Who is this for?

Lunch-break shoppers comparing sugar

If you want a tin for a heated lunch, compare the sugars figure with any no-added-sugar claim before choosing.

Tomato soup label readers

When choosing between cream-of-tomato tins, sugars per 100g give you a common basis for comparison. Ingredients and the portion you expect to eat matter too.

Commuters with limited facilities or dietary restrictions

Check the allergen declaration and preparation instructions before packing a tin, particularly if you need to avoid milk or cannot count on a microwave or hob.

What should you check?

Start with comparable per-100g figures, then check whether the soup suits your lunch facilities and dietary requirements.

Priority What to check Your needs
Total sugars Compare sugars per 100g across tins, then consider the amount you will eat. The NHS food-label guide describes 5g or less sugars per 100g as low for foods. I want to compare soups on the same basis, rather than rely on serving sizes that may differ. ASDA Groceries lists 2.6g per 100g for Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato Soup; Marks & Spencer lists 5.9g per 100g for its Cream of Tomato Soup.
Label claims Read the ingredients and total-sugars line alongside any no-added-sugar claim or traffic-light colours. No added sugar does not mean zero total sugars. I use front-of-pack information to narrow down a choice, but still read the panel. In the Food Standards Agency and Ipsos Northern Ireland’s 2024 tracker of 611 interviews, 49% said they actively used traffic-light labelling when shopping for food; that figure covers food shopping, not soup specifically.
Heating Check the tin’s preparation directions and whether you will have the required microwaveable bowl or saucepan. Do not assume that carrying a tin is all the preparation needed. At work or while travelling, I need a way to prepare lunch that fits the facilities available.
Allergens and leftovers Read the allergen declaration on the specific tin. If you will eat only part of it, check its instructions for transferring and storing the remainder. Milk suitability matters when I choose a cream-of-tomato soup: the Heinz and M&S examples both contain milk. I also need to plan for any soup left after lunch.

Common buying mistakes

  • Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”

    Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato Soup still declares 2.6g total sugars per 100g. The NHS distinguishes naturally occurring sugars from free sugars, but the nutrition panel reports total sugars.

    Read the total-sugars line and ingredients as well as the front-of-pack claim.

  • Comparing unlike serving sizes

    A serving figure may describe less soup than you plan to eat. Per-100g figures provide a common basis: the ASDA Groceries panel lists 2.6g sugars per 100g for the Heinz tomato soup, while Marks & Spencer lists 5.9g for its tomato soup.

    Compare per 100g first, then check the amount of soup you expect to eat.

  • Overlooking the heating instructions

    A tin may be easy to carry but still require a suitable container and heating equipment at lunchtime.

    Check the directions on your chosen soup against the facilities at your destination.

  • Assuming vegetarian cream soup is dairy-free

    The Heinz and M&S cream-of-tomato soups described here contain milk. A vegetarian description does not establish that a soup is suitable for someone avoiding dairy.

    Check the allergen declaration on the can, especially when changing brands or flavours.

Brand and retailer references

These examples help you recognise the products and label differences discussed here; a retailer listing is not itself a sugar comparison.

Heinz

Its No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato Soup 400g is the tomato tin used for the lower-total-sugars comparison.

  • The ASDA Groceries product panel declares 2.6g total sugars per 100g.
  • No added sugar does not mean sugar-free; the soup contains milk.

M&S

Its Cream of Tomato Soup 400g provides a comparison with an ordinary cream-of-tomato tin.

  • Marks & Spencer provides a per-100g sugars figure for comparison.
  • The panel declares 5.9g sugars per 100g, lists sugar as an ingredient and identifies milk as an allergen.

Tesco

Tesco Groceries lists its own Cream of Tomato Soup alongside branded tomato soups.

  • Its range gives shoppers another tomato-soup label to compare.
  • Check the current tin’s sugars per 100g before treating it as a lower-sugar choice.

Campbell's

Tesco Groceries lists Campbell's Condensed Cream of Tomato Soup among its cream-soup results.

  • It is an option to consider if you are comparing condensed soup with ready-to-heat tins.
  • Check the preparation directions and the basis of its nutrition figures before comparing portions.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's lists Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato Soup 400g.

  • Its product information also gives 2.6g sugars per 100g for that Heinz tin.
  • Check the label on the product you buy rather than assuming another soup has the same ingredients or nutrition values.

Joybuy soup option

This sausage-and-vegetable tin is a different lunch option from the cream-of-tomato soups compared above. Check its own label if total sugars or ingredients will decide your purchase.

Heinz Big Soup Sausage & Vegetable 400g

Heinz Big Soup Sausage & Vegetable 400g

For a tinned sausage-and-vegetable lunch, check the preparation directions against the facilities you will have. Sugar is listed among the ingredients, so this is not a no-added-sugar choice; check suitability if you avoid pork or wheat.

View on Joybuy

Questions about tinned soup

Does “no added sugar” mean a soup is sugar-free?

No. Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato Soup declares 2.6g total sugars per 100g on the ASDA Groceries product panel. Compare the total-sugars line as well as the claim.

How do I compare sugars in different tins?

Start with total sugars per 100g, then consider how much soup you will eat. The NHS food-label guide describes 5g or less sugars per 100g as low for foods; a serving-size figure alone may not describe your lunch portion.

Can I microwave soup in its tin at work?

Follow the instructions for your chosen soup rather than putting a metal tin in the microwave. The Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato Soup directions call for transferring it to a suitable microwaveable bowl for microwave heating.

What should I do with soup left after lunch?

Transfer leftovers to a suitable container and follow the storage directions on that soup’s label. Plan for refrigeration if you expect to eat only part of a tin while away from home.