Choose a tinned soup by comparing kcal per 100 g, then checking the amount you plan to serve, salt and ingredients. For a school bake sale, a lower calorie figure does not settle whether soup suits attendees or the event: confirm how it will be served and, if it will be provided to pupils at a state-funded school in England, check the applicable school food standards with the organiser.
If soup will be served rather than donated in its sealed packaging, establish who will receive it and how it will be heated, portioned and accompanied by allergen information. For food provided to pupils on the premises of a state-funded school in England, the Department for Education’s school food standards guidance is relevant to the event arrangements.
Compare energy per 100 g across different can sizes, then check the energy in the amount likely to be eaten. The Food Standards Agency’s nutrition-labelling guidance uses a per-100-g or per-100-ml basis for nutrition information.
Check the exact product’s ingredients as well as its vegetarian description. Tesco lists Heinz Weight Watchers Tomato Soup 295G as suitable for vegetarians, but its ingredients include dried skimmed milk and milk proteins.
Start with a like-for-like energy comparison, then check the intended portion and the arrangements for serving soup at the event.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Comparable calories | Compare kcal per 100 g before comparing differently sized cans. Then read or calculate kcal for the portion you intend to serve. The Food Standards Agency’s nutrition-labelling guidance specifies nutrition information per 100 g or 100 ml. | I want to compare soups on the same basis without mistaking a smaller can for a lower-energy recipe. |
| Salt and ingredients | Read salt for the amount likely to be eaten, plus the current ingredient and allergen information. Tesco lists 1.7 g salt per 295 g can of Heinz Weight Watchers Tomato Soup and identifies milk ingredients. | Will the soup suit the people it is intended for, including anyone who needs to avoid an ingredient? A calorie figure cannot answer that. |
| School arrangements | Confirm whether soup will be provided to pupils, where it will be served and who will handle heating, portions and allergen information. The Department for Education says school food standards apply to food and drink provided to pupils on the premises of state-funded schools in England. | If I am organising a school sale, I need agreement on how soup will be served before buying it for the event. |
A smaller can can contain fewer calories overall without having less energy per 100 g. Tesco lists Heinz Weight Watchers Tomato Soup at 26 kcal per 100 g and 76 kcal per 295 g can.
Compare kcal per 100 g first, then check the figure for the portion you plan to serve.
Salt, ingredients and the school’s serving arrangements matter separately. Tesco’s 295 g Heinz Weight Watchers Tomato Soup lists 1.7 g salt per can and contains milk ingredients.
Read the current can and agree the event’s food and allergen arrangements with the organiser before buying in quantity.
Where food is prepacked for direct sale, the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland describe a requirement for the food name and a full ingredients list with regulated allergens emphasised. Whether that rule applies depends on how the food is packed and sold.
Confirm the event’s packaging and allergen process before preparing portions, and keep accurate information from the original products available.
Tesco lists Heinz Weight Watchers Tomato Soup 295G with product-specific nutrition and ingredient information.
Tesco’s tinned-soup range includes own-label products such as Tesco Low Fat Tomato Soup 400G and Tesco Low Fat Lentil & Vegetable Soup 400G.
Tesco’s tomato-soup browse results include Campbell's Condensed Soup Cream of Tomato 295g.
These options include savoury soups and a sweet snow-fungus soup. Check the current package for energy, ingredients and the intended serving; the sweet option also needs to fit the event’s menu.
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The 185g corn potage is an option to consider for a savoury soup serving. Check energy for the planned portion and review the current ingredients and allergen information before serving it to others.
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This 200g snow-fungus soup is a sweet option rather than a savoury replacement. Confirm that it fits the intended menu, then check the current nutrition and allergen information for the amount to be served.
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This 400g mushroom soup is a savoury option if the event can accommodate soup preparation and serving. Check energy for the intended portion and review the current milk and wheat allergen information.
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This 400g parsnip and carrot soup is another savoury option to discuss with the event organiser. Check preparation instructions, energy for the intended portion and the current celery, milk and wheat allergen information.
No. Calories do not settle ingredient, serving or school-rule questions. The Department for Education says school food standards apply to food and drink provided to pupils on the premises of state-funded schools in England; confirm with the organiser whether and how the soup will be provided at this event.
Compare kcal per 100 g, then check kcal for the can or portion you intend to use. The Food Standards Agency’s nutrition-labelling guidance specifies a per-100-g or per-100-ml basis; Tesco lists Heinz Weight Watchers Tomato Soup at 26 kcal per 100 g and 76 kcal per 295 g can.
Tesco labels the 295 g soup suitable for vegetarians, but its ingredient list includes dried skimmed milk and milk proteins, so it is not a milk-free choice. Check the current can before buying or serving it.
Confirm how the portions will be packed and sold before preparing them. For food that meets the prepacked-for-direct-sale definition, the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland describe a requirement to label the food name and full ingredients list, with regulated allergens emphasised; the rule cannot be assumed to apply to every bake-sale setup.
No. Read the energy figure on the exact product’s nutrition information rather than using a low-fat description or retailer category as a substitute. Compare kcal per 100 g and check the amount you plan to serve.