hot sauce
Unknown brand
Processing
4
Ultra-processed
Group 4 of 4 on the NOVA scale
Additives listed
10
0 we grade moderate or higher
5 of them not yet assessed here
Nutrients
–
Nothing above the low band
Or no figures recorded at all
Three separate readings, kept apart on purpose. This is not a score, and none of it says this product is harmful.
Additives (10)
This label lists 3 acidity regulators, 2 colours, 2 preservatives, 2 thickeners and gelling agents and 1 antioxidant.
E202
Potassium sorbate
Preservative
What it is. The potassium salt of sorbic acid, which stops mould and yeast growth.
Why it is used. Used in cheese, baked goods, dried fruit, wine and dressings.
What the evidence says. Widely used and long regarded as one of the gentler preservatives. EFSA's 2015 re-evaluation lowered the acceptable daily intake and noted gaps in the genotoxicity data, asking for more work, while finding no evidence of harm at the levels actually used.
Permitted with maximum levels. EFSA has asked for further data rather than restricted it.
Assessed against EFSA. Full entry for E202
E211
Sodium benzoate
Preservative
What it is. A preservative that stops yeasts, moulds and some bacteria growing in acidic foods.
Why it is used. Used in soft drinks, sauces, pickles and dressings.
What the evidence says. EFSA re-evaluated it in 2016 and kept an acceptable daily intake, with normal exposure below it. The known issue is specific: in acidic drinks that also contain vitamin C, benzoate can form small amounts of benzene, so manufacturers reformulated to avoid the combination. It was also present in the drink mixes used in the Southampton hyperactivity study, though the warning requirement that followed applies to the colours rather than to benzoate.
Permitted with maximum levels in the foods where it is allowed.
Assessed against EFSA, UK FSA. Full entry for E211
E300
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Antioxidant
What it is. Vitamin C, added to protect colour and flavour and sometimes to fortify.
Why it is used. Stops browning in juices and cut fruit, protects fats, and boosts vitamin content.
What the evidence says. Beneficial and harmless at the levels used. Included here as a reminder that an E number is just a code, and plenty of them are ordinary nutrients.
Permitted freely, no concern.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E300
E330
Citric acid
Acidity regulator
What it is. A mild acid found naturally in citrus fruit, made commercially by fermentation.
Why it is used. Adds tartness, balances flavour and helps preserve. One of the most used additives in food.
What the evidence says. Safe at food levels. No credible health concern for the additive itself.
Permitted freely.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E330
E415
Xanthan gum
Thickener and stabiliser
What it is. A fibre made by fermenting sugars with a bacterium, which thickens liquids at very low doses.
Why it is used. Thickens sauces and dressings and gives structure to gluten free baking.
What the evidence says. Passes through largely undigested and is treated as safe by regulators, with no numerical intake limit. Very large amounts act as fibre does, which is a digestive effect rather than a safety one.
Permitted freely.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E415
Also on the label, not assessed here yet
- E1442 Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate thickener
- E150A Plain caramel colour
- E160C Paprika extract, capsanthin colour
- E260 Acetic acid acidity regulator
- E331 Sodium citrates acidity regulator
Names and jobs come from the register of additives permitted in Great Britain, which we have not finished transcribing: a code shown without a name is a gap in our coverage, not a finding that it is unapproved. Naming one is not grading it either. Full detail appears only where we have an assessment against a named authority, so all of this describes our coverage rather than these additives. Most are common and low concern.
Ingredients
water, red chilli (22%), salt, maltodextrin, acidity regulators (e260, e330), chilli powder (2%), thickener (e415), preservative (e202) hot , spicy flavour bbq sauce ingredients: water, sugar, plum juice (water, plum juice concentrate), tomato sauce (water, high fructose corn syrup, tomato paste, corn syrup, thickener (e1442), acidity regulator (e260), salt, chilli powder, onion powder, flavouring), com syrup, modified food starch, salt, worcestershire sauce [water, sugar, salt, onion, spices, dried chilli, orange peel, tomato paste, acidity regulator (e260), colour (e150a) preservative (e202)], dextrose, onion powder, garlic powder, acidity regulator (e260), flavouring, preservative (e202), mexican style hot sauce ingredients: water, red chilli (18%), salt, garlic, acidity regulators (e260, e330), thickener (e415), flavouring, preservative (e202) ginger, colour (e1500) green hot sauce ingredients: water, green chilli (24%), sugar, salt, acidity regulator (e260), rice vinegar (water, rice, wheat, preservative (e211)], thickener (e415), rosemary flakes, preservative (e202), colour (e160c), flavouring: concentrated chilli extract, hickory smoked flavour bbq sauce ingredients: water tomato sauce (water, high fructose corn syrup, tomato paste, corn syrup, thickener (e1442), acidity regulator (e260), salt, chilli powder, onion powder, flavouring), plum juice (water, plum juice concentrate), sugar, com syrup, modified food starch, salt, worcestershire sauce [water, sugar, salt, onion, spices, dried chilli, orange peel, tomato paste, acidity regulator (e260), colour (e1500) preservative (e202)], acidity regulator (e260), cloves powder, cinnamon powder, flavouring, preservative (e202) louisiana style wing sauce ingredients: water, pumpkin, red chilli (10%) sugar salt, acidity regulator (e260), lemon juice [water, sugar, concentrated lemon juice, acidity regulator (e331), antioxidant (e300)], thickener (e415), preservative (e202), flavouring: concentrated chilli extract, original bbq sauce ingredients: water, com syrup, tomato sauce (water, high fructose com syrup, tomato paste, com syrup, thickener (e1442), acidity regulator (e260), salt, chilli powder, onion powder, flavouring), plum juice (water, plum juice concentrate), sugar, modified food starch, salt, worcestershire sauce [water, sugar, salt, onion, spices, dried chilli, orange peel, tomato paste, acidity regulator (e260), colour (e150a), preservative (e202)), acidity regulator (e260), cloves powder, cinnamon powder, chipotle powder (1%), flavouring, preservative (e202) for allergens please see ingredients in bold, de-diablo-flügelsaucen-zutaten: wasser, rote chili (22%), salz, maltodextrin, säureregulatoren (e260, e330), chilipulver (2%), verdickungsmittel (e415), konservierungsmittel (e202) bbq-sauce mit scharfem und pikantem geschmack: ingredienzen: wasser, zucker, pflaumensaft (wasser, pflaumensaft - konzentrat), tomatensauce (wasser, maissirup mit hohem fruchtzuckergehalt, tomatenpaste, maissirup, verdickungsmittel (e1442), säureregulator (e260), salz, chilipulver, zwiebelpulver, aromastoffe), maissirup, modifizierte lebensmittelstärke, salz, worcestershire-sauce [wasser, zucker, salz, zwiebel, gewürze, getrockneter chill, orangenschale, tomatenpaste, säureregulator (e260), farbstoff (e150a), konservierungsmittel (e202)], dextrose, zwiebelpulver, knoblauchpulver, säureregulator (e260), aroma, konservierungsmittel (e202)], scharfe sauce nach mexikanischer art: zutaten: wasser, rote chili (18%), salz, knoblauch, säureregulatoren (e260, e330), verdickungsmittel (e415), aromen, konservierungsmittel (e202), ingwer, farbstoff (e1500) grüne scharf-sauce zutaten: wasser, grüne chilli (24%), zucker, salz, säureregulator (e260), reisessig [wasser, reis, weizen, konservierungsmittel (e21), verdickungsmittel (e415) rosmarin-flocken, konservierungsmittel (e202), farbstoff [e160c], aroma: konzentrierter chili-extrakt, hickory geräucherte geschmackbbq-sauce: zutaten: wasser, tomatensauce (wasser, maissirup mit hohem fruchtzuckergehalt, tomatenpaste, maissirup, verdickungsmittel (e1442) säureregulator (e260), salz, chilipulver, zwiebelpulver, aroma), pflaumensaft (wasser, pflaumensaftkonzentrat ), zucker, maissirup, modifizierte speisestärke, salz, worcestershire-sauce [wasser, zucker, salz, zwiebel, gewürze, getrocknete chili, orangenschale, tomatenpaste, säureregulator (e260) farbstoff (e150a), konservierungsmit tel (e202)), säureregulator (e260), nelkenpulver, zimtpulver, aroma, konservierungsmittel (e202) zutaten für geflügelsauce nach louisiana-art: wasser, kürbis, rote chili (10%), zucker, salz, säureregulator (e260), zitronensaft [wasser, zucker, konzentrierter zitronensaft, säureregulator (e331), antioxidationsmit tel (e300)), verdickungsmittel (e415), konservierungsmittel (e202), aroma: konzentrierter chili-extrakt, original bbq-saucen-zutaten: wasser, maissirup, tomatensauce (wasser, maissirup mit hohem fruktosegehalt, tomatenpaste, maissirup, verdickungsmittel (e1442) säureregulator (e260) salz, chilipulver, zwiebelpulver, aroma), pflaumensaft (wasser, pflaumensaftkonzentrat), zucker, modifizierte speisestärke, salz, worcestershire-sauce [wasser, zucker , salz, zwiebel, gewürze, getrockneter chili, orangenschale, tomatenpaste, säureregulator (e260), farbstoff (e150a) konservierungsmittel (e202), säureregulator
As printed on the pack, in the producer's own order: ingredients are listed by weight, so what comes first is most of what is in it. E numbers link to their assessment where we have one.