Not all canned beans are created equal—some hide more harm than help behind their convenient packaging. Navigating the grocery aisle can be tricky when labels don’t tell the whole story.
This guide uncovers seven of the most unhealthy canned beans lurking on shelves, along with seven wholesome alternatives that bring both nutrition and flavor to your pantry. Making smarter choices has never been easier or more delicious.
1. Bush’s Original Baked Beans
Holy molasses mountain! A single serving packs a whopping 12 grams of sugar – that’s three teaspoons hiding in your seemingly innocent side dish. The sweet-savory combo might taste heavenly, but your blood sugar levels won’t be singing the same tune.
Loaded with brown sugar, ketchup, and bacon, these beans have strayed far from their nutritious roots. The sodium content hits 550mg per serving, which is nearly 25% of your daily recommended intake.
2. Van Camp’s Pork And Beans
Meat scraps and chemical preservatives turn these beans into a nutritional wasteland. The pork component is typically fatty bits that add minimal protein but plenty of saturated fat to your meal. Meanwhile, the ingredient list reads like a chemistry experiment.
Sodium levels reach alarming heights at 570mg per serving. The beans swim in a tomato sauce heavily modified with corn syrup, making them a double threat of salt and sugar.
3. B&M Original Baked Beans
Grandma’s favorite baked beans hide a sinister secret – they’re slow-cooked with mountains of molasses and brown sugar in traditional brick ovens. This old-world cooking method might sound charming but results in beans that contain a jaw-dropping 14g of sugar per serving!
While they do provide some fiber (7g), any nutritional benefits get buried under the avalanche of sweeteners and salt. Your nostalgic attachment to these beans might be the only thing healthy about them.
4. Great Value Baked Beans
Penny-pinching comes with a nutritional price tag when you reach for these budget beans. Walmart’s house brand cuts corners with cheaper ingredients, including high fructose corn syrup instead of more natural sweeteners.
A chemical preservative parade marches through the ingredient list, ensuring these beans could likely survive a nuclear winter. The modified food starch thickens the sauce but adds zero nutritional value to your meal.
5. Campbell’s Pork And Beans
Famous for soup dominance, Campbell’s bean game falls embarrassingly short on the health scoreboard. Each serving delivers a blood pressure-raising 650mg of sodium – that’s 28% of your daily limit in just a half-cup portion!
The minuscule pork bits contribute more to the name than your nutrition, while high fructose corn syrup makes an unwelcome appearance on the ingredient list. The thin, watery sauce barely clings to the mushy beans that have lost most of their natural texture.
6. Heinz Baked Beans (U.S. Version)
British beans got a problematic American makeover! While UK versions maintain reasonable sugar levels, the U.S. formulation cranks sweetness to eleven with high fructose corn syrup dominating the ingredient list.
The vibrant orange sauce owes its unnaturally bright color to added dyes rather than tomato concentration. One serving delivers 555mg of sodium alongside 9g of sugar – a one-two punch to your dietary goals. The modified cornstarch thickener adds empty calories while contributing zero nutritional benefits.
7. Bush’s Maple & Cured Bacon Baked Beans
Sugar content reaches scandalous levels in this flavor-packed bean imposter! With real maple syrup AND brown sugar competing for sweetness dominance, each serving delivers a shocking 15g of sugar – that’s nearly 4 teaspoons!
The cured bacon adds a double whammy of sodium and nitrates, while the thick, caramelized sauce masks any remaining bean nutrition. At 550mg of sodium per serving, your blood pressure won’t thank you for this indulgence.
8. Eden Organic Black Beans (No Salt Added)
Bean perfection comes in an amber glass jar! Eden Organic stands alone by using BPA-free packaging and pressure-cooking their beans with kombu seaweed for enhanced digestibility and natural flavor – no chemical additives needed.
Zero added sodium makes these beans a cardiovascular dream come true. You control the seasoning while enjoying the pure, earthy flavor of organically grown black beans that haven’t been stripped of their natural nutrients.
9. 365 by Whole Foods Organic Garbanzo Beans
Affordable organic chickpeas without the premium price tag? Yes, please! These plump, perfectly cooked garbanzos deliver maximum nutrition with minimal processing – just beans, water, and a touch of sea salt.
The BPA-free can lining prevents harmful chemicals from leaching into your food. With only 140mg of sodium per serving, these beans offer 25% less salt than most conventional brands. Versatility reigns supreme with these neutral-flavored legumes.
10. Goya Low-Sodium Pinto Beans
Flavor fiesta without the sodium hangover! Goya’s low-sodium pintos slash salt by 50% compared to their regular version while maintaining that authentic Latin-inspired taste. The beans remain firm yet tender – perfect for refrying or adding to soups without turning to mush.
Each serving delivers an impressive 6g of fiber and 7g of plant protein with only 135mg of sodium. The minimal ingredient list (just beans, water, and a touch of salt) keeps things clean and simple.
11. Westbrae Natural Organic Black Beans (No Salt Added)
Zero sodium doesn’t mean zero flavor with these organic black beauties! Westbrae achieves the impossible – perfectly cooked beans with absolutely no added salt, letting the natural earthiness of organic black beans take center stage.
The beans maintain excellent texture despite the lack of sodium as a preservative. Each serving delivers an impressive 7g of fiber and 7g of protein with no sacrifice in taste or quality. For those monitoring sodium intake due to health concerns, these beans are nothing short of miraculous.
12. Trader Joe’s Organic Black Beans
Trader Joe’s fanatics rejoice – these organic black beans deserve their cult following! With just beans, water, and sea salt, they deliver clean nutrition without unnecessary additives or preservatives. The modest 140mg sodium level provides just enough salt to enhance flavor without overwhelming it.
At a price point that makes regular organic eating accessible, these beans represent the perfect intersection of quality, taste, and value. The BPA-free can lining offers additional peace of mind for health-conscious shoppers.
13. Pacific Foods Organic Cannellini Beans
Revolutionary packaging meets bean perfection! Pacific Foods breaks the mold by housing their organic cannellini beans in recyclable cartons instead of cans – eliminating BPA concerns entirely while reducing packaging waste.
With only 140mg of sodium per serving and no chemical preservatives, these beans deliver pure nutrition without unwanted additives. The shelf-stable carton takes up less pantry space than traditional cans while protecting the delicate flavor.
14. Eden Organic Garbanzo Beans (No Salt Added)
Goodbye, bean bloat! Eden’s unique preparation method includes pressure-cooking with kombu seaweed, a traditional technique that enhances mineral content while reducing the oligosaccharides responsible for digestive discomfort. Your stomach will thank you for this thoughtful touch.
Zero added sodium makes these chickpeas an ideal canvas for any flavor profile you desire. The amber glass packaging prevents light degradation of nutrients while eliminating BPA concerns entirely.