Is Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Stubb’s
Stubb’s's Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce is reviewed here as a sauce condiment. Zerotox gives it 70/100 based on the current ingredient profile, so it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The composition includes tomato puree and brown sugar, but also contains corn starch and natural flavor, which raises some quality concerns. The presence of distilled vinegar and spices adds flavor but indicates processing.
70 / 100
Why score is 70
The composition includes tomato puree and brown sugar, but also contains corn starch and natural flavor, which raises some quality concerns. The presence of distilled vinegar and spices adds flavor but indicates processing.
Main concern
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 provides a natural base, contributing to the sauce's flavor and texture.
- Brown sugar and molasses add sweetness, enhancing the overall taste profile.
- Spices like black pepper and paprika offer flavor complexity, making the sauce more appealing.
- Distilled vinegar acts as a preservative, helping to maintain freshness.
Concerns
- Corn starch is a processed thickener that may raise concerns about ingredient quality.
- Natural flavor can be vague, potentially indicating the presence of additives or artificial components.
- The inclusion of salt may contribute to sodium content, which some consumers prefer to limit.
- The presence of added sugars like brown sugar and molasses may not align with health-conscious choices.
Ingredients breakdown
Below, each ingredient is described in the context of this sauce condiment, not just listed as a raw label.
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Is Tomato Puree safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Tomato Puree is used here as base. Tomato puree serves as the primary ingredient, providing a rich flavor and natural sweetness. Its presence indicates a focus on tomato-based flavor.
Role in formula: base
Original: TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE)
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Is Brown Sugar safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Brown Sugar is used here as sweetener. Brown sugar adds sweetness and depth to the sauce, but its processed nature raises some concerns about overall ingredient quality.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: BROWN SUGAR
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Is Molasses safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Molasses is used here as sweetener. Molasses contributes a distinct flavor and additional sweetness, enhancing the sauce's complexity while being a natural ingredient.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: MOLASSES
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Is Distilled Vinegar safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Distilled Vinegar is used here as acidulant. Distilled vinegar provides acidity, balancing the sweetness and acting as a preservative, which is beneficial for shelf life.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: DISTILLED VINEGAR
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Is Corn Starch safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Corn Starch is used here as thickener. Corn starch is used as a thickening agent, which may raise concerns about the level of processing in the product.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: CORN STARCH
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Is Salt safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt enhances flavor but may contribute to dietary sodium intake, which some consumers may wish to monitor.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: SALT
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Is Spices safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Spices is used here as flavor. A blend of spices, including black pepper and paprika, adds depth and complexity to the flavor profile of the sauce.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: SPICES (INCLUDING (379) BLACK PEPPER, PAPRIKA, CHILI PEPPER)
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Is Onion safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Onion is used here as flavor. Onion contributes to the overall flavor, providing a savory note that complements the other ingredients.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: ONION
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Is Garlic safe in this sauce condiment?
Good
Garlic is used here as flavor. Garlic enhances the sauce's flavor profile, adding a robust and aromatic quality that is characteristic of barbecue sauces.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: GARLIC
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Is Natural Flavor safe in this sauce condiment?
Medium
Natural Flavor is used here as flavor. Natural flavor can be ambiguous, potentially indicating the presence of additional flavoring agents that may not be disclosed.
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: 3417350
More from this brand: Stubb’s products in Zerotox
Similar products: sauce_condiment in Zerotox database
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.