Beans Campaign Aims to Double UK Consumption by 2028 with Support from Celebrity Chefs and Supermarkets
The Bang in Some Beans campaign seeks to double the UK consumption of various beans including black, borlotti, butter, cannellini, fava, haricot, and kidney beans by 2028. The initiative is backed by celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, alongside major supermarkets that have committed to increasing legume sales over the next three years.
The campaign encourages adding beans to popular recipes as a substitute for some meat portions, aiming to help consumers cut food bills and reduce their carbon footprint. Suggested meals include spaghetti bolognese, shepherd’s pie, and chili con carne.
Economically and nutritionally, beans offer significant benefits. A 400g can of red kidney or black beans costs about 49p and provides roughly 36% of a woman's daily protein and a quarter of her daily fibre. In contrast, 100g of chicken breast costs 72p and offers 48% protein but no fibre, while 150g sirloin steak priced between £6 and £8 also provides about 25g protein. Dried beans are even more cost-effective than tinned ones, with prices ranging from 70p to 90p per cooked 100–125g serving, while tins cost around £1.50 per kg.
Beans have a long shelf life, making bulk buying an inflation-proof option. The campaign advises cooking a large pot weekly and freezing 250g portions, which can be frozen in their sauce for convenience.
Beans are versatile ingredients for budget-friendly meals costing under £1 per portion. Examples include butter bean smash flavored with garlic, rosemary, and thyme, bean burgers made with carlin peas, and desserts incorporating black beans in brownies or chickpeas in blondies.
Veg Power and celebrity chefs contribute diverse recipes to showcase beans, such as Prue Leith’s cannellini beans with chorizo on toast, Tom Aikens’ beans with parsley crumb using flageolet beans, and Joe Wicks’ curried cottage pie with lentils. These recipes are available on Veg Power’s website.
The Food Foundation highlights that beans are cholesterol-free, low in fat, and high in fibre, making them a nutritious option that helps stretch household budgets while delivering balanced meals.
With rising meat prices pushing households to seek affordable alternatives, the Bang in Some Beans campaign positions beans as a low-cost, nutritious, and environmentally friendly substitute.
