Heinz Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce
Red flags
No major red flags on the label.
Green flags
- +Green flag: Source of fibre
Ingredients, decoded
2 listed- Beans (50%)
- Tomato sauce (50%) (Tomatoes, Water, Sugar, Thickener (INS412), Salt, Brewed vinegar, Mixed spices and Herbs)
CA2
Our take
CleanPlate reviewHalf beans, half tomato sauce, lightly sweetened
Heinz Baked Beans are half beans and half tomato sauce (tomatoes, water, sugar, guar gum, salt, brewed vinegar, spices and herbs). The tin is 415 g and the list has no colour, preservative or flavour.
CleanPlate scores it CA2. The C for nutrition is middling: 3.9 g fibre per 100 g. The A for ingredients reflects whole or lightly processed ingredients (led by beans, tomatoes and sugar), with additives that cost points: guar gum. The 2 for risk is low: sodium, free sugar and saturated fat are all modest (sodium 240 mg, free sugar 2.8 g, saturated fat 0 g per 100 g).
Claims vs reality
What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.
- Retail listingHolds
“Contains protein and fiber”
4.8 g protein and 3.9 g fibre per 100 g; fibre is the real strength and the protein is modest.
- Retail listingHolds
“No artificial colors, preservatives or flavors”
None is listed; the only additive is guar gum (INS 412), a thickener.
How CA2 breaks down
Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.
Adequate nutrient density
- Protein
- 4.8 g
- Fibre
- 3.9 g
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 93 kcal
Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.
Clean, minimally processed
- Base
- Beans
- Sweeteners
- Tomato sauce, Sal...
- Additives
- 1
- Flagged
- None
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
Low risk
- Added sugar
- 2.8 g
- Sodium
- 240 mg
- Saturated fat
- 0 g
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
A closer look
Does the label add up?
Beans 50% and tomato sauce 50% (tomatoes, water, sugar, thickener INS 412, salt, brewed vinegar, mixed spices and herbs).
Per 100 g: 93 kcal, 0.4 g fat of which 0 g saturated, 4.3 g sugar of which 2.8 g added, 3.9 g fibre, 4.8 g protein, 240 mg sodium. The panel has no trans fat line although total fat is 0.4 g, which costs 2 label points and makes the score provisional. The declared 93 kcal is above the Atwater sum (77 kcal), so it is used as printed.
Ingredients to watch
- Added sugarWorth watching
2.8 g per 100 g from the sugar in the sauce; tomatoes and beans supply the rest of the 4.3 g total sugar.
- SodiumWorth watching
240 mg per 100 g, about 500 mg in half a tin.
- Beans and tomatoFine
Beans (50%) and tomato sauce (50%) lead the list; the only additive is guar gum.
Common misconceptions
Myth: "Baked beans are mostly sugar"
Added sugar is 2.8 g per 100 g; the rest of the sugar in the tin is natural to tomato and beans.
Myth: "Tinned beans have no fibre left"
3.9 g per 100 g is a real amount: 100 g covers about 13% of a 30 g daily fibre reference.
How often, and how
- Healthy adultsMost days
- ChildrenMost days
- Diabetes or prediabetesFine in moderation
Smarter ways to eat it
On whole wheat toast
Serve on whole wheat toast or with eggs for a meal with more protein and fibre.
Drain some sauce
Drain part of the sauce and add the beans to a salad or rice bowl to cut the sodium and sugar per portion.
Common questions
Is Heinz Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce healthy?
Heinz Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce scores CA2 (Good) on CleanPlate, which makes it a reasonable choice with a trade-off or two worth knowing about. We found no major red flags on its label. On the plus side: Source of fibre.
What does the CA2 score mean?
The first letter (C) grades nutritional value: adequate nutrient density. The second letter (A) grades ingredient and label integrity: clean, minimally processed. The number (2) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): low risk.
Last reviewed October 10, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.