Who is this for?

Hosts comparing total sugars

If baked beans are part of your Easter lunch, the total-sugars figure per 100g lets you compare tins of different sizes without relying on the claim on the front.

Shoppers checking sugar and salt together

A reduced-sugar claim answers only part of your question. Check both nutrition figures per 100g, then look at the serving information for the amount you plan to serve.

Hosts checking guests’ ingredients and allergens

For a shared lunch, read the current can’s ingredients and allergy statement rather than assuming that baked-bean recipes have the same suitability.

What should you compare?

Start with the nutrition panel, then check whether the recipe and pack format work for the people you are serving.

Priority What to check Your needs
Total sugars Compare total sugars per 100g on each tin. Read “no added sugar” alongside the nutrition panel: the NHS explains that naturally occurring sugars are included in total sugars. I want to compare the amount declared on the label, not assume that a no-added-sugar tin contains none. Marks & Spencer lists 1.2g sugars per 100g for its No Added Sugar Baked Beans.
Salt Compare salt per 100g separately. Tesco says its reduced-sugar-and-salt beans have 25% less salt than Tesco standard baked beans; Sainsbury’s says 30% less than its own standard beans. Those claims use different comparators. If salt matters for the lunch I am planning, I want the actual salt figure as well as the reduction claim. Marks & Spencer lists 0.43g salt per 100g for its No Added Sugar Baked Beans.
Ingredients and allergies Read the ingredients and allergy statement on the exact can before serving. Check any vegetarian, vegan or other dietary wording on that product rather than transferring a claim from another recipe. Guests may need different ingredients or allergen checks, so I need to confirm that the tin I open suits the people at the table.
Pack and storage Check the can or multipack size against the number of diners. Read the product’s instructions for storing any opened contents. I would rather choose a pack that fits the meal and know what to do with any leftovers.

Common buying mistakes

  • Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”

    The NHS explains that naturally occurring sugars still appear in the total-sugars figure on food labels.

    Compare the declared sugars per 100g and read the ingredients rather than using the front-of-pack phrase alone.

  • Comparing reduction percentages across brands

    A percentage reduction refers to a stated comparator. Sainsbury’s compares its reduced-sugar-and-salt beans with Sainsbury’s standard beans, while Tesco uses Tesco standard beans.

    Use the per-100g nutrition panels for a cross-brand comparison; keep each reduction claim tied to its own comparator.

  • Assuming every tin suits every guest

    Ingredients and allergy statements matter when serving a shared meal. The Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland explain that labelling helps people with food hypersensitivities make informed choices.

    Check the current label on the exact can before preparing it for guests.

  • Choosing a multipack without planning for leftovers

    Pack size affects how many cans you may open, and opened-storage instructions are specific to the product.

    Match the pack to the number of diners and follow the can’s instructions for any contents left after lunch.

Brand references

These label claims describe particular products, not every baked-bean recipe made by each brand.

Heinz

Waitrose & Partners lists Heinz Baked Beans No Added Sugar as a no-added-sugar product with a 25% salt reduction against standard Heinz Beanz.

  • A branded no-added-sugar option for shoppers comparing that type of recipe.
  • “No added sugar” does not mean zero total sugars; check the nutrition panel.

Tesco

Tesco describes its Reduced Sugar and Salt Baked Beans as having 30% less sugar and 25% less salt than Tesco standard baked beans.

  • The stated reductions cover both sugar and salt against Tesco’s named comparator.
  • Use the per-100g figures, rather than those percentages, to compare with another brand.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s describes its Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans 4 x 400g as having 30% less sugar and 30% less salt than its standard baked beans.

  • The specified 4 x 400g format is worth considering when planning how many cans to open.
  • The reduction claims do not establish how its per-100g values compare with other brands.

ASDA

ASDA describes its Reduced Salt & No Added Sugar 410g baked beans as having 60% less sugar and 30% less salt than a standard equivalent.

  • Combines a no-added-sugar claim with a stated salt reduction.
  • Check the declared per-100g values when comparing it with a different product.

M&S

Marks & Spencer lists its No Added Sugar Baked Beans with 1.2g sugars and 0.43g salt per 100g.

  • Both declared figures can be compared directly with the per-100g figures on other tins.
  • Check the current ingredients and allergy statement before serving.

Waitrose

Waitrose & Partners says its Essential Reduced Salt & Sugar Baked Beans contain 30% less sugar and 30% less salt than regular Waitrose Essential baked beans.

  • Both reductions are stated against the corresponding regular Waitrose Essential product.
  • Check the nutrition panel for a comparison with tins from other ranges.

Joybuy product options

This Branston reduced-sugar-and-salt multipack is a pack-format option to consider for a shared Easter lunch. Compare its current label with any no-added-sugar tins you are considering.

Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans 4 x 410g

Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans 4 x 410g

The 4 x 410g multipack gives you separate cans to plan around the number of guests. Check the current cans’ sugars and salt per 100g, ingredients, allergy statement and opened-storage instructions before deciding whether this reduced-sugar-and-salt recipe suits your lunch.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does “no added sugar” mean baked beans contain no sugar?

No. The NHS explains that naturally occurring sugars are included in the total-sugars figure on food labels. For example, Marks & Spencer lists 1.2g sugars per 100g for its No Added Sugar Baked Beans.

Should I compare baked beans per serving or per 100g?

Compare per 100g first when choosing between different can sizes, then read each product’s serving information for the amount you expect to put on the table. Check sugars and salt separately.

Are reduced-sugar baked beans automatically suitable for guests with food allergies?

No. Check the ingredients and allergy statement on the exact can before serving it. The Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland emphasise the role of food labelling in helping people with food hypersensitivities make informed choices.

What should I do with beans left after lunch?

Follow the opened-storage instructions on the can you used. If you are choosing between single cans and a multipack, consider how many cans you expect to open for the meal.

Can I compare reduced-sugar percentages across supermarkets?

Not as a direct cross-brand measure. Sainsbury’s states its reduction against Sainsbury’s standard baked beans, while Tesco uses Tesco standard baked beans as its comparator. Compare the tins’ declared sugars per 100g instead.