Sauces
Patak's Butter Chicken Simmer Sauce
15 oz/425 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 47
Patak's Butter Chicken Simmer Sauce scores 47 out of 100 (Okay) 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 3 points Sugars 6.3 g / 100 g: Contains some sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better marinades and cooking sauces
-
Madras curry simmer sauce 365 Whole Foods Market · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 92 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Spanish Romesco simmer sauce Chosen Foods · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 90 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Butter Chicken Sauce Good Food For Good · 250 mL Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 92 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Cashew Butter Masala Indian Simmer Sauce Brooklyn Delhi · 20 g Not ultra-processed · No sugar Score 73 out of 100 , 26 points higher -
Buffalo Style Chicken Dip Trader Joe's · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 32 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Butter Chicken Simmer Sauce
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Modified starch minus 2.5 points
- Canola oil 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 6.3 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 2.3 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 0.7 g / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 53.5 = 46.5 → 47
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 94 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 6.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.3 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 10.9 g |
| Sugars | 6.3 g |
| Added sugars | 4.7 g |
| Fiber | 1.6 g |
| Protein | 1.6 g |
| Salt | 0.7 g |
Serving: 0.25 cup (63 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- ONION
- TOMATO PASTE
- SUGAR (high concern)
- CREAM
- BUTTER
- FOOD STARCH-MODIFIED
- CANOLA OIL
- SPICES (INCLUDING PAPRIKA)
- VINEGAR
- GINGER
- ONION POWDER
- SALT
- GARLIC POWDER
- SMOKED PAPRIKA
- GROUND ALMONDS
- TAMARIND
- PAPRIKA OLEORESIN (COLOR)
- ACETIC ACID
Label text, as published
WATER, ONION, TOMATO PASTE, SUGAR, CREAM, BUTTER, FOOD STARCH-MODIFIED, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF CANOLA OIL, SPICES (INCLUDING PAPRIKA), VINEGAR, GINGER, ONION POWDER, SALT, GARLIC POWDER, SMOKED PAPRIKA, GROUND ALMONDS, TAMARIND, PAPRIKA OLEORESIN (COLOR), ACETIC ACID.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Tree nuts
- Not vegan
- Vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
“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