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BBQ sauce is among the most adaptable items in your refrigerator—it can be utilized for marinating, grilling, and dipping, as well as serving as a coating for meat, wings, and more. There are numerous varieties to choose from. While some brands contain limited high-quality ingredients, others are filled with less desirable ingredients that are best minimized or avoided altogether. Here are six of the least healthy BBQ sauces you might find in your fridge at the moment.
G Hughes Smokehouse Original Barbecue Sauce
G Hughes Smokehouse Original Barbecue Sauce includes xanthan gum and sucralose, an artificial sweetener also known as Splenda. “Research in rodents indicates that sucralose disrupts the microbiome balance, potentially leading to increased inflammation,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Kraft Original Slow-Simmered Barbecue Sauce
The primary ingredient in Kraft Original Slow-Simmered Barbecue Sauce is high fructose corn syrup, and it also includes preservatives and additives such as potassium sorbate. “Excessive consumption of high fructose corn syrup can boost fat production and deteriorate insulin sensitivity,” states Jennifer Feda, Clinical Nutrition Manager at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain.
Sweet Baby Ray’s Buff-a-Cue Sauce
High fructose corn syrup is also the first ingredient in Sweet Baby Ray’s Buff-a-Cue Buffalo BBQ Sauce, and the ingredients list shows some other red flag ingredients including corn syrup sugar, artificial colors, preservatives, and more. “Limiting processed foods in general will not only help you limit intake of high fructose corn syrup, but also your intake of unhealthy fats, which is a bonus,” Feda says.
Flavortown Money Honey BBQ Sauce
Corn syrup solids is the second ingredient in Flavortown Money Honey BBQ Sauce behind water, and it also contains ultraprocessed additives like modified corn starch, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. That’s a lot of red flags on the way to Flavortown!
Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ Authentic Sweet BBQ Sauce
Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ Authentic Sweet BBQ Sauce contains corn syrup, artificial colors and artificial flavors. This sauce also contains 14g of sugar per serving (2 tbsp).
Open Pit Original Authentic Barbecue Sauce
High fructose corn syrup is the first ingredient in Open Pit Original Authentic Barbecue Sauce, and it doesn’t get much better after that: The sauce contains a laundry list of unhealthy additives, preservatives, and synthetic food dyes including Yellow 6, Red 40, Blue 1. Definitely one to avoid.
