Did You Know?

Bean History

  • Baked Beans originated among American colonists
  • They spread over most of the globe carried by nomadic tribes
  • They have been cultivated all over the earth for thousands of years

Baked Beans History

  • Beans have been a staple food for Human Civilisation for over 7,000 years.
  • Long ago Native Americans flavoured their baked beans with maple syrup and bear fat- we think you’ll prefer beans flavoured with our secret tomato sauce recipe!
  • The Greatest Number of Baked Beans eaten with a cocktail stick is 226 - and that took only 5 minutes! At this pace, it would take over 300 years to eat the number of Batchelors Baked Beans sold in Ireland last year- that’s over 27 MILLION cans of baked beans!
  • Ireland has the highest consumption of Baked Beans per capita (5.6kg/person/year). UK is second with a consumption of 4.4kg/person/year 1

1 Euromonitor

Bean Nutrition

  • A recent dietary guidance message approved by FDA in USA claims that 'diets including beans may reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers'.
  • Beans are one of the most healthy and most economical sources of protein available, due to the relatively high levels of protein and low levels of fat.
  • A study, conducted over 19 years, showed that those who ate beans most frequently had lower blood pressure and total cholesterol and were much less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. 2
  • Beans are also a good source of folic acid. Besides the well known beneficial effects on foetal development, folic acid also plays a critical role in the reduction of homocysteine levels. Homocysteine damages blood vessel walls, therefore high levels contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.2
  • Beans are a good source of fibre; fibre helps to keep "bad" cholesterol levels down while helping to boost the "good" levels.
  • Beans play an important role in weight management. They fill you up – they provide lots of bulk without a lot of calories.
  • Beans count towards the five portions of fruit and vegetables we should aim to eat each day.

2 Source: SUPERFOODS, Steven Pratt, M.D. and Kathy Matthews