Is Pad Thai Cooking Sauce Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Presidents Choice
This page reviews Pad Thai Cooking Sauce by Presidents Choice as a sauce condiment. Its current score is 60/100, suggesting that it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Potassium Sorbate, Caramel Color.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives, raising concerns about synthetic additives. The presence of modified corn starch and caramel color also indicates processing.
Main concern
Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are synthetic preservatives, raising quality concerns.
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
- Contains tamarind paste, which adds authentic flavor to the sauce.
- Peanuts provide a rich taste and texture, enhancing the overall experience.
- Soy sauce contributes umami flavor, making the dish more savory.
- Garlic and paprika extract add depth and complexity to the flavor profile.
Concerns
- Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are synthetic preservatives, raising quality concerns.
- Modified corn starch is a processed thickener that may not appeal to all consumers.
- Caramel color is an artificial coloring agent, indicating a level of processing.
- Contains multiple sugars, which may not align with clean eating preferences.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this sauce condiment and why it matters.
-
Is Sugar safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is used to balance flavors in this sauce, but its presence raises concerns about added sugars in processed foods.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: sugar
-
Is Tamarind Paste safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Tamarind Paste is used here as natural_extract. Tamarind paste provides a unique tangy flavor, contributing to the authenticity of Pad Thai.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: tamarind paste
-
Is Water safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water serves as a base for the sauce, ensuring proper consistency and dilution of flavors.
Role in formula: base
Original: Water
-
Is Soy Sauce safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Soy Sauce is used here as flavor. Soy sauce adds umami flavor, but its sodium content may be a concern for some consumers.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Soy sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt, lactic acid, sodium benzoate)
-
Is White Vinegar safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
White Vinegar is used here as acidulant. White vinegar adds acidity, balancing the sweetness and enhancing flavor complexity.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: White vinegar
-
Is Tomato Paste safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Tomato Paste is used here as base. Tomato paste contributes richness and depth to the sauce, enhancing overall flavor.
Role in formula: base
Original: Tomato paste
-
Is Peanuts safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Peanuts is used here as natural_extract. Peanuts provide a rich, nutty flavor and texture, essential for authentic Pad Thai.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: Peanuts
-
Is Peanut Oil safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Peanut Oil is used here as base. Peanut oil is used for its flavor and high smoke point, but it is a refined oil.
Role in formula: base
Original: Peanut oil
-
Is Canola Oil safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Canola Oil is used here as base. Canola oil is a common cooking oil, but its refined nature raises some health concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: Canola oil
-
Is Oyster Sauce safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Oyster Sauce is used here as flavor. Oyster sauce adds depth and umami, but its processing and sodium content may be concerning.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Oyster sauce (water, sugar, salt, oyster extract, modified corn starch, caramel colour)
-
Is Garlic safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Garlic is used here as flavor. Garlic enhances flavor and aroma, contributing to the overall taste profile of the sauce.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Garlic
-
Is Modified Corn Starch safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Modified Corn Starch is used here as thickener. Modified corn starch is used as a thickening agent, but its processing raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Modified corn starch
-
Is Seasoning safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Seasoning is used here as flavor. The seasoning blend adds complexity, but its processed nature may not appeal to all consumers.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Seasoning [chicken broth, chicken flavour, vegetables (carrot, onion, celery), sea salt, potato flour, onion powder, evaporated cane syrup, natural flavour]
-
Is Potassium Sorbate safe in this sauce condiment?
Bad
Potassium Sorbate is used here as preservative. Potassium sorbate is a synthetic preservative used to extend shelf life, raising concerns about synthetic additives.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: Potassium sorbate
-
Is Paprika Extract safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Paprika Extract is used here as colorant. Paprika extract is a natural colorant that enhances the visual appeal of the sauce without synthetic additives.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: Paprika extract
-
Is Caramel Color safe in this sauce condiment?
Bad
Caramel Color is used here as colorant. Caramel color is an artificial coloring agent, indicating a level of processing that may concern some consumers.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: Caramel colour
-
Is Xanthan Gum safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Xanthan Gum is used here as thickener. Xanthan gum is a thickening agent that helps achieve desired consistency, but it is a processed ingredient.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Xanthan gum
-
Is Spice safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Spice is used here as flavor. Spices contribute to the overall flavor profile, enhancing the sauce's complexity.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Spice
-
Is Garlic Extract safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Garlic Extract is used here as flavor. Garlic extract enhances the flavor profile, providing a strong aromatic quality to the sauce.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Garlic extract
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: 3245037
More from this brand: Presidents Choice products in Zerotox
Similar products: sauce_condiment in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: peanut
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