Families tracking energy and sugars
A multipack can provide several household meals, but the figures per 100g and for the amount served are more useful than the pack name when comparing recipes.
Who is comparing family packs?
Shoppers comparing salt
A reduced-sugar recipe is not necessarily the answer to a salt comparison. Check salt per 100g and for the portion you expect to eat.
Households planning several meals
Can size and can count matter when different numbers of people will eat the beans. Consider whether an opened can can be used within the storage period stated on its label.
What should you check first?
Start with the nutrition panel for a like-for-like comparison, then check the portion and pack format against how your household will use the beans. The NHS notes that food labels can help people compare products.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and portions | Compare kcal per 100g across different can sizes. Check the labelled serving weight and calculate the figures for the amount you intend to serve. | When serving beans to several people, I want to know what each portion contains, not treat a can or multipack as a suggested serving. |
| Sugars and salt | Read both values per 100g and per serving. Check what a “reduced” claim is compared with; a “no added sugar” label does not mean sugar-free. | Even if I am looking at a reduced-sugar recipe, salt may still affect which pack I choose. |
| Fibre and protein | Compare the listed amounts on the same per-100g basis, then consider the portion you will use. Judge the beans as one part of the meal rather than by a single label figure. | I may want to compare these nutrients, while keeping the rest of the meal and the serving size in view. |
| Pack size and leftovers | Check the number and size of cans. Read the opened-can instructions before planning to use the remainder for another meal. | Four smaller cans may fit my household differently from larger cans or a six-can pack, particularly when a whole can will not be used at once. |
Common mistakes to avoid
-
Treating “family pack” as a portion size
A multipack describes how the cans are sold, not how much one person should serve. Eating more than the labelled serving changes the energy, sugars and salt in that portion.
Choose the amount you expect to serve and use the per-100g panel to work out its figures.
-
Looking at sugars but overlooking salt
Asda Groceries lists 0.9g salt for a half-can serving of the checked Heinz No Added Sugar pack. A sugar-related claim does not describe the salt in your serving.
Compare sugars and salt separately, using the same portion size for each product.
-
Comparing “less sugar” claims without their baselines
Sainsbury’s describes its reduced pack against Sainsbury’s standard beans, while Tesco compares its reduced pack with Tesco standard beans. Those claims do not directly compare the two reduced packs.
Use the actual per-100g nutrition figures when comparing products from different ranges.
-
Forgetting the opened can
The checked Tesco and Sainsbury’s packs instruct shoppers to transfer leftovers to a non-metallic container, refrigerate them and use them within two days.
If a can will cover more than one meal, plan when the remainder will be used and follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
Brands and retailer ranges to compare
These are references for comparing recipes and pack formats, not a list of products all sold by Joybuy.
Heinz
Heinz No Added Sugar baked beans are listed in a 4 x 415g multipack, as well as a smaller 4 x 200g format.
- Asda Groceries lists 66 kcal, 1.9g sugars and 0.4g salt per 100g for the checked 4 x 415g pack.
- “No added sugar” does not mean sugar-free; check sugars and salt for the portion you will serve.
Tesco
Tesco lists Reduced Sugar & Salt baked beans in a 4 x 420g multipack.
- Tesco lists 78 kcal, 3.0g sugars and 0.29g salt per 100g for this pack.
- Tesco’s “less sugar” and “less salt” claims compare this recipe with Tesco standard baked beans, not with every competing pack.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists Reduced Sugar & Salt baked beans in a 4 x 400g multipack.
- Sainsbury’s states that this recipe has 30% less sugar and 30% less salt than its standard baked beans.
- The ingredients include sugar and steviol glycosides; read the ingredient list if either affects your choice.
Asda
Asda Groceries lists the Heinz No Added Sugar 4 x 415g multipack.
- Its listing provides per-100g figures and identifies the four-can format.
- This is an Asda listing of a Heinz product, not a separate Asda bean recipe.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists Essential Reduced Salt & Sugar baked beans as a 420g option and Heinz No Added Sugar as a 4 x 415g pack.
- The range gives shoppers both an individual-can option and a listed Heinz multipack to consider.
- Compare nutrition panels before drawing conclusions from the recipe names alone.
M&S
The M&S tinned-beans range includes Eat Well No Added Sugar Baked Beans in a 390g can.
- An individual can provides a different pack format to consider alongside multipacks.
- Check the label on the can for its current ingredients and nutrition information before comparing it with a family pack.
Baked-bean multipacks on Joybuy
These four- and six-can baked-bean packs offer household formats to compare. Use their labels and your planned portions to decide whether a reduced-sugar-and-salt recipe or another listed pack fits your needs.
No image available
Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans 4 x 410g
The four 410g cans suit a household comparing a reduced-sugar-and-salt recipe. Check sugars and salt for the amount you plan to serve; the reduction claim is relative to standard Branston beans, not every other brand.
No image available
HEINZ Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce 4 x 415g
For a household considering four 415g cans, compare the nutrition panel with reduced-recipe alternatives on a per-100g basis. Work out the figures for your intended portion rather than assuming that half a can is what you will serve.
No image available
Branston Beans in Tomato Sauce 6 x 410g
Six 410g cans may fit a household planning repeated meals. Compare sugars and salt for the portion you intend to serve, and follow the pack’s instructions for any leftovers from an opened can.
No image available
Branston Baked Beans 4 x 410g
This four-can, 410g-per-can format offers a different household pack size from the six-can Branston listing. Compare the nutrition figures for the serving you expect to use, particularly if salt is a deciding factor.
Frequently asked questions
Should I compare baked-bean family packs per can or per 100g?
Compare per 100g first because can sizes differ, then check the figures for the portion you expect to eat. The checked Sainsbury’s pack labels a 200g half-can serving, while the checked Tesco pack uses 210g, so their per-serving figures do not describe identical amounts.
Does “no added sugar” mean baked beans contain no sugar?
No. Asda Groceries lists 1.9g sugars per 100g for the checked Heinz No Added Sugar pack, which contains naturally occurring sugars. Read the ingredient list as well if you want to check for sweeteners.
What should I do with beans left in an opened can?
For the checked Tesco and Sainsbury’s packs, transfer leftovers to a non-metallic container, cover, refrigerate and use within two days. Follow the instructions on the particular can you buy.