GoodSwap Get notified
Stubb's Hickory bourbon legendary bar-b-q sauce, hickory bourbon
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Barbecue sauces

Stubb's Hickory bourbon legendary bar-b-q sauce, hickory bourbon

510 g (18 oz)

Bad out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in sugar
  • High in salt
  • Contains added sugars
Get GoodSwap

Why it scores 16

Stubb's Hickory bourbon legendary bar-b-q sauce, hickory bourbon scores 16 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Molasses: An added sugar. Strong
  3. 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 barbecue sauce

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Hickory bourbon legendary bar-b-q sauce, hickory bourbon

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Molasses
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Spirits
    Regulatory There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. [4][5]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [6][7]
  • Guar gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [7]
  • Xanthan gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [7]
subtotal−47

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [7]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: flavoring and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [7]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 23.5 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Salt 2 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [8]
subtotal−18
TOTAL 16Bad

100 − 84.5 = 15.5 → 16

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

Can’t score above 79. High in sugars and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [9]

GTIN 00734756000082 · 2026-03-18

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy132 kcal
Fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Carbohydrates29.4 g
Sugars23.5 g
Added sugars20.6 g
Protein0 g
Salt2 g

Serving: 2 Tbsp (34 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), SUGAR, DISTILLED VINEGAR, MOLASSES, BOURBON, SALT, CORN STARCH, SPICES (INCLUDING RED PEPPER), CONTAINS LESS THAN 0.5% OF: NATURAL FLAVOR (INCLUDING HICKORY SMOKE), ONION, GARLIC, GUAR GUM (THICKENER), XANTHAN GUM (THICKENER).

Allergens and diets

  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest barbecue sauces in the US

More from Stubb's

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

    U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Aug 14, 2026 · Regulator

    “There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.”

    cdc.gov

  5. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  6. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  7. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  8. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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

  9. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  10. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  11. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org