Protein-focused shoppers watching salt
If baked beans are one part of a protein-focused meal, comparing protein and salt together is useful. The amount served matters, particularly when other parts of the meal also contain salt.
Who should compare these tins?
Supermarket own-label shoppers
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Waitrose have reduced-salt baked-bean products with different nutrition figures. Compare the exact tins rather than assuming that all reduced-salt recipes are alike.
Shoppers changing from standard beans
A percentage reduction usually compares a tin with its brand’s or retailer’s stated standard recipe. Check the nutrition table as well if you want to compare products across brands.
What should you check on the label?
Start with salt and protein per 100g for a like-for-like comparison, then use the serving figures for the amount you plan to eat.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Salt | Compare grams of salt per 100g, then calculate or read the figure for your portion. Tesco Groceries and Sainsbury’s each list 0.29g per 100g; Waitrose lists 0.30g and Asda 0.34g for the products discussed here. | I want to account for the beans alongside bread, cheese or other salty parts of my meal, rather than judging the tin in isolation. |
| Protein | Compare grams of protein per 100g on the same basis as salt. The cited retailer listings give 3.9g for Sainsbury’s, 4.2g for Tesco, 4.5g for Asda and 4.6g for the 200g Heinz No Added Sugar tin. | Beans will contribute protein to my meal, but I also want to consider what the other ingredients provide. |
| Reduction claims | Read what a percentage reduction is measured against. Tesco’s stated 25% salt reduction compares with Tesco standard baked beans; Sainsbury’s stated 30% reduction compares with its standard beans. | If I am choosing between brands, I need the actual salt values—not two percentages measured against different recipes. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredient list separately from claims about added sugar. Read the current pack if particular ingredients or sweeteners affect your choice. | I may prefer a no-added-sugar recipe, but that wording does not tell me its salt value or which ingredients it contains. |
| Portion and storage | Check the tin size, serving information and instructions for storing beans after opening. Use the nutrition figures for the portion you will actually serve. | A smaller tin may fit a single meal; if I open a larger one, I need a plan for the leftovers. |
What can be easy to overlook?
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Choosing by one front-of-pack claim
A protein claim and a salt-reduction claim answer different questions. Waitrose & Partners lists 4.6g protein and 0.40g salt per 100g for its 200g Heinz No Added Sugar tin, while Tesco Groceries lists 4.2g protein and 0.29g salt per 100g for its reduced-sugar-and-salt beans.
Compare both values per 100g before checking the portion you intend to serve.
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Ignoring the salt in the whole meal
A reduced-salt tin still contributes salt. GOV.UK guidance states that adults should have no more than 6g salt per day; the rest of a meal also counts towards that amount.
Use the serving figure on the tin and consider what you are serving with the beans.
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Equating no added sugar with no sweeteners
No-added-sugar wording does not describe the full ingredient list or establish that a tin has less salt than another product.
If you avoid sweeteners, read the ingredients on the exact pack; compare salt using the nutrition table.
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Opening more beans than you plan to use
Choosing a tin by its per-100g figures alone does not tell you whether its size fits your meals. Leftovers also need to be stored and used according to the product instructions.
Check the opened-can directions and choose a tin size that works for the portions you expect to serve.
Which brand products are relevant?
These figures describe the named products and pack variants, not every baked-bean recipe sold by each brand.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists 0.29g salt and 4.2g protein per 100g for its 420g Reduced Sugar and Salt Baked Beans.
- Its salt figure matches the Sainsbury’s product discussed here, while its listed protein figure is higher.
- Tesco’s 25% less-salt statement compares this recipe with Tesco standard baked beans, not with other brands.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists 0.29g salt and 3.9g protein per 100g for its 400g Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans.
- The listed salt value matches Tesco’s reduced-sugar-and-salt product.
- Its stated 30% salt reduction is against Sainsbury’s standard beans; compare per-100g values across retailers.
Asda
Asda lists 4.5g protein and 0.34g salt per 100g for its Reduced Salt & No Added Sugar Baked Beans.
- Its listed protein per 100g is higher than the Tesco and Sainsbury’s products discussed here.
- Its listed salt per 100g is also higher; check the ingredients if you avoid sweeteners.
Heinz
Waitrose & Partners lists 4.6g protein and 0.40g salt per 100g for the 200g Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz tin.
- The listed protein per 100g exceeds that of the Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose own-label products discussed here.
- The 25% less-salt claim compares with standard Heinz Beanz; its listed salt value is not the lowest among these products.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists 0.30g salt and 4.0g protein per 100g for its Essential Reduced Salt & Sugar Baked Beans.
- Its listed salt value is close to the 0.29g per 100g figures for the Tesco and Sainsbury’s products.
- The stated reductions compare with regular Waitrose Essential beans, not with other retailers’ tins.
M&S
Marks & Spencer lists 4.5g protein and 0.43g salt per 100g for its No Added Sugar Baked Beans.
- The no-added-sugar recipe is an option to compare if that product feature matters to you.
- No added sugar is not a reduced-salt claim; use the listed 0.43g salt per 100g when comparing it with other tins.
Joybuy product option
This Branston multipack is a reduced-sugar-and-salt baked-bean option. Compare the nutrition table on its current pack with any other tin you are considering for a protein-focused meal.
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Branston Reduced Sugar & Salt Baked Beans 4 x 410g
For a protein-focused meal where salt matters, compare both figures on the current pack for the amount you intend to eat. The reduced-salt claim compares this recipe with standard Branston beans, not with other brands. Check the delivered pack’s ingredients if you avoid sweeteners.
Common questions
Are reduced-salt baked beans necessarily the right choice for a protein-focused meal?
Not on the reduced-salt claim alone. Compare protein and salt per 100g, then consider the portion and other ingredients in the meal. The cited Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Heinz listings show different combinations of those two figures.
How much salt can a serving of baked beans add?
It depends on the product and portion. The retailer figures used here give about 0.59g for half a Sainsbury’s 400g tin and 0.60g for half a Tesco 420g tin; the entire 200g Heinz No Added Sugar tin provides 0.80g. GOV.UK guidance says adults should have no more than 6g salt per day, so include the portion in the meal’s and day’s totals.
Does a reduced-salt claim mean less salt than every other brand?
No. A stated reduction compares the product with its specified standard recipe or equivalent. For a cross-brand comparison, read grams of salt per 100g on the nutrition tables.
Does no added sugar mean there are no sweeteners?
No-added-sugar wording does not answer that question. If sweeteners affect your choice, check the ingredient list on the exact pack; use the nutrition table separately to compare salt and protein.
What should I do with beans left in an opened tin?
Follow the storage and use instructions on that product’s pack. Plan for the amount left over when choosing a tin size, rather than assuming every recipe has the same instructions after opening.