Red's

Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild

Barcode 5039303002386

Scanned 36 times by Nomi users

Yes — Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild is ultra-processed.

The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains industrial ingredients and additives including glucose-fructose syrup (an industrially processed refined sugar syrup), smoke flavouring (an industrial flavouring agent), colour (plain caramel – an added colouring), and an acidity regulator (acetic acid within the chipotle chilli puree and added citric acid). These extracted and industrially processed additives and sweeteners place the sauce in the NOVA ultra-processed category.

Ingredients

3 ultra-processed markers

OK

water

Essential base ingredient for countless foods and beverages; serves as solvent and texture modifier.
OK

demerara sugar

Demerara sugar is a coarse-grained brown sugar derived from the cane sugar refining process.
UPF

glucose-fructose syrup

A commercially produced sweet syrup made by hydrolyzing and blending glucose and fructose sugars; widely used as a sweetener in foods and beverages.
OK

tomato paste

Concentrated tomato juice cooked down to a thick, concentrated concentrate used as a base or flavoring in sauces and dishes.
OK

cider vinegar

Fermented apple cider turned into a sour, acidic liquid used for dressings and as a flavoring.
OK

spirit vinegar

A clear, distilled vinegar typically made from fermented alcohol (ethanol) and used for pickling, flavoring, and preservation.
OK

cornflour

Ground corn starch used as a thickening agent in cooking and baking.
OK

salt

Common mineral compound (sodium chloride) used as a seasoning and preservative across cuisines.
OK

spices

diverse plant extracts used to flavor foods; can refer to a mix of single or blended seasonings.
UPF

plain caramel color

A food coloring produced by heating carbohydrates (often corn or sugar) with acids or alkalis to form a caramel color. Common in beverages and snacks.
OK

chipotle chilli puree (1%) (jalapeño chilli, water, tomato paste, salt, sugar, onion, acidity regulator (acetic acid))
OK

garlic powder

Dried, ground garlic used as a convenient, concentrated form of garlic flavoring in cooking.
UPF

smoke flavouring

A flavoring agent used to impart smoky aroma or taste in foods. Often an extract or additive designed to mimic smoky flavors.
OK

citric acid

A natural organic acid used to balance acidity and preserve foods; a common food additive.

Healthier alternatives

Reviewed by Nomi

Similar products that aren't ultra-processed — swap and keep the flavour.

BBQ Sauce with Smoked Paprika

Bays Kitchen

View product →

Not Ultra-Processed

Unsweetened Barbecue Smokey Classic

Hunter & Gather

View product →

Swap it for something less processed

See all Sauces, Condiments & Spreads →

Other sauces, condiments & spreads Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.

Common questions about Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild

Is Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild ultra-processed?

Yes — Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild by Red's is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains industrial ingredients and additives including glucose-fructose syrup (an industrially processed refined sugar syrup), smoke flavouring (an industrial flavouring agent), colour (plain caramel – an added colouring), and an acidity regulator (acetic acid within the chipotle chilli puree and added citric acid). These extracted and industrially processed additives and sweeteners place the sauce in the NOVA ultra-processed category.

Which ingredients in Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 3 ingredients in Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild as ultra-processed markers: glucose-fructose syrup, plain caramel color, smoke flavouring. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.

What are healthier alternatives to Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild?

Nomi has reviewed similar products that are not ultra-processed, including original BBQ sauce by Sauce Shop, BBQ Sauce with Smoked Paprika by Bays Kitchen, Unsweetened Barbecue Smokey Classic by Hunter & Gather. See the healthier alternatives above for details.

What does "ultra-processed" (UPF) mean?

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrial formulations made with ingredients and additives you wouldn't find in a home kitchen — such as emulsifiers, artificial flavourings, colourings and modified starches. The classification is based on the NOVA system used by researchers and dietitians worldwide.

How can I check whether other foods are ultra-processed?

Scan any barcode — or photograph the ingredients label — with the free Nomi app for iOS and Android. You'll get an instant ultra-processed verdict with every ingredient explained in plain English.

Product information comes from public databases and Nomi's own analysis, and may contain errors. Always check the packaging. Ultra-processed classification is based on the NOVA food processing system.

Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild

Ingredients

Healthier alternatives

Swap it for something less processed

Common questions about Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild

Is Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild ultra-processed?

Which ingredients in Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild are ultra-processed?

What are healthier alternatives to Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce Mild?

What does "ultra-processed" (UPF) mean?

How can I check whether other foods are ultra-processed?

Scan it yourself,right in the aisle

Scan it yourself,
right in the aisle