Pick of the bunch

Is tomato soup good for you?

Canned tomato soup – staple of camping trips and Sunday ‘‘tea’’ (with soldiers) – has stood the test of time, despite competition from a multitude of other flavours and options. But with several players on the market, how do we know which is best? Should we consider nutrition as well as taste? We set out to help by comparing three leading brands for nutrition, cost and taste.

Nutrition comment

The key ingredient of tomato soup (tomato – surprise!) is full of goodness. In particular, it is a good source of vitamin C as well as lycopen, a powerful antioxidant which evidence shows, protects against prostate cancer, particularly when the tomato is cooked. Apart from tomato, ingredients include water or milk plus small quantities of flavourings/seasonings. When comparing nutrition information panels, look for high tomato content, low sodium content and an ingredient list without many additives.

Bottom line

All three soups are perfectly acceptable for taste and nutrition and are priced well. For that reason use personal preference and price as your guide.

Products are tested by NZ registered nutritionist Bronwen King and a diverse, randomly selected group.