Picnic planners comparing sugars
If the amount of sugar matters to your choice, compare the “of which sugars” figure per 100g instead of relying on the claim on the front of the tin.
Who is this choice for?
People packing one lunch
A smaller tin may be easier to finish without leftovers. Tesco Groceries lists a 200g Heinz no-added-sugar tin; the tin size is worth checking alongside the nutrition panel.
Shoppers checking ingredients
If you want to avoid added sugar or particular sweeteners, read the ingredient list on the exact tin as well as its front-of-pack claim.
What should you compare?
Start with the nutrition figures per 100g, then check the recipe and tin size against your picnic plans.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Compare “of which sugars” per 100g, not figures for differently sized tins. M&S Food lists 1.2g, ASDA Groceries 1.5g and Tesco Groceries lists 1.9g for its Heinz 200g tin. | I want to compare the labelled sugar content on the same basis, regardless of tin size. |
| Added sugar | Check whether the product says no added sugar or reduced sugar, then read its ingredients. A reduced-sugar claim alone does not answer whether sugar was added. | Avoiding added sugar matters to me, not just choosing a product with a reduced-sugar label. |
| Salt | Read salt per 100g separately from sugars. Tesco Groceries lists 0.29g salt per 100g for its reduced-sugar-and-salt beans; M&S Food lists 0.43g for its no-added-sugar beans. | I also want to compare salt, rather than assuming a sugar claim tells me anything about it. |
| Tin size | Check the weight of each tin and the number of tins in a multipack. Decide how many you expect to open and follow the label’s instructions for leftovers. | For one lunch, I would rather pack an amount I expect to finish; for a group, I may need more than one tin. |
| Picnic storage | Follow the tin’s storage directions. The Food Standards Agency advises using a cool box or cool bag with ice or frozen gel packs for picnic foods that normally need refrigeration. | If my lunch includes chilled food, I need a way to keep it cool during the picnic. |
What can be easy to overlook?
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Reading “reduced sugar” as “no added sugar”
A reduction describes a comparison with another recipe; it does not, by itself, say whether the ingredients include sugar.
Check the exact claim and ingredient list if avoiding added sugar is important. For total sugars, use the nutrition figure per 100g.
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Comparing sugars per tin without checking tin size
A total for a 200g tin and one for a 410g tin cover different amounts of food, so they do not provide a like-for-like comparison.
Compare per 100g first, then choose a tin size that fits the number of people eating.
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Assuming no added sugar means no sweeteners
The sugar claim does not tell you everything about the ingredients.
Read the ingredient and allergy information on the exact product if either affects your choice.
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Forgetting the chilled foods packed alongside the beans
Picnic sides that normally need refrigeration still need a cooling plan, whatever baked bean tin you choose.
For those foods, follow Food Standards Agency advice to use a cool box or cool bag with ice or frozen gel packs.
That means allowing room to carry the cooling equipment as well as the lunch.
Which brands are relevant?
These product-line details are useful comparisons, not a guide to every baked bean recipe each brand sells.
Heinz
Tesco Groceries lists a 200g Heinz No Added Sugar tin, a size to consider for one picnic lunch.
- The listing gives 1.9g sugars and 0.4g salt per 100g.
- Check the ingredients if particular sweeteners affect your choice.
Asda
ASDA Groceries lists a 410g Reduced Salt & No Added Sugar tin for those planning to use a larger format.
- The listing gives 1.5g sugars and 0.34g salt per 100g.
- Consider how much of the 410g tin you expect to use once opened.
M&S
M&S Food lists No Added Sugar Baked Beans; check the tin size against the number of people eating.
- Its listed figures are 1.2g sugars and 0.43g salt per 100g.
- Read the exact product’s ingredients and allergy information before buying for someone with specific requirements.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a 215g reduced-sugar-and-salt baked bean tin, a smaller format to consider for one lunch.
- Sainsbury's states that this recipe has 30% less sugar and 30% less salt than its standard baked beans.
- That claim compares Sainsbury's recipes; use the per-100g panel for comparisons with other brands.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists its own-label Reduced Sugar and Salt Baked Beans in a 420g tin.
- The listing gives 3.0g sugars and 0.29g salt per 100g.
- Check whether a 420g tin suits your group and how you will handle leftovers.
Waitrose
Essential Waitrose Reduced Salt & Sugar Baked Beans offer a 220g format to consider for a picnic lunch.
- Waitrose & Partners states that the recipe contains 30% less sugar and 30% less salt than regular Essential Waitrose baked beans.
- The relative claim is not a cross-brand ranking; compare nutrition panels per 100g.
Joybuy baked bean options
This reduced-sugar-and-salt multipack is an option for a picnic where you expect to use several tins; check how many you need before packing.
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Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans, 4 × 410g
The four-tin pack may suit a shared picnic. Its name identifies it as reduced sugar and salt, not no added sugar; check the nutrition panel and ingredients if either distinction matters to you.
Picnic baked bean questions
Does “no added sugar” mean baked beans contain no sugars?
No. The nutrition panels still list sugars: M&S Food gives 1.2g per 100g, ASDA Groceries 1.5g and Tesco Groceries 1.9g for its Heinz 200g tin. Check “of which sugars” when comparing products.
Can no-added-sugar beans contain sweeteners?
Yes, the claim does not rule out sweeteners. If you prefer to avoid them, read the ingredient list on the exact tin rather than relying on the sugar claim.
Which tin size should I consider for one picnic lunch?
Start with the amount you expect to eat and whether you can store leftovers as the label directs. Smaller listed formats include Heinz No Added Sugar at 200g, Sainsbury's Reduced Sugar & Salt at 215g and Essential Waitrose Reduced Salt & Sugar at 220g; their recipes and nutrition figures still need separate comparison.
How should I plan for chilled picnic food?
Follow each product’s storage instructions after opening. For foods that normally require refrigeration, the Food Standards Agency advises packing them in a cool box or cool bag with ice or frozen gel packs.