Who is comparing these tins?

Families comparing total sugars

If baked beans are part of a jacket potato, toast or another family dinner, the per-100g total-sugars figure lets you compare tins even when their front-of-pack claims differ.

Cooks keeping an eye on salt

Salt per 100g helps you compare the beans themselves. The portion served and other ingredients, such as cheese or sauces, also matter when planning the meal.

Households checking dietary and allergen labels

Vegan or other dietary wording applies to the particular product carrying it. Check the current pack’s ingredient and allergen statements before serving it to someone with an allergy.

What should you check first?

Start with the two nutrition figures on the same per-100g basis, then consider the portion, ingredients and pack format that suit your dinner plans.

Priority What to check Your needs
Total sugars Compare total sugars per 100g, not just ‘reduced sugar’ or ‘no added sugar’ wording. Check how much each person will be served. I want to compare the sugar in the beans themselves, even when the tins use different claims or serving sizes.
Salt Compare salt per 100g and per intended portion. The NHS defines low salt for foods as 0.3g or less per 100g; a reduced-salt claim describes a comparison, not necessarily the lowest figure on the shelf. If dinner includes cheese, sauces or processed meat, I want to account for the salt in the beans as part of the meal.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredient list and allergen statement for the exact tin. Do not use a vegan claim as a substitute for an allergy check. Someone eating with us has an allergy or a dietary requirement, so the product-specific wording matters more than assumptions about baked beans generally.
Pack and leftovers Check the tin size or number of tins against the portions you plan to serve. Follow the exact pack’s directions for storing opened contents. For dinners on different days, several smaller tins may fit my plans differently from one opened tin.

Which label assumptions can mislead?

  • Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘no sugars’

    Naturally occurring sugars can still appear in a no-added-sugar tin. Sainsbury's listing for Heinz No Added Sugar Baked Beans, for example, states 1.9g total sugars per 100g.

    Use the total-sugars line to compare products, then relate it to the portion you will serve.

  • Choosing by sugar wording without checking salt

    Lower total sugars do not necessarily come with lower salt. Marks & Spencer lists 1.2g sugars and 0.43g salt per 100g, while Sainsbury's reduced-sugar-and-salt multipack lists 2.8g sugars and 0.29g salt per 100g.

    Compare both figures on a per-100g basis, then consider the other ingredients in dinner.

  • Using a vegan claim to settle an allergy question

    Dietary descriptions and allergen statements answer different questions. Marks & Spencer describes its no-added-sugar beans as vegan and vegetarian but states that they are not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy.

    Follow the allergen information on the current pack for the exact product.

  • Applying one leftovers rule to every tin

    Storage directions for opened baked beans can differ by product, which matters if dinner leaves part of a tin unused.

    Check the transfer, refrigeration and use-within instructions printed on that tin.

Brand and range references

These named products provide label points of comparison; the figures describe the specified tins, not every baked-bean product from each brand.

ASDA

ASDA Reduced Salt & No Added Sugar Baked Beans come in a 410g tin.

  • ASDA Groceries lists 1.5g sugars and 0.34g salt per 100g for the hob-heated product.
  • Its no-added-sugar wording does not replace a check of total sugars or the portion served.

Tesco

Tesco Reduced Sugar and Salt Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce come in a 420g tin.

  • Tesco Groceries lists 3.0g sugars and 0.29g salt per 100g.
  • Tesco’s stated reductions of 30% sugar and 25% salt are against its standard baked beans, not every competing tin.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce are listed as a 4 × 400g multipack.

  • Sainsbury's lists 2.8g sugars and 0.29g salt per 100g.
  • Its stated 30% reductions in sugar and salt are comparisons with Sainsbury's standard baked beans.

Heinz

Heinz No Added Sugar Baked Beans are listed in a 415g tin.

  • The Sainsbury's listing gives 1.9g sugars per 100g and labels this product suitable for vegans.
  • The listing explicitly notes naturally occurring sugars, so ‘no added sugar’ does not mean sugar-free.

M&S

M&S Food No Added Sugar Baked Beans come in a 390g tin.

  • Marks & Spencer lists 1.2g sugars and 0.43g salt per 100g.
  • Its product information says the beans are not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy.

Waitrose

The Essential range names a Reduced Salt & Sugar Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce product in a 420g tin.

  • Use the current product label to check its sugars, salt, ingredients and allergens before comparing it with another tin.

Joybuy product options

This reduced-sugar-and-salt multipack is an option for planning baked beans across family dinners; compare its current label with other tins if total sugars or salt will decide your choice.

Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans, 4 × 410g

Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans, 4 × 410g

Four 410g tins provide separate packs for meals on different days. The product description lists sugar and steviol glycosides; check the current per-100g sugars and salt on this exact multipack before making a nutrition comparison, and follow its instructions for opened contents.

View on Joybuy

Common questions

Does ‘no added sugar’ mean baked beans contain no sugars?

No. The claim concerns added sugar, while the total-sugars figure can include naturally occurring sugars. Sainsbury's listing for Heinz No Added Sugar Baked Beans explicitly notes naturally occurring sugars and gives 1.9g total sugars per 100g.

How can I compare tins of different sizes?

Compare total sugars and salt per 100g first, then consider the amount you intend to serve. NHS food-label guidance explains that nutrition information is given per 100g, providing a common basis when tin or suggested serving sizes differ.

What does ‘low salt’ mean on a food label?

The NHS defines low salt for foods as 0.3g of salt or less per 100g. Tesco and Sainsbury's each list 0.29g per 100g for the reduced-sugar-and-salt products described here; ASDA lists 0.34g per 100g for its reduced-salt-and-no-added-sugar tin.

Is a vegan label enough to check for allergies?

No. Read the exact product’s current allergen statement. Marks & Spencer describes its no-added-sugar beans as vegan and vegetarian but also states that they are not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy.

What should I do with beans left after dinner?

Follow the storage and use-within instructions on the exact tin you opened. Check those directions before planning to use a remaining portion for another meal, rather than assuming every brand gives the same period.