Hosts seeking a spiced, lower-sugar option
A spiced soup can fit the menu, but compare total sugars per 100g rather than relying on its flavour name. The two mulligatawny tins listed by Sainsbury's and ASDA Groceries have different sugar figures.
Who is choosing soup for a world food night?
Shoppers considering no-added-sugar tomato soup
A tomato course may suit you even if it is less closely tied to the world-food theme. Check total sugars as well as the milk and sweetener ingredients on the tin.
Hosts planning for guests with dietary restrictions
The compared mulligatawny soups contain beef and wheat; Heinz Mulligatawny also lists celery and mustard. Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato contains milk. Check each guest's requirements against the exact pack before serving.
What should you check on the tin?
Start with the flavour you want to serve, then compare the nutrition panels on the same per-100g basis and check whether the ingredients suit your guests.
| Priority | What to check | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugars | Compare total sugars per 100g, not just no-added-sugar wording. Sainsbury's lists 2.3g per 100g for its Mulligatawny; ASDA Groceries lists 4.4g for Heinz Mulligatawny and 2.6g for Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato. | I want a spiced soup, but I still want to compare its sugar figure with other tins on the same basis. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Check whether the soup is curry-spiced mulligatawny or tomato and cream. A no-added-sugar claim does not mean zero total sugars; check the ingredients for sweeteners too. | For this meal, I may prefer a beef-and-spice soup. If the sugar claim matters more than that flavour, a tomato course could work instead. |
| Dietary suitability | Read the exact can's allergen declaration. Sainsbury's Mulligatawny lists beef and wheat; Heinz Mulligatawny lists beef, wheat, celery and mustard; Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato lists milk. | Guests need a soup they can eat, so the flavour choice cannot replace an ingredient and allergen check. |
| Salt | Compare salt per 100g alongside sugars. Sainsbury's lists 0.44g for its Mulligatawny; ASDA Groceries lists 0.6g for Heinz Mulligatawny and 0.1g for Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato. | I'm comparing sugar figures, but salt also affects which tin I choose and how much I serve. |
Buying mistakes to avoid
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Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
The compared Heinz and Asda no-added-sugar tomato soups each list 2.6g total sugars per 100g in ASDA Groceries' product information.
Use the total-sugars line to compare tins, then check the ingredients if sweeteners or milk matter to your guests.
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Choosing the flavour before checking allergens
The compared mulligatawny tins contain beef and wheat; the Heinz version also lists celery and mustard. They will not suit every shared meal.
Check the allergen declaration and dietary suitability on the exact tin before serving it.
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Comparing sugars but overlooking salt
Sainsbury's lists 0.44g salt per 100g for its Mulligatawny, while ASDA Groceries lists 0.6g for Heinz Mulligatawny. The NHS uses 0.3g or less per 100g as its low-salt label guide.
Read both nutrition lines per 100g. Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato lists 0.1g salt per 100g, though choosing it changes the flavour of the course.
Brand ranges and relevant tins
Sainsbury's
Its 400g Mulligatawny is a spiced soup with rice and beef.
- Sainsbury's lists 2.3g sugars per 100g for this tin, compared with 4.4g for Heinz Mulligatawny in ASDA Groceries' listing.
- It contains beef and wheat, includes sugar in its ingredients and lists 0.44g salt per 100g.
Heinz
The compared 400g tins offer two distinct courses: No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato and beef-and-spice Mulligatawny.
- ASDA Groceries lists 2.6g sugars and 0.1g salt per 100g for the tomato soup.
- The tomato soup contains milk and steviol glycosides. Heinz Mulligatawny lists 4.4g sugars and 0.6g salt per 100g and contains beef, wheat, celery and mustard.
Asda
Its own-label 400g Cream of Tomato is a no-added-sugar option for a tomato course.
- ASDA Groceries lists 2.6g total sugars and 0.45g salt per 100g.
- It contains milk and a sweetener; the no-added-sugar description does not mean it contains no sugars.
M&S
Marks & Spencer lists tinned soups including Mexican-style chilli and bean, minestrone, and spiced lentil and tomato.
- These give a host several flavour directions to consider.
- Check the exact tin's sugars and salt per 100g; a flavour name or dietary filter does not establish those values.
Campbell's
Campbell's Soup UK lists condensed Cream of Chicken, Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Tomato soups.
- For a sugar comparison, read the nutrition panel on the exact condensed soup you intend to serve.
A Joybuy option for a spiced soup course
This spicy parsnip and carrot soup is an option to consider for the meal; its British-themed name does not identify it as a particular international cuisine.
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Crosse & Blackwell Best of British Spicy Parsnip & Carrot Soup 400g
The spicy parsnip and carrot flavour offers another direction for the soup course. Compare the pack's sugars and salt per 100g with your other options, and check its allergen declaration and heating instructions before serving.
Questions about sugar and ingredients
Which compared spiced soup has less sugar?
Sainsbury's Mulligatawny lists 2.3g total sugars per 100g, against 4.4g for Heinz Mulligatawny in ASDA Groceries' listing. Both are beef-based soups, so check their ingredients against your guests' dietary needs.
Does “no added sugar” mean a soup has no sugar?
No. ASDA Groceries lists 2.6g total sugars per 100g for each of the compared Heinz and Asda no-added-sugar tomato soups. Check the total-sugars line rather than relying on the front-of-pack wording alone.
How can I compare sugars across different tins?
Use the total-sugars figure per 100g to compare products on the same basis, then consider the amount you intend to serve. NHS label guidance classifies 5g or less of total sugars per 100g as low in sugar; ingredients and allergens still need separate checks.
Which ingredients matter when serving guests?
The Sainsbury's Mulligatawny listing includes beef and wheat; ASDA Groceries lists beef, wheat, celery and mustard for Heinz Mulligatawny, and milk for Heinz No Added Sugar Cream of Tomato. Check the exact can's allergen declaration before serving.