Parents comparing sugars on the label
A no-added-sugar claim does not mean a soup contains no sugars. Compare the nutrition panel for the portion you expect to serve, then read the ingredients for sweeteners.
Who is this for?
Households choosing between branded and own-label soup
ASDA and Heinz offer 400g no-added-sugar tomato soups with closely matched declared sugars. Serving size, salt, ingredients and recipe preference help distinguish them.
Families checking milk ingredients
Both of those tomato soups list milk. Neither is an option for a child with a milk allergy; check the full allergen information on any alternative tin.
What to check when choosing
Start with a like-for-like portion comparison, then check ingredients and the directions on the tin you will serve.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Declared sugars | Compare sugars per 100g and for the portion being served. ASDA Groceries lists 5.2g per half can for its no-added-sugar tomato soup and 5.3g for the Heinz option; both list 2.6g per 100g. | I want to compare the amount my child is likely to eat, not treat a 0.1g difference per half can as a decisive result. |
| Sugar claims | Read the ingredients as well as the no-added-sugar claim. The NHS distinguishes free sugars in its guidance from the total sugars reported on a nutrition panel. | A no-added-sugar recipe matters to me, but I do not want to mistake that claim for a sugar-free soup. |
| Milk and sweeteners | Check the full allergen statement and ingredients on the current tin. The ASDA and Heinz no-added-sugar tomato soups both list milk and steviol glycosides, according to ASDA Groceries. | My household needs to know whether the ingredients are suitable before choosing a familiar flavour or brand. |
| Salt | Compare salt for the same serving size, alongside the sugars figure. ASDA Groceries lists 0.9g salt per half can for its tomato soup. | Lower declared sugars are not my only consideration when picking a tea-time tin. |
| Preparation and leftovers | Read the exact tin’s heating directions and instructions for storing unused soup; follow its stated times and conditions. | If I am serving only part of a can, I need a plan for preparing the soup and keeping the remainder. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
ASDA Groceries lists 2.6g total sugars per 100g for each of the ASDA and Heinz no-added-sugar tomato soups. The claim and the nutrition figure describe different things.
Compare the portion’s declared sugars and read the ingredients for added sugar or sweeteners.
-
Choosing by sugars alone
Both no-added-sugar tomato soups list milk and steviol glycosides; the ASDA tin also lists 0.9g salt per half can. A sugars figure cannot settle allergen or ingredient suitability.
Check the allergen statement, ingredients and salt on each tin before deciding which recipe to use.
-
Relying on a product page instead of the tin
The can being served is the practical reference for its ingredients, portion information and directions.
Check its allergen statement, nutrition panel, best-before date, heating directions and opened-can storage instructions.
Tomato soup brand references
These examples help distinguish no-added-sugar tomato soups from other tomato recipes; a brand name alone does not establish the contents of every tin in its range.
Heinz
Heinz has both a No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato Soup and a standard Cream of Tomato Soup listed by ASDA Groceries.
- The no-added-sugar 400g tin lists 5.3g sugars per half can and steviol glycosides.
- It still contains sugars and lists milk. The standard Heinz tomato soup is a different recipe: ASDA Groceries lists sugar in its ingredients and 9.7g sugars per half can.
ASDA
ASDA Cream of Tomato Soup 400g is an own-label, no-added-sugar tomato option.
- ASDA Groceries lists 5.2g sugars and 0.9g salt per half can.
- The recipe lists milk and steviol glycosides. Its declared half-can sugars are 0.1g below the Heinz no-added-sugar tin, which is not enough to establish an overall nutritional advantage.
M&S
M&S Cream of Tomato Soup is another tomato recipe to compare, rather than a no-added-sugar substitute.
- Marks & Spencer lists its ingredients and nutrition per 100g, allowing a direct label check.
- Its listed recipe includes sugar, dried skimmed milk and double cream, and declares 5.9g sugars per 100g.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato Soup and Tesco Plant Chef Tomato and Basil Soup among its tinned soups.
- The listing provides another place to look for tomato soup recipes.
- Check the exact Tesco recipe’s ingredients and nutrition before treating it as a no-added-sugar alternative.
Joybuy soup option
This spicy parsnip and carrot soup offers a different flavour for tea time, rather than a direct choice between the no-added-sugar tomato tins. Check its current label against the sugar and ingredient requirements that matter to your household.
Image unavailable
Crosse & Blackwell Best of British Spicy Parsnip & Carrot Soup 400g
If you are considering a different soup for children’s tea, account for the spicy recipe as well as the 400g tin size.
Check the current tin’s sugars and salt for the portion you will serve, its full allergen information and its preparation directions. Do not assume it has a no-added-sugar claim.
Questions about tea-time soup
Does “no added sugar” mean a tomato soup is sugar-free?
No. ASDA Groceries lists 2.6g total sugars per 100g for both its own-label and Heinz no-added-sugar tomato soups. The NHS discusses free sugars in its guidance, while the nutrition panel reports total sugars; do not treat those measures as interchangeable.
Which no-added-sugar tomato soup lists fewer sugars per half can?
ASDA Groceries lists 5.2g for ASDA Cream of Tomato Soup and 5.3g for Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato Soup. Both list 2.6g per 100g, so choose between them using the full ingredient, allergen and salt information rather than that small serving difference alone.
Can a child with a milk allergy have either of these tomato soups?
Neither of the ASDA and Heinz no-added-sugar tomato soups is suitable for a child with a milk allergy: ASDA Groceries lists milk for both. Read the full allergen statement on any alternative tin before serving it.
What should I check if I use only part of a tin?
Follow that tin’s instructions for storing and using the remainder, as well as its directions for heating the portion you serve. Check the allergen information and nutrition panel on the same can, particularly if you bought it after comparing products online.