Barbecue sauces
Primal Kitchen Unsweetened Classic BBQ Sauce
8.5 oz/241 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Certified organic
- No additives
Why it scores 55
Primal Kitchen Unsweetened Classic BBQ Sauce scores 55 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- 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
- minus 5 points Sugars 9.7 g / 100 g: High in sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better barbecue sauce
-
BBQ Sauce (low calorie) Good Food For Good · 9.5 oz/270 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 96 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Sweet And Spicy BBQ Sauce Good Food For Good · 9.5 oz/270 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 96 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Carolina Red Pitmaster BBQ Sauce imp True Made Foods · 18 oz/510 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Carolina Gold Rice Marsh Hen Mill · 1.5 lb Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
E. Carolina Pitmaster BBQ Sauce True Made Foods · 17 oz/482 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 45 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Unsweetened Classic BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener) minus 20 points
- Natural flavors 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 9.7 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
Bonuses
- Certified organic plus 5 points
100 − 45 = 55
Can’t score above 79. Contains fruit juice concentrate (sweetener), an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 65 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 12.9 g |
| Sugars | 9.7 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 1 serving (32 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- ORGANIC TOMATO PASTE
- ORGANIC DATE PASTE
- ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
- ORGANIC BALSAMIC VINEGAR (ORGANIC WINE VINEGAR, ORGANIC CONCENTRATED GRAPE MUST)
- ORGANIC WHITE BALSAMIC VINEGAR (ORGANIC WHITE WINE VINEGAR, ORGANIC GRAPE MUST)
- ORGANIC DIJON MUSTARD (ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, WATER, ORGANIC MUSTARD SEED, SALT, ORGANIC SPICES)
- ORGANIC TAPIOCA STARCH
- ORGANIC FIG SOLIDS (not recognized)
- SEA SALT
- ORGANIC ONION POWDER
- ORGANIC GARLIC POWDER
- NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR
- ORGANIC BLACK PEPPER
- ORGANIC CORIANDER
- ORGANIC CHIPOTLE CHILI POWDER
- ORGANIC CINNAMON
Label text, as published
WATER, ORGANIC TOMATO PASTE, ORGANIC DATE PASTE, ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, ORGANIC BALSAMIC VINEGAR (ORGANIC WINE VINEGAR, ORGANIC CONCENTRATED GRAPE MUST), ORGANIC WHITE BALSAMIC VINEGAR (ORGANIC WHITE WINE VINEGAR, ORGANIC GRAPE MUST), ORGANIC DIJON MUSTARD (ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, WATER, ORGANIC MUSTARD SEED, SALT, ORGANIC SPICES), ORGANIC TAPIOCA STARCH, ORGANIC FIG SOLIDS, SEA SALT, ORGANIC ONION POWDER, ORGANIC GARLIC POWDER, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR, ORGANIC BLACK PEPPER, ORGANIC CORIANDER, ORGANIC CHIPOTLE CHILI POWDER, ORGANIC CINNAMON.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Mustard
- 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 -
Japanese Barbecue Sauce Bachan's · 34 oz Contains added sugarsNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 69 out of 100 Good -
Original Bbq Sauce Rib Rack · 19 oz High in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugarsNo additives Score 32 out of 100 Poor -
Hickory & Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's · 18 oz High in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugarsNo synthetic dyes Score 6 out of 100 Bad -
Wing Sauce & Dip Kinder's · 23.5 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 36 out of 100 Poor
More from Primal Kitchen
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MAYO Real Mayonnaise made with Avocado Oil Primal Kitchen · 12 fl oz Score 74 out of 100 Good -
Mayo Real Mayonnaise made with Avocado Oil Primal Kitchen · 17 fl oz/1.06 PT/503 mL Score 74 out of 100 Good -
Italian Dressing & Marinade Primal Kitchen · 8 fl oz/236 mL Score 76 out of 100 Good -
Organic Steak Sauce Primal Kitchen · 8.5 oz/241 g Score 60 out of 100 Good
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
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
“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
-
7 CFR 205.102 Use of the term "organic" (National Organic Program)
“Any agricultural product that is sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be: (a) Produced in accordance with the requirements specified in § 205.101 or §§ 205.202 through 205.207”
ecfr.gov
-
“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