Barbecue sauces
Trader Joe's Sriracha and Roasted Garlic BBQ Sauce
19.5 oz/553 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 8
Trader Joe's Sriracha and Roasted Garlic BBQ Sauce scores 8 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Molasses: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better barbecue sauce
-
Roasted Garlic Japanese Barbecue Sauce Bachan's · 17 oz Not ultra-processed · No molasses Score 47 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Garlic Parmesan Sauce & Marinade Sweet Baby Ray's · 473 mL Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 43 out of 100 , 35 points higher -
Japanese Barbecue Sauce Bachan's · 34 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 69 out of 100 , 61 points higher -
BBQ Sauce Kinder's Not ultra-processed · No sugar Score 58 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Bar-B-Q Sauce Williamson Bros · 16 fl oz/473 mL Not ultra-processed · No molasses Score 57 out of 100 , 49 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Sriracha and Roasted Garlic BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Molasses minus 20 points
- Caramel color minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 33.3 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 1.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 167 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 92.5 = 7.5 → 8
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [10]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 167 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 38.9 g |
| Sugars | 33.3 g |
| Added sugars | 30.6 g |
| Fiber | 2.8 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 1.3 g |
Serving: 2 tbsp (36 g)
Ingredients
- Organic tomato puree (water, organic tomato paste)
- organic sugar (high concern)
- organic jalapeno puree (organic red jalapeno peppers, sea salt, organic distilled vinegar, calcium chloride)
- organic distilled vinegar
- organic molasses (high concern)
- natural hickory smoke flavor
- organic roasted garlic
- organic cornstarch
- organic worcestershire sauce (organic distilled vinegar, organic molasses, water, organic sugar, sea salt, organic caramel color, organic garlic powder, organic spices, organic cayenne peppers, organic black pepper, xanthan gum)
- organic garlic puree (organic garlic, water)
- organic garlic powder
- salt
- organic onion powder
- organic caramel color (high concern)
- organic garlic
- organic habanero pepper powder
- xanthan gum
Label text, as published
Organic tomato puree (water, organic tomato paste), organic sugar, organic jalapeno puree (organic red jalapeno peppers, sea salt, organic distilled vinegar, calcium chloride), organic distilled vinegar, organic molasses, natural hickory smoke flavor, organic roasted garlic, organic cornstarch, organic worcestershire sauce (organic distilled vinegar, organic molasses, water, organic sugar, sea salt, organic caramel color, organic garlic powder, organic spices [organic allspice, organic nutmeg,organic clove, organic ginger], organic cayenne peppers, organic black pepper, xanthan gum), organic garlic puree (organic garlic, water), organic garlic powder, salt, organic onion powder, organic caramel color, organic garlic, organic habanero pepper powder, xanthan gum.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More barbecue sauces on GoodSwap
-
Barbecue Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's · 18 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 6 out of 100 Bad -
Barbecue Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's · 37 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 6 out of 100 Bad -
Honey BBQ Sauce Buffalo Wild Wings · 355 mL Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 4 out of 100 Bad -
Barbecue Sauce Ray's No Sugar Added Sweet & Spicy · 18.5 oz/524 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains non-nutritive sweetenersNo synthetic dyes Score 33 out of 100 Poor -
Honey Barbecue Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's · 37 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 6 out of 100 Bad
More from Trader Joe's
-
Cracked Wheat Sourdough Bread Trader Joe's · 24 oz Score 86 out of 100 Excellent -
Vanilla Almond Granola Trader Joe's · 16 oz Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
AUTUMNAL HARVEST Creamy PASTA SAUCE Trader Joe's · 25 oz Score 63 out of 100 Good -
POWER of seven PURPLE ORGANIC JUICE BLEND Trader Joe's · 33.8 fl oz/1 L Score 87 out of 100 Excellent
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Questions & Answers About 4-MEI
“Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.gov
-
“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
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org