You compare corn taco shells with soft tortillas by reading the label for the product you’ve chosen, particularly if you need to avoid wheat or check for possible traces.
What should you check before buying?
First decide whether you want to choose each component yourself or use a kit. Then check the ingredients and format of the product you’ve selected.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable ingredients | Check the full ingredients list and allergens on the packaging; don’t assume that “vegetarian” means “vegan”. | When I’m putting together a vegan meal, I want to check the sauce and spices too, not just replace the suggested meat. Around 36% of consumers rank this check as their top priority. |
| Number of steps | Check what the kit actually contains and which fillings you’ll need to provide separately. | If I’m short on time, I’d rather have the base, sauce and spices together in one kit, even if I still need to prepare the filling. Around 29% of consumers prioritise cutting down on the number of steps. |
| A flexible store cupboard | Check the format of each component, the best-before date and the drained net weight of canned products packed in liquid. | For several meals, I want to be able to use my pulses and sauce separately. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this flexibility. |
| Texture and wheat | Choose between crunchy taco shells and soft tortillas; check for wheat and any trace warnings if needed. | I choose between a crunchy shell and a foldable tortilla, while also considering whether I need to avoid wheat. Format or this dietary restriction is the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Pitfalls to avoid
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Assuming “vegetarian” means “vegan”
A vegetarian label doesn’t necessarily meet vegan requirements: some vegetarian foods may contain ingredients of animal origin.
Read the full ingredients list for the product you buy, and check any relevant trace information if that matters to you.
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Assuming a kit contains everything you need for a meal
The Crousti Taco Old El Paso kit featured by Auchan contains taco shells, sauce and spices, but you’ll need to choose a filling. Recipes suggested with kits may include meat, cream or cheese.
Plan a separate plant-based filling and check the kit’s components before buying.
Your chosen filling may require ingredients that aren’t included in the kit.
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Relying on the online product listing alone
The ingredients in a product can change: the Carrefour listing for the Old El Paso Tacos kit notes that its information may not match the product.
When you buy or receive it, check the ingredients, allergens and instructions on the packaging again.
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Assuming soft tortillas are wheat-free
The tortillas in the Street Vibes Old El Paso kit featured by Carrefour contain wheat.
If you need to avoid this ingredient, check the ingredients and any trace warnings for the specific base you choose, including corn taco shells.
Brands to know for your store cupboard
Old El Paso
The range featured by Auchan and Carrefour includes corn taco shells, salsa and taco kits.
- The Crousti Taco kit brings together taco shells, sauce and spices; you can also choose these separately.
- Recipe suggestions may include animal products, and some kit tortillas contain wheat. Check the product you buy.
Carrefour Classic'
Chickpeas from this range are included in the pulses section of the canned goods selection featured by Carrefour.
- Chickpeas are an option for a filling that you can season separately.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and format of the product you choose.
Carrefour Bio
Carrefour Bio chickpeas are also included in the pulses section featured by Carrefour.
- Another range to consider if you’re looking for chickpeas to build your filling.
- The “organic” label alone doesn’t confirm that the ingredients meet your vegan requirements or that there are no possible traces.
Pulses for building your filling
These products can be used in a filling alongside a separately chosen base and sauce. Distinguish between ready-cooked products and dried chickpeas, which need to be cooked.
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Bonduelle, chickpeas in couscous sauce 400 g
A chickpea dish in sauce to consider if you want to fill your tacos without cooking the pulses separately. Check the ingredients and allergens for this variety before choosing it for a vegan meal.
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Goya, red kidney beans 439 g
Red kidney beans to consider for a filling you can prepare separately from the base and salsa. Check the ingredients and storage information on the packaging for the product you choose.
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Royal Bourbon Natural Cape Peas 400 g
Ready-cooked black-eyed peas to add variety to a filling that you can season to suit your recipe. The listed ingredients are black-eyed peas, water and salt; check the label on the product you buy if trace information or vegan confirmation is important to you.
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Valle Del Sole, dried chickpeas 900 g
Dried chickpeas for preparing and seasoning your own filling. Allow time to soak and cook them before serving. The product description warns that traces of gluten, including wheat and barley, may be present; check the label if you need to avoid these.
Frequently asked questions
Does replacing the meat make a taco kit vegan?
Not necessarily: changing the suggested filling doesn’t tell you what’s in every component of the kit. Check the ingredients in the taco shells or tortillas, sauce and spices on the packaging you buy, rather than relying only on the recipe pictured.
Which weight should I check for tinned pulses?
For a product packed in liquid, check the drained net weight to see how much product there is without the liquid. France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that this weight must appear on the labels of these products in France.
Are corn taco shells suitable if I need to avoid wheat?
The Auchan listing for Old El Paso Taco Shells gives maize flour and vegetable oils in the ingredients list. You should still check the label and any trace warnings on the packet you buy; by contrast, the tortillas in the Street Vibes kit featured by Carrefour contain wheat.