Curry-night shoppers reducing added sugar
If baked beans are a side dish or quick ingredient, a no-added-sugar label is worth reading alongside the sugars figure and ingredients: it does not mean the beans contain no sugar or sweetener.
Who is comparing these tins?
Households comparing sugar and salt
Checking both figures per 100g makes it easier to compare different can sizes without assuming that the tin with less sugar also has less salt.
Shoppers checking dietary and allergy details
Vegan, gluten-free and allergy statements apply to particular products, not every reduced-sugar tin. Check the exact can before serving guests.
What should you check on the label?
Start with the per-100g nutrition figures, then check the ingredients and the amount you expect to serve.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare “of which sugars” per 100g across tins. M&S lists 1.2g for its No Added Sugar beans; Tesco Groceries lists 3.0g for its Reduced Sugar and Salt beans. | I want to know the listed sugar content, not just whether the front says “reduced” or “no added”. |
| Salt | Read salt per 100g separately. Tesco Groceries lists 0.29g for its Reduced Sugar and Salt beans and 0.4g for Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz; M&S lists 0.43g for its No Added Sugar beans. | For this meal, salt matters to me alongside sugar, so I do not want to choose on one figure alone. |
| Ingredients and allergies | Check for sugar, sweeteners and the exact product’s dietary and allergy statements. Tesco Groceries lists steviol glycosides for Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz; M&S lists sweetener E960a and says its No Added Sugar beans are not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy. | If guests have an allergy or an ingredient preference, I need to check the particular can before serving it. |
| Can size and leftovers | Match the can to the number of diners. Waitrose & Partners lists a 200g Heinz No Added Sugar format, while the compared main tins range from 390g to 420g. Follow the opened-can storage directions on your tin. | A smaller side may not use a whole large can; if I open one, I need a plan for what remains. |
What can catch you out?
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Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
Tesco Groceries lists 1.9g sugars per 100g for Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz, and M&S lists 1.2g per 100g for its No Added Sugar beans.
Use the sugars line per 100g when comparing cans of different sizes.
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Looking at sugar but not salt
Among the compared products, Tesco Groceries lists its Reduced Sugar and Salt beans at 0.29g salt per 100g, while M&S lists its No Added Sugar beans at 0.43g per 100g. Their sugars figures run in the opposite direction.
Compare both nutrients on the same per-100g basis before deciding which matters more for this meal.
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Assuming every reduced-sugar tin suits every guest
Tesco Groceries lists steviol glycosides in Heinz and Branston products, while M&S lists sweetener E960a and says its No Added Sugar beans are not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy.
Read the ingredients and allergy statement on the exact can you intend to serve.
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Opening more beans than the meal needs
A large can may leave unused beans after a small curry night. The checked Tesco and M&S tins instruct shoppers to transfer leftovers to a non-metallic container, refrigerate them and use them within two days.
Choose a can size that fits the meal, or follow the specific tin’s directions for storing what remains.
Without a plan for the remaining beans, some of the opened can may go unused.
Which brand ranges are relevant?
Heinz
Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz is listed in 415g and smaller 200g formats.
- Tesco Groceries lists 1.9g sugars and 0.4g salt per 100g for the 415g tin.
- The beans contain naturally occurring sugars and steviol glycosides from stevia; “no added sugar” does not mean sugar-free or sweetener-free.
Tesco
Tesco Reduced Sugar and Salt Baked Beans come in a 420g can.
- Tesco Groceries lists 3.0g sugars and 0.29g salt per 100g.
- Sugar is in the ingredients, so the reduced-sugar claim should not be read as “no added sugar”.
M&S
M&S Eat Well No Added Sugar Baked Beans are a 390g option.
- M&S lists 1.2g sugars and 0.43g salt per 100g.
- The ingredients include sweetener E960a, and M&S says this product is not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists Essential Reduced Salt & Sugar Baked Beans in 420g and 220g formats, alongside Heinz No Added Sugar products.
- The listed pack sizes offer a choice when planning how many beans to serve.
- Check the individual product’s nutrition panel before comparing its sugars and salt with another tin.
Joybuy beans for curry-night shopping
This Branston reduced-sugar-and-salt multipack is an option if you want several cans for curry-night sides or later meals. Decide how many to open according to the number of diners.
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Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans, 4 x 410g
Four 410g cans let you open only what the curry-night meal calls for and keep the other cans for later. This reduced-sugar product contains sugar and steviol glycosides, so it is neither a no-added-sugar nor a sweetener-free option.
Questions about reduced-sugar baked beans
Does “no added sugar” mean baked beans are sugar-free?
No. Tesco Groceries lists 1.9g sugars per 100g for Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz, and M&S lists 1.2g per 100g for its No Added Sugar beans. Check the sugars line if you want to compare the amounts in different tins.
Do reduced-sugar baked beans contain sweeteners?
Some do. Tesco Groceries lists steviol glycosides in Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz and Branston Reduced Sugar and Salt beans; M&S lists E960a in its No Added Sugar beans. Check the ingredients of the tin you choose rather than assuming all reduced-sugar products use the same recipe.
Are these beans suitable for a vegan or gluten-free curry night?
Suitability depends on the exact tin. The checked Heinz No Added Sugar product is listed as vegan and gluten free, while Tesco Reduced Sugar and Salt beans are listed as suitable for vegans. Read the current dietary and allergy statements before serving guests; M&S says its No Added Sugar beans are not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy.
What should I do with beans left after curry night?
For the checked Tesco and M&S tins, transfer unused beans to a non-metallic container, cover and refrigerate them, and use them within two days. Follow the directions on your particular can.