Home › Ingredients › ORIGINAL BBQ SAUCE, ORIGINAL
SIGNATURE SELECT · 0/100 · Not approved
2 not-approved ingredients detected
| Ingredient | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) | Not approved | Industrially produced via enzymatic conversion of corn starch; strongly associated with metabolic dysfunction. |
| Modified Food Starch | Not approved | Industrially modified starch (chemical, enzymatic, or physical processing — label rarely specifies which). Common GMO source (corn/wheat/tapioca), and several modification agents (propylene oxide, sodium hydroxide) are flagged in EU regulatory reviews. Editorial position: not what we'd stock. |
| Caramel Color (generic) | Caution | Without a Class number, manufacturer-disclosed type is unknown; Class III/IV variants (most common in colas) contain 4-MeI, a California Prop 65 carcinogen. |
| Xanthan Gum | Caution | Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals. |
| Natural Flavor | Caution | Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency. |
| Sodium Benzoate | Caution | Can react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to form benzene, a Group 1 carcinogen. |
| Corn Syrup | Caution | Refined glucose syrup from corn starch. |
| Sugar (Refined) | Caution | Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener. |
100 − 50×2 − 10×6 − 5×0 = 0
| Reason | Points | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) | -50 | Industrially produced via enzymatic conversion of corn starch; strongly associated with metabolic dysfunction. |
| Modified Food Starch | -50 | Industrially modified starch (chemical, enzymatic, or physical processing — label rarely specifies which). Common GMO source (corn/wheat/tapioca), and several modification agents (propylene oxide, sodium hydroxide) are flagged in EU regulatory reviews. Editorial position: not what we'd stock. |
| Caramel Color (generic) | -10 | Without a Class number, manufacturer-disclosed type is unknown; Class III/IV variants (most common in colas) contain 4-MeI, a California Prop 65 carcinogen. |
| Xanthan Gum | -10 | Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals. |
| Natural Flavor | -10 | Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency. |
| Sodium Benzoate | -10 | Can react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to form benzene, a Group 1 carcinogen. |
| Corn Syrup | -10 | Refined glucose syrup from corn starch. |
| Sugar (Refined) | -10 | Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener. |
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Scores come from our ingredient rules — never from commissions.
SmartChoice checks every ingredient on a product against these same rules — point your camera at the barcode and get a verdict in seconds.
Get SmartChoice — free on iPhoneEducational information, not medical or dietary advice. Scores reflect what the label states, checked against our published rules. Labels change — always read the product’s own packaging.