Sauces
La Choy Sweet & Sour Sauce
14.8 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 17
La Choy Sweet & Sour Sauce scores 17 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 Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener): 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 asian cooking sauces
-
Light Sweet Miso Smart MISO · 5.2 oz/150 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 75 out of 100 , 58 points higher -
Sweet & sour sauce Uncle Ben's · 450 g Less sugar · No fruit juice concentrate (sweetener) Score 51 out of 100 , 34 points higher -
Sweet and sour sauce Ying's · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 61 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Yellow sour curry paste Maesri Less sugar · No fruit juice concentrate (sweetener) Score 50 out of 100 , 33 points higher -
Sweet and sour sauce World Finer Foods Inc. · 10 oz No fruit juice concentrate (sweetener) · No modified starch Score 41 out of 100 , 24 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Sweet & Sour Sauce
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener) minus 20 points
- Modified starch minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 36.4 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 1.5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 169 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 83.5 = 16.5 → 17
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [6]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 169 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 42.9 g |
| Sugars | 36.4 g |
| Added sugars | 36.4 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 1.5 g |
Serving: 0.25 cup (77 g)
Ingredients
- Water
- Sugar (high concern)
- Distilled Vinegar
- Modified Corn Starch
- Salt
- Pineapple Juice Concentrate (high concern)
- Dried Red Bell Peppers
- Oleoresin Paprika
Label text, as published
Water, Sugar, Distilled Vinegar, Modified Corn Starch, LESS THAN 2% OF: Salt, Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Dried Red Bell Peppers, Oleoresin Paprika.
Allergens and diets
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- 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 -
Bangkok Peanut Sauce House Of Tsang · 11.5 oz/326 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 30 out of 100 Poor -
Olive Oil Mayonnaise Dressing Best Foods · 14 g Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 50 out of 100 Okay -
Organic Habanero Pepper Sauce Donkey Sauces Llc · 148 mL/5 fl oz High in saltCertified organicNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good
More from La Choy
Sources
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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
-
“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