Shoppers comparing salt for winter meals
If beans are going on toast or a jacket potato, the per-100g salt figure helps you compare tins of different sizes. The NHS uses 0.3g or less per 100g as its low-salt threshold.
Who is this for?
Shoppers avoiding added sugar
A no-added-sugar label answers a different question from a low-salt label. Check both the sugar wording and the salt figure when choosing a recipe.
Smaller households planning cupboard meals
Can size and the amount you will use at once matter if a tin serves more than one meal. Check the storage instructions on the tin before planning to keep leftovers.
What should you check?
Start with salt per 100g for a like-for-like comparison, then consider your portion, sugar preference and pack size.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Salt per 100g | Read the nutrition panel rather than the reduced-salt wording alone. The NHS low-salt threshold is 0.3g or less per 100g. | I want to know whether the beans meet the low-salt threshold, not just whether they contain less salt than that maker’s standard recipe. |
| Salt per portion | Check the stated serving size and its salt figure against the amount you intend to eat. Sainsbury’s lists 0.59g per half can, Tesco 0.60g and Waitrose Essential 0.63g, according to their product listings. | For beans on toast or a jacket potato, I may eat a different amount from the serving shown on the tin. |
| Sugar wording | Check whether the label says reduced sugar or no added sugar, and read the ingredients. Compare salt per 100g separately: ASDA’s Reduced Salt & No Added Sugar beans list 0.34g, while Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz list 0.40g, according to their product listings. | If I prefer no added sugar, I still want to know how much salt is in that recipe. |
| Can and pack size | Check the weight of each can, the number of cans and the on-pack instructions for opened beans. Match the quantity to the portions you expect to use. | A smaller household may want to plan another meal before opening a larger can or buying a multipack. |
Common shopping mistakes
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Assuming “reduced salt” means “low salt”
A reduction compares a product with a stated standard recipe. It does not establish that the product meets the NHS threshold of 0.3g salt or less per 100g.
Use the per-100g figure to compare tins, then check salt for the portion you expect to eat.
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Reading “no added sugar” as a salt claim
ASDA Reduced Salt & No Added Sugar beans list 0.34g salt per 100g, and Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz list 0.40g, according to their product listings. Both figures are above the NHS low-salt threshold.
If both label claims matter to you, check the sugar wording and salt panel independently.
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Overlooking the rest of the meal
Sauces and toppings can add salt to a meal made with reduced-salt beans. The NHS advises checking labels and limiting salty sauces.
Check the labels of additions you regularly serve with beans, rather than judging the meal by the tin alone.
Brand and product-line references
These figures refer to the named recipes and pack sizes, not every product sold under each brand.
Tesco
Tesco Reduced Sugar and Salt Baked Beans come in a 420g can.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0.29g salt per 100g and 0.60g per half can.
- Its stated 25% salt reduction is relative to Tesco standard baked beans; check the serving figure as well as the comparison claim.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans are listed in a 400g can.
- Sainsbury’s lists 0.29g salt per 100g and 0.59g per half can.
- Its stated 30% salt reduction is a comparison with Sainsbury’s standard baked beans, not with other brands.
Waitrose
Essential Reduced Salt & Sugar Baked Beans are a Waitrose own-label recipe.
- Waitrose & Partners lists 0.30g salt per 100g, meeting the NHS low-salt threshold at that figure.
- The listed half-can serving contains 0.63g salt.
Asda
ASDA Reduced Salt & No Added Sugar Baked Beans are listed in a 410g can.
- The product combines reduced-salt and no-added-sugar wording.
- ASDA Groceries lists 0.34g salt per 100g, above the NHS low-salt threshold.
Branston
Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans are listed in single-can and multipack formats.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0.39g salt per 100g and 0.79g per half can for the reduced sugar and salt recipe.
- Branston’s stated 30% salt reduction is relative to standard Branston beans; 0.39g per 100g is above the NHS low-salt threshold.
Heinz
Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz are listed in a 415g can.
- The product states no added sugar and 25% less salt than standard Heinz Beanz.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0.40g salt per 100g and 0.90g per half can, so this recipe does not meet the NHS low-salt threshold.
M&S
M&S No Added Sugar Baked Beans are listed in a 390g can.
- Marks & Spencer states that this recipe has no added sugar.
- It lists 0.43g salt per 100g; the no-added-sugar wording does not establish a reduced-salt comparison.
Baked beans on Joybuy
This Branston multipack is an option for winter meals when you want a reduced-salt recipe; compare its declared salt with the low-salt threshold if that distinction matters to you.
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Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans, 4 x 410g
The four-can pack suits meals where you plan to use baked beans more than once. It lists 0.39g salt per 100g and 0.79g per half can. Branston states that the recipe has 30% less salt than its standard beans, although its declared per-100g figure is above the NHS low-salt threshold of 0.3g or less.
Questions about reduced-salt beans
Does “reduced salt” mean baked beans are low in salt?
No. A reduced-salt claim compares a recipe with a stated alternative, while the NHS defines low salt as 0.3g or less per 100g. Check the nutrition panel: Tesco and Sainsbury’s reduced sugar and salt beans each list 0.29g per 100g, and Waitrose Essential lists 0.30g, according to their product listings.
How much salt is in half a can?
It depends on the recipe and can size. The product listings give 0.59g for half a can of Sainsbury’s Reduced Sugar & Salt beans, 0.60g for Tesco’s equivalent and 0.79g for Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt beans. Compare the portion stated on your tin with the amount you intend to eat.
Are these beans suitable for vegans or vegetarians?
The named Tesco, Waitrose Essential, ASDA, Heinz and M&S product listings state vegan or vegetarian suitability. Check the current label for the specific tin, especially if you have an allergy or another dietary requirement.
How should I store beans left after opening a can?
Transfer the remaining beans to a covered, non-metallic container and refrigerate them, following the instructions on the tin you bought. Use the product’s stated time limit rather than assuming every recipe has the same storage instructions.