Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce — OKAY

Munch or Dump rates Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce by Huy Fong Foods OKAY — score 60/90.

Mostly chili and garlic, but padded with added sugar and two chemical preservatives including a sulfite.

Why this verdict

• Real red chili is 83% of the bottle, with actual garlic
• Sugar is the #2 ingredient, ahead of everything but chili
• Two chemical preservatives: potassium sorbate and sodium bisulfite (a sulfite)
• Xanthan gum thickener, but overall a short recognizable list
• A condiment used in small amounts, so real-world dose is low

Ingredients (8)

• Chili (83.23%) (safe) — Real red chili peppers, the dominant ingredient and a source of capsaicin and antioxidants.
• Sugar (concerning) — Added sugar, third by weight, feeds yeast and adds sweetness with no nutritional benefit.
• Salt (moderate) — Added for taste and mild preservation. Fine in small amounts but adds to daily sodium.
• Garlic (3.60%) (safe) — Real garlic for flavor; a genuine whole-food ingredient.
• ACETIC ACID (safe) — Vinegar acid for tang and preservation; harmless.
• Potassium Sorbate (moderate) — Synthetic preservative to stop mold and yeast; generally recognized as safe but a chemical additive.
• SODIUM BISULFITE (concerning) — A sulfite preservative that can trigger reactions in sulfite-sensitive and asthmatic people; the label carries a sulfite allergen warning.
• Xanthan Gum (safe) — Common thickener that gives the sauce its body; safe in these amounts.