Trader Joe's Soy Sauce
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Soy sauces

Trader Joe's Soy Sauce

520 mL

Score

Good 78 out of 100 High confidence
  • High in salt
  • Contains seed oils
  • No additives

Why it scores 78

Trader Joe's Soy Sauce scores 78 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. minus 9 points Salt 7.7 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
  2. minus 8 points Processed (NOVA 3): Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. Emerging
  3. minus 3 points Sugars 6.7 g / 100 g: Contains some sugar. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better soy sauce and aminos

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Soy Sauce

START100

Ingredients

  • Soybean oil minus 2.5 points
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [1][2][3][4]
subtotal−2.5

Processing

  • Processed (NOVA 3) minus 8 points
    Emerging Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. [5]
subtotal−8

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 6.7 g / 100 g minus 3 points
    Strong Contains some sugar. [6]
  • Salt 7.7 g / 100 g minus 9 points
    Strong Very high in salt. [7]
subtotal−12

TOTAL 78Good

100 − 22.5 = 77.5 → 78

Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]


GTIN 00002642000066 · 2026-08-06

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy100 kcal
Fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Carbohydrates13.3 g
Sugars6.7 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber0.8 g
Protein1 g
Salt7.7 g

Serving: 1 serving (15 ml)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

WATER, SOYBEAN, WHEAT, SALT AND VINEGAR.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Sources

  1. Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)

    BMJ · Apr 12, 2016 · Peer-reviewed

    “replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”

    doi.org

  2. Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

    Circulation · Oct 28, 2014 · Peer-reviewed

    “These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”

    doi.org

  3. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  4. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  5. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”

    who.int

  6. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  7. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov