Barbecue sauces
Stubb's Sweet Heat Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce
18 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
Why it scores 13
Stubb's Sweet Heat Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce scores 13 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Molasses: An added sugar. Strong
- 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
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better barbecue sauce
-
Bar-B-Q Sauce Williamson Bros · 16 fl oz/473 mL Not ultra-processed · No molasses Score 57 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Japanese Barbecue Sauce Bachan's · 34 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 69 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
BBQ Sauce Kinder's Not ultra-processed · No molasses Score 58 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Memphis bbq sauce True Made Foods Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 75 out of 100 , 62 points higher -
Steak Sauce Spicy imp Rufus Teague · 7 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 55 out of 100 , 42 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Sweet Heat Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce
Ingredients
- Molasses minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Brown sugar minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 28.6 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 1.8 g / 100 g minus 5 points
100 − 87 = 13
Can’t score above 79. Contains molasses, 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). [6]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 143 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 34.3 g |
| Sugars | 28.6 g |
| Added sugars | 25.7 g |
| Fiber | 1.3 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 1.8 g |
Serving: 2 Tbsp (35 g)
Ingredients
- TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE)
- MOLASSES (high concern)
- APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
- SUGAR (high concern)
- BROWN SUGAR (high concern)
- CHIPOTLE CHILE SAUCE (CHILE PEPPERS, CHIPOTLE, NATURAL FLAVOR, SALT AND CITRIC ACID)
- CORN STARCH
- SALT
- SPICES (INCLUDING CHILI PEPPER)
- GARLIC
- NATURAL FLAVOR (INCLUDING HICKORY SMOKE)
Label text, as published
TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), MOLASSES, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, SUGAR, BROWN SUGAR, CHIPOTLE CHILE SAUCE (CHILE PEPPERS, CHIPOTLE, NATURAL FLAVOR, SALT AND CITRIC ACID), CORN STARCH, SALT, SPICES (INCLUDING CHILI PEPPER), CONTAINS LESS THAN 0.5% OF: GARLIC, NATURAL FLAVOR (INCLUDING HICKORY SMOKE).
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More barbecue sauces on GoodSwap
-
Barbecue Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's · 18 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 6 out of 100 Bad -
Barbecue Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's · 37 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 6 out of 100 Bad -
Barbeque Sauce Chick-fil-A · 16 fl oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 8 out of 100 Bad -
Hickory bourbon legendary bar-b-q sauce, hickory bourbon Stubb's · 510 g (18 oz) Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 16 out of 100 Bad -
Barbecue Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's · 37 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 6 out of 100 Bad
More from Stubb's
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
-
“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