Sauces
Trader Joe's Thick, Bold & Spicy Red Sauce
16 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 45
Trader Joe's Thick, Bold & Spicy Red Sauce scores 45 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Honey: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 7 points Salt 1.8 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 marinades and cooking sauces
-
Roasted red pepper Wegmans · 10.5 oz/298 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 96 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Red Enchilada Sauce Siete · 15 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 90 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Epis Spicy Kreyol Kitchen · 11.6 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Organic Hommus Roasted Red Pepper Cedar's · 8 oz/227 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 97 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Red Enchilada Sauce 365 Whole Foods Market · 15.5 oz/439 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 97 out of 100 , 52 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Thick, Bold & Spicy Red Sauce
Ingredients
- Honey minus 20 points
- Calcium chloride minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 7.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 1.6 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.8 g / 100 g minus 7 points
100 − 55.5 = 44.5 → 45
Can’t score above 79. Contains honey, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 156 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 12.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 12.5 g |
| Sugars | 7.8 g |
| Added sugars | 3.1 g |
| Fiber | 1.6 g |
| Protein | 1.6 g |
| Salt | 1.8 g |
Serving: 1 serving (64 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- TOMATO PASTE
- EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
- DICED TOMATOES IN JUICE (TOMATOES, TOMATO JUICE, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, CITRIC ACID [ACIDULANT])
- GARLIC
- HONEY (high concern)
- DICED ONION
- SUN-DRIED TOMATOES
- SALT
- BASIL
- CRUSHED RED PEPPER
- ANCHO CHILI PEPPER POWDER
- BLACK PEPPER
- PAPRIKA
- APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
- CITRIC ACID (ACIDULANT)
- NATURAL FLAVORS (MILK)
Label text, as published
WATER., TOMATO PASTE., EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL,, DICED TOMATOES IN JUICE (TOMATOES,, TOMATO JUICE, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, CITRIC ACID [ACIDULANT]),, GARLIC,, HONEY,, DICED ONION,, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES,, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF SALT,, BASIL,, CRUSHED RED PEPPER,, ANCHO CHILI PEPPER POWDER,, BLACK PEPPER,, PAPRIKA,, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR,, CITRIC ACID (ACIDULANT),, NATURAL FLAVORS (MILK)
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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 -
Creamy Jalapeno Salsa Siete · 10.5 oz/298 g Seed-oil free Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Organic real french vinaigrette dressing Briannas · 10 fl oz/295 mL Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains seed oilsCertified organic Score 63 out of 100 Good -
Light Miracle Whip Kraft Foods · 15 fl oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugars Score 16 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 -
Spinach & Chive Linguine Pasta Trader Joe's · 8 oz (227 g) Score 93 out of 100 Excellent -
Bite-Sized Candy Coated Milk Chocolate Candies Trader Joe's · 6 oz Score 2 out of 100 Bad
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
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
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