Cooks controlling the seasoning
If you are making chilli, a bean stew, enchilada sauce or taco filling, a plain tomato base lets you add chilli and other seasonings separately. Check the ingredients if avoiding added sugar matters to you.
Who is this choice for?
Shoppers comparing sugar figures
Compare the declared “of which sugars” values per 100g, then read the ingredients. NHS guidance says the total includes sugars naturally present in vegetables; it is not a measure of added sugar alone.
Cooks choosing a sauce texture
Chopped tomatoes leave more noticeable pieces in a filling or stew. Finely chopped tomato pulp is an option when you want a smoother base.
What should you check?
Choose the texture your dish needs, then compare nutrition panels and ingredients on the exact tins you are considering.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare “of which sugars” per 100g, not figures for different serving sizes. Read the ingredients for added sugar; the nutrition figure also includes naturally occurring sugars, as the NHS explains. | I want a plain base without sugar listed among the ingredients, and a comparable total-sugars figure across tins. |
| Seasoning | Check flavoured tins separately from plain ones. ASDA Groceries lists sugar among the ingredients of its Chopped Tomatoes with Chilli and Peppers, but not in its plain Chopped Tomatoes. | I would rather add chilli, garlic or other seasonings myself than rely on a pre-flavoured tin. |
| Texture | Look for chopped tomatoes if you want discernible pieces, or finely chopped pulp for a smoother sauce base. Check the exact product format, not just the brand. | For taco filling, I may want tomato pieces; for a smoother sauce, a finer pulp makes more sense. |
| Salt | Compare salt per 100g when sugar figures are alike. ASDA Groceries lists 0.09g for KTC Chopped Tomatoes and 0.30g for Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes per 100g. | If two tins have the same declared sugars, I also want to consider their salt figures alongside the rest of my recipe. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Reading total sugars as added sugar
NHS guidance says sugars naturally present in vegetables are included in the total-sugars figure. A lower figure alone therefore does not establish whether sugar was added.
Compare “of which sugars” per 100g and read the ingredients list when choosing a plain tomato base.
-
Assuming a flavoured tin has the same ingredients as the plain version
ASDA Groceries lists sugar and 4.5g sugars per 100g for its chilli-and-pepper tomatoes, compared with 3.8g sugars per 100g for its plain chopped tomatoes.
If you want to control the seasoning, check the flavoured tin’s ingredients or start with plain tomatoes and add your own spices.
-
Overlooking salt when sugar figures match
ASDA Groceries lists 2.8g sugars per 100g for both the checked KTC and Mutti products, but their declared salt figures are 0.09g and 0.30g per 100g respectively.
Use the salt declaration as a further comparison, particularly when your recipe also contains stock, cheese or seasoning blends.
Brand and product-line references
These figures describe the specified products, not every tin sold under each brand; check the label of the variant you choose.
KTC
The checked Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice 400g is a plain, chunky option.
- ASDA Groceries lists 2.8g sugars and 0.09g salt per 100g; its ingredients are tomatoes, tomato juice and citric acid.
- Chopped pieces will give a different texture from finely chopped pulp unless you blend or cook them further.
Mutti
The checked Finely Chopped Tomatoes 400g offers a finer tomato texture.
- ASDA Groceries lists 2.8g sugars per 100g and ingredients of tomatoes (99.8%) and salt.
- Its listed salt is 0.30g per 100g, compared with 0.09g per 100g for the checked KTC tin.
Sainsbury's
The checked Italian Chopped Tomatoes 4 x 400g contains tomatoes in concentrated tomato juice.
- Sainsbury's lists tomatoes, concentrated tomato juice and citric acid in the ingredients, with 0.07g salt per 100g.
- Its declared sugars are 3.5g per 100g, compared with 2.8g per 100g for the checked KTC and Mutti products.
ASDA
Its checked plain and chilli-and-pepper chopped tomatoes have different ingredient lists.
- ASDA Groceries lists 3.8g sugars and 0.01g salt per 100g for the plain 400g tin, with no sugar listed in its ingredients.
- The checked chilli-and-pepper variant lists sugar as an ingredient and declares 4.5g sugars per 100g.
Napolina
The checked standard chopped tomatoes are a chunky format for recipes where tomato pieces are wanted.
- Napolina lists 3.6g sugars and 0.10g salt per 100g for its standard chopped tomatoes.
- Check the ingredients of the exact tin if choosing a garlic, herb or chilli variant.
M&S
The checked Chopped Italian Tomatoes 400g contains tomatoes in tomato juice.
- Marks & Spencer lists 3.8g sugars and 0.02g salt per 100g, with Italian chopped tomatoes, tomato juice and citric acid in the ingredients.
- Its declared sugars are above the 2.8g-per-100g figures on the checked KTC and Mutti tins; check the current tin when comparing.
Tinned tomato options on Joybuy
These chopped and finely chopped tomato options cover single tins and multipacks for Mexican-style cooking. Compare the pack size and format before checking the exact tin’s nutrition panel and ingredients.
No image available
KTC Chopped Tomatoes 400G
A chopped tomato base for chilli or taco filling. ASDA Groceries lists 2.8g sugars and 0.09g salt per 100g for the checked 400g tin, with tomatoes, tomato juice and citric acid in its ingredients; check the tin’s current label before choosing.
No image available
Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes 4 x 400g
The finely chopped format is worth considering when you want a smoother base for chilli or sauce. This pack contains four 400g tins; compare the nutrition and ingredients on the pack you receive.
No image available
Napolina Chopped Tomatoes 4 x 400g
A chopped format for dishes where you want tomato pieces and will add your own seasoning. The pack contains four 400g tins; check the exact variant’s ingredients and per-100g figures.
No image available
Napolina Chopped Tomatoes 6 x 400g
For several dishes needing a chopped tomato base, this variant contains six 400g tins. Check its current ingredients and nutrition panel rather than assuming every Napolina variant has the same recipe.
No image available
Laila Chopped Tomatoes 12 x 400g
A twelve-tin chopped tomato pack for cooking more than one dish. If sugar content is the deciding factor, compare its per-100g declaration and ingredients with smaller packs before choosing.
Questions about choosing a tin
Does a lower sugars figure mean no sugar was added?
No. NHS guidance says the total-sugars figure includes sugars naturally present in vegetables. Compare the figure per 100g and read the ingredients: for example, ASDA Groceries lists sugar in its chilli-and-pepper chopped tomatoes.
How do the checked tins compare on declared sugars?
ASDA Groceries lists 2.8g sugars per 100g for the checked KTC Chopped Tomatoes and Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes. Sainsbury's lists 3.5g per 100g for its checked Italian Chopped Tomatoes, while Napolina lists 3.6g per 100g for its standard chopped product. These are product-specific total-sugars figures, not measures of added sugar.
Should I use chopped tomatoes or fine pulp for chilli?
Choose chopped tomatoes if you want noticeable tomato pieces in the chilli or filling. Choose finely chopped pulp, such as the checked Mutti format, if you want a smoother tomato base; compare ingredients and nutrition separately from that texture decision.