Beans are a high-fibre food rich in micronutrients like potassium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. They also count as up to one of your 5-a-day. With only 4% of UK adults getting enough fibre and just 17% meeting their 5-a-day, increasing bean consumption could significantly improve UK diets.
Fibre supports digestion and lowers the risk of chronic diseases, such as bowel cancer. Health organisations including The British Heart Foundation, World Cancer Research Fund, and Diabetes UK all endorse beans for disease prevention.
Beans are also protein-rich and one of the few plant foods containing lysine, which aids calcium absorption and collagen production. They are cost-effective too—and the report finds they average 4.5 times cheaper per 100g than other plant-based meat alternatives.
Environmentally, beans have a lower carbon footprint than other sources of protein, as well as nitrogen-fixing properties which boost soil health and reduce fertiliser use. Beans are therefore a key crop for supporting regenerative agricultural practices and boosting biodiversity. In fact, the report finds that to meet the Eat Lancet’s Planetary Health Diet, UK bean consumption would need to increase sevenfold.
Despite these benefits, the report finds beans remain under-consumed. Two-thirds of the UK population eat less than one portion a week, and half of children’s bean intake and over a third of adults’ comes from baked beans. While baked beans are a national favourite and they count towards your five-a-day, they also include additional ingredients such as salt and sugar so we’re encouraging people to go beyond their go-to and try something new.
Our 2025 Public Attitudes Survey (published in partnership with The Food Foundation) earlier this year showed that 62% of respondents agreed that beans were tasty and 44% said that they wanted to eat more so there’s clear interest in getting more beans on plates.
Greater variety and inspiration from global cuisines, from Mexico to Spain to India, could help diversify and boost bean consumption across the UK. We have also published a policy paper calling for retailers and manufacturers to prioritise protein shift, from industrial meat to better sourced meat and more plants.
The Food Foundation and Veg Power are calling on chefs, retailers and manufacturers, restaurant chains, wholesalers, caterers, youth organisations, and community groups to join them and commit to serving and selling more beans as well as turbocharging the marketing and promotion of beans.
The digital BANG IN SOME BEANS campaign will be working with a wide range of social media influencers and chefs to inspire, demystify and offer help and tips to help people to include more beans, lentils and pulses in their everyday cooking. Influencer events and get-togethers are being planned for 2026 and beyond.
This post was adapted from the Food Foundation press release.