The plasma cholesterol lowering potential of canned baked beans was examined in a cross-over comparison with canned spaghetti. The difference in total dietary non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) of 12 g daily (6.6 g difference in soluble NSP), was insufficient to alter the plasma cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose concentrations in 20 mildly hyper-cholesterolaemic men. Thus, eating an average of six 440 g cans of this source of baked beans per week, large servings, does not lower the plasma cholesterol when dietary fat is not displaced.