A lorry shed its load of baked beans across a motorway in Essex while taking "evasive action" to avoid a car, police said.
Essex Police said the car crashed into a central reservation, leaving its driver with minor injuries.
Police said the beans were spread across all three lanes of the road.
A force spokesman said: "A car went into a central reservation.
"As a result of that, a lorry has taken evasive action and has jack-knifed and spilt its load of baked beans across all three lanes of the southbound carriageway."
Tailbacks stretching back several miles built up in the area.
The lorry driver was unhurt, police said.
All lanes re-opened at about 18:00 BST.