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Condiments & seasonings · Product label guide

Hot sauce: compare ingredients, then choose.

Compare hot sauces by pepper base, vinegar, added sugar, sodium, and preservatives.

Research · Hot sauce

What our research found about hot sauce

Most hot sauces are peppers, vinegar and salt, which is why they are among the cleaner condiments. Differences come from the pepper blend, whether the sauce is fermented, and extras such as sugar, fruit, garlic, xanthan gum and preservatives. Sodium per teaspoon is small, but cumulative use adds up, so compare sodium per serving if you pour freely.

Heat is not on the label. Look for the pepper variety (habanero, serrano, ghost pepper) and the brand’s own heat description. Sweet chili and hot-honey styles add sugar and are closer to a sauce than a pure pepper condiment.

Products
687 brands
Full labels recorded
4871% of the shelf
Maker says organic
4maker’s claim
List an added sweetener
23of 48 labels
List a seed oil
10of 48 labels
Typical label length
10ingredients (median)

Counts use complete, current ingredient labels only. Records without a published label stay unknown and are never counted as clean.

What to compare

  • Pepper, vinegar, salt. The shortest lists begin with peppers and vinegar.
  • Sugar and fruit. Sweet and fruit-forward sauces add sugar or juice concentrate.
  • Sodium per serving. Compare mg per teaspoon.
  • Preservatives and gums. Some sauces add sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate or xanthan gum.

References

  1. Sodium in your diet U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  2. How much sodium should I eat per day? American Heart Association
  3. Added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  4. Chemical Cuisine: food additives guide Center for Science in the Public Interest

Compare the recorded labels

Find the ingredients that matter to you.

68 of 68 products

“No …” columns: None found on the label · Listed on the label · Unknown. Claims: verified · not established. Default: most check marks first; not a health score.

Compare product claims and recorded ingredients. Click a column heading to sort.
Buy
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →5
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimBuy on Amazon ↗11 oz squeeze bottleProduct details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →4
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →3
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →3
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →3
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →3
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →3
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →3
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimBuy on Amazon ↗6 oz jarProduct details →3
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →3
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →3
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →3
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0
Not scoredSearch on Amazon ↗Product details →0

Unknown and stale evidence never passes “Only show matches.” The clean score is strict and needs no setup: nine additive groups on the current label plus verified organic and sourcing claims; without them a product cannot reach 100. It is not a nutrition, allergy, or safety rating.

“Buy on Amazon” opens a reviewed product listing; “Search on Amazon” opens an Amazon search for the product, so pick the exact match yourself. Confirm the package, seller, availability, and current price before checkout. Buying links do not influence ingredient results.

01 · A closer look

Your preferences, explained.

The clean score is strict and needs no setup: nine additive groups not found in a current ingredient statement, plus a verified organic claim (and a grass-fed or pasture-raised claim for animal foods), are needed for 100; a possible match earns half and a missing claim earns nothing. Missing or expired evidence stays unknown. It does not assess nutrition, allergies, contaminants, or safety.