Is McCormick Grill Mates Brown Sugar Bourbon Sauce Mix-Ins Safe? Ingredient Analysis
McCormick
McCormick Grill Mates Brown Sugar Bourbon Sauce Mix-Ins is one of the sauce condiment products analyzed by Zerotox for McCormick. The product scores 60/100 in Zerotox, meaning it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The sections below explain why ingredients like Modified Corn Starch affect the overall evaluation.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes tomato puree and peach juice as primary ingredients, but also contains modified corn starch and caramel color, raising quality concerns. The presence of synthetic additives indicates a processed nature.
Main concern
Modified corn starch is a processed thickener that may raise concerns about ingredient quality.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Tomato puree and peach juice provide natural flavors and contribute to the sauce's base.
- Spices like paprika and black pepper enhance the flavor profile, adding depth to the sauce.
- Bourbon adds a unique taste, contributing to the overall flavor complexity.
- Onion and garlic are natural ingredients that enhance the savory notes of the sauce.
Concerns
- Modified corn starch is a processed thickener that may raise concerns about ingredient quality.
- Caramel color is an artificial colorant that indicates a level of processing and may not be desirable.
- Worcestershire sauce contains corn syrup, a refined sugar, which can be a concern for some consumers.
- The presence of natural flavors can be vague, as they may include synthetic components.
Ingredients breakdown
Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this sauce condiment.
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Is Water safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water serves as the primary solvent in this sauce, providing the necessary liquid base for the other ingredients.
Role in formula: base
Original: Water
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Is Tomato Puree safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Tomato Puree is used here as base. Tomato puree, made from water and tomato paste, adds natural flavor and color, contributing to the sauce's overall taste.
Role in formula: base
Original: tomato puree (water, tomato paste)
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Is Peach Juice safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Peach Juice is used here as flavor. Peach juice adds a natural sweetness and fruity flavor, enhancing the overall taste profile of the sauce.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: peach juice
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Is Brown Sugar safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Brown Sugar is used here as sweetener. Brown sugar provides sweetness and depth of flavor, but as a refined sugar, it raises some concerns about health implications.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: brown sugar
-
Is Distilled White Vinegar safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Distilled White Vinegar is used here as acidulant. Distilled white vinegar adds acidity, balancing the sweetness and enhancing the overall flavor of the sauce.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: distilled white vinegar
Read the full ingredient profile for Distilled White Vinegar
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Is Salt safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt enhances flavor and acts as a preservative, contributing to the overall taste of the sauce.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: salt
-
Is Onion safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Onion is used here as flavor. Onion adds a savory note to the sauce, enhancing its overall flavor complexity.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: onion
-
Is Spices safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Spices is used here as flavor. A blend of spices, including paprika and black pepper, contributes to the sauce's flavor profile and complexity.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: spices (including paprika, black pepper)
-
Is Garlic safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Garlic is used here as flavor. Garlic enhances the savory flavor of the sauce, providing depth and richness.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: garlic
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Is Worcestershire Sauce safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Worcestershire Sauce is used here as flavor. Worcestershire sauce adds complexity and umami flavor, but contains corn syrup and caramel color, raising quality concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: worcestershire sauce (vinegar, molasses, corn syrup, water, salt, caramel color, garlic sugar, spices, tamarind, natural flavor)
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Is Modified Corn Starch safe in this sauce condiment?
Bad
Modified Corn Starch is used here as thickener. Modified corn starch is a processed thickener that may raise concerns about ingredient quality and processing.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: modified corn starch
-
Is Red Bell Pepper safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Red Bell Pepper is used here as flavor. Red bell pepper adds natural sweetness and color, enhancing the overall flavor and visual appeal of the sauce.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: red bell pepper
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Is Bourbon safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Bourbon is used here as flavor. Bourbon contributes a unique flavor profile, enhancing the complexity of the sauce.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: bourbon
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Is Potato Fiber safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Potato Fiber is used here as fiber. Potato fiber is used for texture and may provide some dietary fiber, but its processing raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: fiber
Original: potato fiber
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Is Oat Fiber safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Oat Fiber is used here as fiber. Oat fiber adds texture and may contribute to dietary fiber content, but its processing raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: fiber
Original: oat fiber
-
Is Lactic Acid safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Lactic Acid is used here as acidulant. Lactic acid is used for acidity and preservation, but its synthetic nature raises some quality concerns.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: lactic acid
-
Is Natural Flavor safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Natural Flavor is used here as flavor. Natural flavor can include various components, making it vague and potentially raising concerns about synthetic additives.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: natural flavor (including hickory smoke)
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 3234121
More from this brand: McCormick products in Zerotox
Similar products: sauce_condiment in Zerotox database
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