Sauces
O'Food Gochujang
17.6 oz/1.1 lb/500 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 14
O'Food Gochujang scores 14 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Malt syrup: 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 hot sauce
-
Gochujang Sempio · 500 g Not ultra-processed · No malt syrup Score 54 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Mother In Laws Gochujang Milkimichi · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No corn syrup Score 48 out of 100 , 34 points higher -
Gochujang Hot Pepper Paste CJ Foods Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 69 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Gochujang Paste Trader Joe's · 7.05 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 46 out of 100 , 32 points higher -
Gochujang Korean Fermented Red Pepper Paste Trader Joe's Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 73 out of 100 , 59 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Gochujang
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Malt syrup minus 20 points
- Soluble corn fiber (resistant dextrin) minus 2.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
- Spirits minus 1.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 1.5 points
- Dextrin minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 15 g / 100 g minus 8 points
- Salt 6 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 200 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Fiber 5 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 86 = 14
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 200 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45 g |
| Sugars | 15 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Protein | 5 g |
| Salt | 6 g |
Serving: 1 serving (6 g)
Ingredients
- CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- RED PEPPER MIXED SEASONING (RED PEPPER POWDER, SEA SALT, GARLIC, ONION)
- RICE FLOUR
- WATER
- ISOMALTO OLIGOSACCHARIDE
- FERMENTED SOYBEAN PASTE (SOYBEAN, FERMENTED SOYBEAN, ROASTED SOYBEAN POWDER, SALT, SEED MALT)
- SEA SALT
- RED PEPPER POWDER
- SPIRITS
- YEAST EXTRACT POWDER (YEAST EXTRACTS, DEXTRIN)
- GLUTINOUS RICE
- SEED MALT (high concern)
Label text, as published
CORN SYRUP, RED PEPPER MIXED SEASONING(RED PEPPER POWDER, SEA SALT, GARLIC, ONION), RICE FLOUR, WATER, ISOMALTO OLIGOSACCHARIDE, FERMENTED SOYBEAN PASTE(SOYBEAN, FERMENTED SOYBEAN, ROASTED SOYBEAN POWDER, SALT, SEED MALT), SEA SALT, RED PEPPER POWDER, SPIRITS, YEAST EXTRACT POWDER (YEAST EXTRACTS, DEXTRIN), GLUTINOUS RICE, SEED MALT
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- 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 -
Special Sauce Original Sir Kensington's · 354 mL Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 42 out of 100 Okay -
Sea Salt Caramel Ghirardelli · 16 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugars Score 11 out of 100 Bad -
Sweet & Spicy Sauce Tabasco · 11 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 36 out of 100 Poor
More from O'Food
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
-
About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy
“There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.”
cdc.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.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