For a homemade tomato side or sauce alongside Chinese takeaway, compare tins by their salt content per 100g rather than assuming a brand or Italian origin means less salt. The NHS defines 0.3g salt or less per 100g as low; the checked M&S chopped tomatoes list 0.02g, ASDA cherry tomatoes 0.10g and Mutti finely chopped tomatoes 0.30g per 100g. The tin is only one part of the meal, so consider the takeaway dishes and sauces too.
If you are making a tomato-based side or sauce alongside a Chinese takeaway, the tin is one ingredient you can compare. The NHS also identifies takeaways and sauces as sources of salt, so a lower-salt tomato base does not determine the salt content of the whole meal.
Chopped, finely chopped and whole cherry tomatoes offer different textures. Compare their salt figures on the same per-100g basis before deciding which format works for your recipe.
A tomato-in-juice tin without salt listed among its ingredients may suit a sauce you plan to season yourself. Check the nutrition panel as well: the ingredient list alone does not tell you its declared salt value.
Start with the declared salt per 100g, then choose a tomato format that fits the dish and check how much of the tin you will use.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Salt per 100g | Compare the same per-100g figure on each tin. The NHS calls 0.3g salt or less per 100g low; check the current pack rather than judging by brand or origin. | I want to limit the salt contributed by the homemade tomato dish. A per-100g comparison helps me choose between tins before adding other ingredients. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredient list for added salt as well as the nutrition panel. A tomato-in-juice product and a product listing salt as an ingredient still need their declared salt values compared. | If I plan to season the sauce myself, I want to know what is already in the tin. |
| Texture | Check whether the tomatoes are chopped, finely chopped or whole. The ASDA Pomodorini listing describes cherry tomatoes; the checked Mutti product is finely chopped. | For a smoother sauce, I would rather start with smaller pieces; if visible tomatoes suit the dish, I can choose a whole-tomato format and break it down while cooking. |
| Amount used | After comparing per 100g, consider the quantity going into the recipe. ASDA Groceries lists 0.10g salt per 100g and 0.20g per suggested half-can serving for its 400g Pomodorini tin. | I may use more or less than a suggested serving, so I want the figure to reflect the amount going into my dish. |
| Other additions | Consider sauces and takeaway dishes alongside the tomato base. NHS guidance identifies takeaways and sauces, including soy sauce, as possible sources of salt. | A lower-salt tin matters to my homemade dish, but I do not want to mistake it for a measure of the entire takeaway-night meal. |
The checked M&S Chopped Italian Tomatoes list 0.02g salt per 100g, while ASDA Groceries lists 0.30g per 100g for Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes. Origin and positioning do not give you the salt figure.
Compare the labels of the exact tins you are considering, then choose the texture that suits your dish.
A lower-salt base does not make a Chinese takeaway-night meal low in salt. The NHS identifies takeaway foods and sauces such as soy sauce as sources to consider.
Taste the homemade dish before adding salt, and consider how much salty sauce you add to it.
A suggested serving may not match the amount you use. ASDA Groceries gives both per-100g and half-can salt figures for its Pomodorini cherry tomatoes.
Use the per-100g declaration to compare products, then work out the contribution from the amount your recipe needs.
These are examples of specific UK listings, not salt ratings for everything each brand sells.
The checked M&S listings include Italian tomatoes in chopped and other formats.
The checked Exceptional by ASDA Pomodorini product is a 400g cherry-tomato tin.
The checked Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes product is a 400g tin.
Tesco Groceries and Sainsbury's list Napolina among their tinned-tomato options.
Tesco Groceries lists own-label Italian chopped and finely chopped tomatoes alongside branded products.
Sainsbury's lists own-label chopped and plum tomatoes alongside branded tins.
These chopped and plum tomato options could form the homemade tomato part of a Chinese takeaway-night meal. Check each pack’s current salt declaration per 100g and ingredients when choosing between them.
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Whole plum tomatoes are an option if you are happy to break them down for a homemade sauce. This listing is for 12 x 400g tins; check the current pack’s salt figure per 100g.
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Chopped tomatoes suit a dish where you want smaller tomato pieces from the start. The pack contains 4 x 400g tins; compare its current per-100g salt declaration with other options.
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Choose the peeled plum format if whole tomatoes fit your recipe and you can break them down as needed. This is a 4 x 400g pack; read the current tin for its salt value and ingredients.
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This chopped-tomato option comes in a 6 x 400g pack. If you are choosing it for a takeaway-night sauce, check salt per 100g on the current pack as well as the amount your recipe uses.
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This single 400g tin offers a plum-tomato format for a homemade tomato dish. Break down the tomatoes if your sauce needs smaller pieces, and check the pack’s current salt declaration before choosing.
The NHS defines a food with 0.3g salt or less per 100g as low in salt. Use the salt figure per 100g on the exact tin to compare products, regardless of whether the front of the pack highlights salt.
No: neither wording replaces the nutrition figure you need for a direct comparison. Check salt per 100g and read the ingredient list to see whether salt is listed in the exact product you are buying.
No. It changes the tomato component, not the salt content of the takeaway dishes or added sauces. The NHS identifies takeaways and sauces such as soy sauce as sources of salt to consider.
Follow the storage instructions on the exact tin. For its Italian Tomatoes product, Marks & Spencer instructs shoppers to remove leftovers from the opened can and cover them in a non-metallic container.