Food News, with Christine Rutter

A SURVEY has smashed the theory that you get what you pay for - at least as far as baked beans are concerned.

The very cheapest baked beans, which cost just 9p a tin, have the same nutritional value as varieties priced at anything up to 75p a can.

"The nutritional value - protein and calories - was broadly similar," said the baked beans value for money survey carried out by the Lancashire County Council analyst's department.

The findings are good news for people on a tight budget.

Linda Sharratt, re-settlement officer for homeless people working at Nightsafe in Blackburn, said: "It is great news for homeless people.

"The young homeless are on £10 or less in benefit, which does not go a long way. They have to really budget. If they go for cheaper food varieties they know you usually get what you pay for but this survey has proved that, where beans are concerned, they only need to pay 9p and they can buy something as nutritious as the expensive brands." In all, 27 cans of beans, each weighing 400g and varying in price from 9p to 75p, were analysed in the taste test. Tesco Value Beans, at 9p, almost matched in protein the more expensive 33p cans from Spar.

Tesco Value had the most protein per penny, at 1.98, compared with Whole Earth Organisation, coming last with 0.27.

The taste and appearance of the products did not reflect the price, except in the case of the Whole Earth Organisation beans, price 75p, which scored 9 out of 10.

Riverdene (16p), Morrisons reduced sugar (20p) and HP healthy (30p) all scored 7.

The worst looking and tasting varieties were joint losers Hartleys and La Campagna, which both scored 1.

The best tasting under 10p varieties were No Frills and Tesco Value. The research is a project by the Lancashire's Trading Standards office to assess the value for money and nutritional value of popular foods within a wide price range.

County Coun Frank McKenna, chairman of Lancashire's Welfare Rights and Anti-Poverty Committee, said: "The results of this report will help to inform people's choices, particularly those managing a tight budget."

He added: "This is one of a number of areas where the Trading Standards department and Welfare Rights Service have joined forces to address issues of importance to people on low incomes."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.