A major new national campaign, Bang In Some Beans, has officially launched with the backing of celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Tom Kerridge. The initiative aims to encourage people across the UK to eat more beans, pulses and legumes as part of a healthier, more affordable and sustainable diet.
Led by The Food Foundation and Veg Power, and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, the three-year campaign seeks to double UK bean consumption by 2028. It follows the success of previous public health efforts Eat Them To Defeat Them and Peas Please, which have together reached more than 36 million people and driven over one billion extra portions of vegetables sold in the UK since 2019.
“Campaigns like Bang In Some Beans are a great way to inspire consumers to explore new, affordable sources of protein and fibre. As interest in healthier and more sustainable eating grows, it’s encouraging to see beans and pulses getting the attention they deserve.” comments Federico Dellafiore, Event Manager for IFE
A united effort to boost the nation’s health
The Bang In Some Beans campaign brings together a coalition of chefs, food businesses and community partners including Kent Students’ Union, Birmingham City Council and the global initiative Beans Is How, which is working to double global bean consumption by 2028.
With food prices continuing to rise and diet-related illnesses increasing, campaign organisers are calling on retailers, manufacturers, caterers, wholesalers and foodservice operators to join the “bean revolution” by committing to serve, sell and promote more beans.
Lidl GB, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Ocado, Waitrose, Bidfood, ISS and Harvester are among the first “keen bean pledgers”, committing to increase sales or servings of beans.
Chefs lead the charge
Jamie Oliver said: “It’s no secret that I love beans. Not only are they delicious and affordable, they’re plant-based powerhouses that are packed with fibre, are a brilliant source of protein and live happily in your store cupboard for ages. If there’s anything we should be eating more of, it’s beans.”
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall added: “Beans are fantastic for your health and packed full of fibre, protein and micronutrients. The Bang In Some Beans campaign is bringing together chefs, influencers and food businesses so we can all get excited about trying new beany recipes, whether that’s exploring global dishes or simply banging some beans into family favourites.”
The facts behind the campaign
The Food Foundation’s new Bean Facts report highlights:
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Diets low in beans are associated with up to 9,000 premature deaths in the UK each year.
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The average person eats just one portion of beans a week, and two-thirds of people eat less than one portion.
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Half of children’s bean intake and over a third of adults’ comes from baked beans, showing significant potential to diversify bean consumption.
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To align with the Planetary Health Diet, UK bean intake would need to be seven times higher than it is now.
Health, affordability and climate benefits
Beans are high in fibre, rich in protein and key micronutrients such as potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc. They count as up to one of your 5-a-day and have one of the lowest carbon footprints of any protein source. Their nitrogen-fixing properties also benefit soil health and biodiversity, making them a practical solution for sustainable diets.
Rebecca Tobi, Head of Food Business Transformation at The Food Foundation, said: “Beans are the ultimate superfood: a win for health, for the planet and for affordability. With diet-related disease and climate pressures mounting, now is the perfect time to make beans a bigger part of the UK’s diet.”
Dan Parker, Chief Executive of Veg Power, said: “We’re dedicated to making healthy, sustainable eating easier, and beans do exactly that. They’re good for people, good for the planet and good for stretched household budgets.”
Engaging schools and communities
Alongside the national campaign, thousands of children will take part in The Big Bean Boost in schools. Outreach programmes are also being rolled out through Kent Students’ Union and Birmingham City Council, supporting local participation and awareness.
The campaign has received £1.4 million in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund, part of a £100 million, 10-year commitment to help UK communities take practical climate action and live more sustainably.
Find out more: foodfoundation.org.uk/initiatives/bang-some-beans
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