Sauces
Trader Joe's Jalapeño Sauce
10 oz (283 g)
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 34
Trader Joe's Jalapeño Sauce scores 34 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 9 points Salt 3.5 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better hot sauce
-
Jalapeno sauce Marca · 7.75 oz/220 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Organic Jalapeno Hot Sauce Whole Foods Market · 5 fl oz Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Sliced Jalapeño peppers Louisiana Brand · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Hot Sauce Southwest jalapeno imp Louisiana · 177 mL Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Arizona peppers jalapeno pepper sauce Arizona Pepper Products Co Inc · 148 mL/5 fl oz Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 45 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Jalapeño Sauce
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Gum arabic (acacia) minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 12.8 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Saturated fat 6.4 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 3.5 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 321 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 66 = 34
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 321 kcal |
|---|---|
| Saturated fat | 6.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 25.5 g |
| Sugars | 12.8 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 3.5 g |
Serving: 2.0 tbsp. (28.0 g)
Ingredients
- JALAPEÑO PEPPERS
- CANOLA OIL
- ONION
- SALT
- CANE SUGAR (high concern)
- GUM ARABIC
- ONION POWDER
- GARLIC POWDER
- CITRIC ACID (ACIDIFIER)
- SPICE
Label text, as published
JALAPEÑO PEPPERS, CANOLA OIL, ONION, SALT, CANE SUGAR, GUM ARABIC, ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, CITRIC ACID (ACIDIFIER), SPICE
Allergens and diets
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Glass, Plastic
Context only: no points in v1.
More sauces on GoodSwap
-
Original Sloppy Joe Sauce Manwich · 15 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugars Score 43 out of 100 Okay -
Spicy Chili Crisp Laoganma · 7.41 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 26 out of 100 Poor -
Red Enchilada Sauce Old El Paso · 10 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsNo synthetic dyes Score 46 out of 100 Okay -
Organic Balsamic Vinaigrette 365 Whole Foods Market · 16 fl oz/1 PT/473 mL Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains seed oils Score 65 out of 100 Good -
Teriyaki Baste & Glaze Kikkoman · 11.8 oz/336 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 31 out of 100 Poor -
Fire Sauce Taco Bell · 7.5 oz Ultra-processedHigh in salt Score 50 out of 100 Okay
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 -
Organic Almond Beverage Unsweetened Vanilla Trader Joe's Score 77 out of 100 Good -
three seed Sourdough Bread Trader Joe's · 24 oz Score 100 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
-
“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
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“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