In-Depth Review — Bush's Zero Sugar Added

Bush's Baked Beans (No Sugar Added) Review

Keeps classic Bush's flavor with no added sugar, but watch the sucralose aftertaste and high sodium.

Updated March 2026 Reviewed by Priya Nair

★ Independent research across taste, ingredients, nutrition, and value 📊 Community & published benchmarks aggregated and scored 🔍 No paid rankings — ever 📅 Last updated March 2026

Bush's Zero Sugar Added Baked Beans are a reformulation of the company's classic canned baked beans that removes added sugar and uses sucralose and soluble corn fiber to retain sweetness and mouthfeel. The product is marketed as “zero sugar added” while still offering a canned baked bean experience; it is sold in sizes represented in retailer listings including 15.8 oz and 27.5 oz cans.

This review draws on the manufacturer's product page, a detailed nutrition breakdown (myfooddata), retailer listings (Amazon and FoodsCo), a homecook taste test blog and a user comment in a Weight Watchers Facebook group. Those sources provide the ingredient list, per-serving nutrition, published net-carb claims, and real-user taste notes.

High-level verdict: Bush's Zero Sugar Added delivers a low added-sugar option that keeps much of the original texture and fiber benefits (12 g fiber per 1/2 cup) and a reduced net-carb load (about 14 g net carbs per 1/2 cup when subtracting fiber). Downsides are a measurable sucralose presence that some reviewers call a weird or slightly bitter aftertaste, and relatively high sodium (600.6 mg, ~25% DV per 1/2 cup).

What the nutrition facts actually say

Per the scanned nutrition data for a 1/2 cup (130 g) serving, the can contains 120 calories, 0.49 g total fat, 26 g total carbohydrate, 12 g dietary fiber (about 43% DV), 1 g total sugars, and 7 g protein. Net carbs by subtraction are roughly 14 g per 1/2 cup, matching retailer and marketing listings that cite low net-carb numbers.

Sodium registers at 600.6 mg per 1/2 cup (about 25% of the Daily Value), which is significant for a small serving. The product is a useful canned source of fiber and plant protein, but the sodium load means those monitoring blood pressure or sodium intake should plan portions accordingly.

How it tastes compared with original Bush's

Bush's aims to reproduce its classic sweet-and-savory baked-bean profile while removing added sugar; reviewers report the base flavor and texture are familiar, and one comparative blog noted the Zero Sugar version tasted 'surprisingly tasty' and similar to Bush's Original when simmered down.

However, both anecdotal feedback in a Weight Watchers Facebook post and the blog review mention a detectable sucralose aftertaste for some eaters. If you are sensitive to artificial sweetener aftertastes, expect a noticeable difference from sugar-added variants.

What's in the can and what that means

Ingredients listed include prepared navy beans, water, soluble corn fiber, and 2% or less of salt, mustard, modified corn starch, yeast extract, caramel color, natural flavors, spices, and sucralose. The declared sucralose is the replacement sweetener that enables the 'no sugar added' claim.

Soluble corn fiber increases fiber content and lowers net carbs on labels, but the formula also contains multiple processed additives (modified starch, caramel color, natural flavors) that some shoppers avoid when seeking 'clean label' canned goods.

Availability and format details

Retail listings show the product in at least two can sizes: a 15.8 oz variant (Amazon listing) and a 27.5 oz option (FoodsCo listing). Standard canned packaging is used; nutrition information and ingredient declaration are printed on the can per label examples found online.

If you want a single-serve side, note that the per-1/2-cup values are caloric and sodium-dense, so the larger cans are better for multiple servings or recipes where you dilute or cook the beans further.

Where this product fits in your kitchen

Good fits: low- and reduced-sugar meal plans, higher-fiber canned-bean options (12 g fiber per 1/2 cup), and low-net-carb approaches (roughly 14 g net carbs per 1/2 cup). It works as a quick side, in chili or casseroles, and for people wanting baked-bean flavor without added sugar.

Poor fits: anyone avoiding artificial sweeteners or monitoring sodium tightly — the 600.6 mg per 1/2 cup is substantial and can make portion control necessary for sodium-sensitive diets.

Pros & Cons

  • ✅ No added sugar on the ingredient list; sweetness provided by sucralose
  • ✅ High fiber: 12 g dietary fiber per 1/2 cup (about 43% DV)
  • ✅ Low net carbs relative to traditional varieties — roughly 14 g net carbs per 1/2 cup (total carbs 26 g minus 12 g fiber)
  • ✅ Solid plant protein: 7 g protein per 1/2 cup
  • ✅ Available in multiple can sizes (documented 15.8 oz and 27.5 oz listings)
  • ❌ Contains sucralose; several reviewers note a perceptible aftertaste
  • ❌ High sodium: 600.6 mg per 1/2 cup (about 25% DV)
  • ❌ Includes processed additives (modified corn starch, caramel color, natural flavors) that some shoppers avoid
  • ❌ Taste differs from sugar-added Bush's for sensitive palates; at least one forum user called the flavor 'weird'

How It Compares to the Competition

  • Bush's Original Baked Beans — Classic sugar-added formulation with higher total carbs (about 29 g per 1/2 cup per a comparative blog) and the familiar sweet flavor without sucralose aftertaste.
  • Bush's Brown Sugar Hickory Baked Beans — Sweeter, hickory-flavored variant with higher carbs (about 33 g per 1/2 cup per the same comparative blog) — not suitable for reduced-sugar plans.
  • Bush's Best - Zero Sugar (15.8 oz) — Same zero-sugar formulation available in a 15.8 oz can (retailer listing); choice is primarily about can size rather than recipe differences.

Who Should Buy This & Who Should Skip It

Buy it if: Buyers who want the flavor profile of canned baked beans without added sugars — especially people tracking net carbs or increasing fiber intake (12 g fiber per 1/2 cup). Also useful for quick meals, recipes, or anyone who accepts artificial sweeteners like sucralose.

Skip it if: Skip this if you avoid artificial sweeteners or prefer minimally processed ingredient lists, or if you need to limit sodium (600.6 mg per 1/2 cup is relatively high). If you prioritize an exact match to sugar-sweetened Bush's taste, the flavor can be noticeably different.

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