French soup labels reveal only 30% vegetables, with water making up most of the content. Regulations require clear labeling of vegetable percentages.
Soup labels show vegetable content
In France, soup packaging often includes images of vegetables, but these do not always reflect the actual amount of vegetables in the product. Studies show that commercial soups usually contain about 30 percent vegetables, with the rest primarily water.Regulation requires vegetable percentage
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 mandates that if a vegetable is named or pictured on a soup label, its percentage must be listed. This requirement is known as the quantitative ingredient declaration, or QUID, and helps consumers make informed choices.Labeling format and potato inclusion
The vegetable percentage is typically found next to the recipe name or in the ingredient list, which is ordered by quantity. Water is often the first ingredient, making up 80 to 90 percent of the soup. Potato is counted as a vegetable for labeling, which can increase the vegetable percentage shown on the package.Vegetable content affects Nutri-Score
The vegetable percentage also impacts the Nutri-Score, a nutritional rating system. Only when vegetables make up more than 40 percent of the product does the score begin to reflect this benefit, encouraging consumers to look for higher vegetable content in their soups.
