Barbecue Sauce

by Fresh Retail

This barbecue sauce is a sugar bomb with multiple forms of sweeteners, inflammatory seed oil, and artificial preservatives. The first ingredient is ketchup already loaded with high fructose corn syrup, followed by more sugar and brown sugar - creating a product that's essentially liquid candy with chemical preservatives.

• Ketchup – controversial · Processed tomato base that's already loaded with high fructose corn syrup, making this sauce even higher in sugar.
• Tomatoes – beneficial · Rich in lycopene and vitamins, though benefits are diminished by heavy processing and sugar content.
• High fructose corn syrup – dangerous · Linked to obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and metabolic dysfunction due to rapid fructose metabolism.
• Corn syrup – dangerous · Pure glucose syrup that causes rapid blood sugar spikes and contributes to insulin resistance.
• Onion powder – safe · Dehydrated onions that provide flavor compounds and some antioxidants.
• Natural flavoring – safe · Generally safe flavor compounds derived from natural sources, though specific ingredients are proprietary.
• Water – safe · Used as a solvent and to achieve desired consistency.
• Sugar – controversial · Refined sucrose that contributes to blood sugar spikes when consumed in high amounts like this product.
• Distilled vinegar – beneficial · Acetic acid that may help with blood sugar control and provides tangy flavor.
• Worcestershire sauce – safe · Fermented sauce that adds umami depth, though contains additional sugar and processing.
• Molasses – safe · Less refined than white sugar and contains some minerals, but still contributes significant sugar content.
• Caramel color – controversial · May contain 4-methylimidazole, a potential carcinogen formed during ammonia-sulfite processing.
• Garlic powder – beneficial · Provides sulfur compounds with potential cardiovascular and antimicrobial benefits.
• Anchovies – beneficial · Omega-3 rich fish that adds umami flavor, though present in very small amounts.
• Tamarind – beneficial · Tropical fruit that provides tartness and some antioxidants.
• Brown sugar – controversial · Refined sugar with molasses, adding even more sugar to an already sugar-heavy product.
• Butter – safe · Natural dairy fat that provides richness, though present in small amounts.
• Refined soybean oil – dangerous · Highly processed omega-6 oil that promotes inflammation and is often made from GMO soybeans.
• Modified corn starch – safe · Chemically or physically altered starch used as thickener, generally considered safe.
• Dehydrated onion – safe · Dried onions that provide flavor and some beneficial sulfur compounds.
• Spices – beneficial · Blend of spices that typically provide antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
• Salt – safe · Sodium chloride for flavor enhancement and preservation, though this product likely contains excessive amounts.
• Lemon juice concentrate – safe · Concentrated citric acid that provides tartness and some vitamin C.
• Sodium benzoate – controversial · May form benzene when combined with vitamin C, and has been linked to hyperactivity in children.
• Potassium sorbate – safe · Generally recognized as safe preservative that inhibits mold and yeast growth.

Contains some beneficial spices

Vinegar may help blood sugar

Garlic provides health compounds

Five different sugar sources

Inflammatory soybean oil

Chemical preservatives

Ultra-processed ingredients

High sodium content

Potential carcinogenic compounds