For a family dinner where reducing salt is the priority, compare the exact tin’s salt per 100g before choosing a texture. ASDA Chopped Tomatoes lists 0.01g per 100g, M&S Chopped Italian Tomatoes 0.02g, and Tesco Italian Finely Chopped Tomatoes 0.03g; the Tesco option will give a finer base. Check the rest of the recipe too, since the tomato tin is only one ingredient.
If adults and children eat the same meal, you may want to compare the tomato base alongside stock, sauces and seasoning. The NHS gives lower maximum daily salt amounts for younger children than for adults.
Chopped tomatoes leave more visible pieces in a pasta sauce, chilli or bake; finely chopped tomatoes give a more uniform base. Texture does not tell you the salt figure, so check both on the exact product.
Compare salt per 100g before comparing portions. A familiar brand name or similar-looking 400g tin does not establish that two products have the same salt content.
Start with salt per 100g to compare tins on the same basis, then choose a texture and check how much tomato the dinner will use.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Declared salt | Compare salt per 100g on the exact tins. ASDA lists 0.01g, M&S 0.02g and Tesco’s finely chopped tomatoes 0.03g per 100g, according to their product information. Check the current pack label. | I want to choose by a comparable salt figure, not by the brand or the appearance of the pack. |
| Whole recipe | Check the stock, sauces, cheese, cured meat and added seasoning as well as the tomatoes. The NHS sets different maximum daily salt amounts by age, including lower amounts for children aged 4–10 than for those aged 11 and over. | A lower-salt tomato base matters to me, but I also need to account for what goes into the rest of our dinner. |
| Texture | Choose standard chopped tomatoes for visible pieces or finely chopped tomatoes for a more uniform base. Tesco lists 0.03g salt per 100g for its finely chopped product and 0.09g for its standard chopped product. | For a chunky chilli, I may prefer chopped tomatoes; for a more even sauce, finer pieces may suit the recipe. |
| Portion and storage | Check the salt figure for the amount you will use, rather than assuming every serving is half a can. Follow the exact tin’s instructions for transferring and refrigerating leftovers. | If I open several tins for a family meal, I want to know how much goes into the dish and how to store any remainder. |
Declared figures differ between the named products: ASDA Chopped Tomatoes lists 0.01g salt per 100g, while Mutti Polpa lists 0.30g per 100g, according to ASDA Groceries and Mutti respectively.
Compare the nutrition panels of the exact tins you are considering, using the per-100g figures.
Tesco’s finely chopped and standard chopped tomatoes have different declared salt figures, but they also produce different amounts of visible tomato pieces.
Decide whether the recipe calls for a chunkier or more uniform base, then compare salt within the formats that work for it.
A tomato tin is only part of the dinner; stock, sauces and added seasoning also need checking when you are comparing the meal’s salt content.
Review those ingredients before seasoning. Herbs and spices can add flavour without routinely adding salt.
Post-opening instructions can differ between products, so the time suitable for one tin should not be assumed for another.
Follow the current pack’s container, refrigeration and use-after-opening instructions.
These figures describe the named products, not every tomato tin from each brand or retailer.
ASDA Chopped Tomatoes 400g is a standard chopped option with 0.01g salt per 100g listed by ASDA Groceries.
M&S Chopped Italian Tomatoes 400g lists 0.02g salt per 100g in Marks & Spencer’s product information.
Tesco’s Italian Finely Chopped Tomatoes 400g lists 0.03g salt per 100g; its Italian Chopped Tomatoes 400g lists 0.09g, according to Tesco Groceries.
Sainsbury’s Italian Chopped Tomatoes 4 × 400g lists 0.07g salt per 100g in Sainsbury’s product information.
Napolina describes its Chopped Tomatoes as chunky and lists 0.10g salt per 100g.
Mutti Polpa is a finely chopped tomato pulp; Mutti lists salt among its ingredients and declares 0.30g salt per 100g.
These listings include chopped tomatoes and whole plum tomatoes for family cooking. Compare the current tin’s salt declaration and choose a format that works for your recipe.
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Chopped tomatoes for a recipe where visible pieces suit the sauce. Napolina lists 0.10g salt per 100g for its chopped tomatoes; check the current tins for their nutrition and post-opening instructions.
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The chopped format suits meals where tomato pieces are wanted, and the pack contains twelve 400g tins. Check the exact tin’s salt per 100g and storage instructions when planning repeated meals.
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Choose this whole plum format if it works for the dish, rather than assuming it has the texture or salt figure of Napolina’s chopped tomatoes. Check the current tin’s nutrition panel.
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A single chopped-tomato tin for a recipe needing visible tomato pieces. Compare its current per-100g salt declaration with other tins before choosing for a lower-salt dinner.
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This is a whole plum-tomato option, not a chopped one; crush it if the recipe needs smaller pieces. Check the exact tin’s salt per 100g and post-opening instructions.
Compare salt per 100g on the exact tins, then consider how much each recipe uses. ASDA Groceries lists 0.01g per 100g for ASDA Chopped Tomatoes, Marks & Spencer lists 0.02g for M&S Chopped Italian Tomatoes, and Tesco Groceries lists 0.03g for Tesco Italian Finely Chopped Tomatoes. Check the current pack before buying.
No. It changes the tomato base, not the other ingredients. Check stock, sauces, cheese, cured meat and seasoning in the full recipe, particularly when adults and children share the meal; the NHS gives different maximum daily salt amounts by age.
Choose standard chopped tomatoes if you want visible pieces, or finely chopped tomatoes for a more uniform base. Check salt separately: Tesco Groceries lists 0.03g per 100g for its Italian Finely Chopped Tomatoes and 0.09g for its Italian Chopped Tomatoes.
Follow that product’s current instructions for transferring, refrigerating and using the contents. Do not assume the same post-opening period applies to every brand or variant.