Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce — DUMP

Name: Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce
Brand: Sweet Baby Ray's

Munch or Dump rates Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce by Sweet Baby Ray's DUMP — score 17/90.

America's best-selling barbecue sauce is, by its own label, sugar delivered four different ways — glucose-fructose, pineapple concentrate, molasses, AND sugar — before you reach the tomato. Add caramel colour, sodium benzoate, and modified corn starch, and 'The Sauce Is The Boss' turns out to be candy with a smoke machine.

Why this verdict

Four distinct sweetener sources lead the label (glucose-fructose, pineapple juice concentrate, molasses, sugar) — a stacked sweetness system, hard-rule territory
Glucose-fructose (HFCS) is the number one ingredient — this is a syrup that contains barbecue sauce, not the reverse
Caramel colour + sodium benzoate + modified corn starch: colorant, preservative, and texture engineering in one condiment
The smoke is 'natural smoke flavour' — liquid smoke condensate, not a pit
Roughly two-thirds of its calories are added sugar (~16 g per two-tablespoon serving)

Ingredients (14)

Sugars (glucose-fructose, concentrated pineapple juice, refiners' molasses, sugar) (concerning) — Four distinct sweetener sources combined as the #1 ingredient. Glucose-fructose syrup spikes blood glucose and drives fat storage; this is mostly a sugar product.
Tomato paste (safe) — Concentrated tomato — a real-food component of the sauce.
vinegar (safe) — Mild preservative and flavor enhancer.
Modified Corn Starch (moderate) — Thickener/stabilizer that gives the sauce body.
Salt (moderate) — Used in moderation, might exceed necessary amount.
NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOUR (moderate) — Flavoring extract that mimics real smoking. Generally tolerated but it's an engineered flavor shortcut.
Spices (safe) — Real seasoning — the flavor comes from spices, not additive flavor systems.
Caramel colour (concerning) — Added colour to fake a grilled look; some forms carry contaminant concerns.
sodium benzoate (caution) — Chemical preservative for shelf life.
dried garlic (safe) — Real garlic, dehydrated for shelf life.
mustard flour (safe) — Spice for flavor and emulsification; benign.
tamarind (safe) — Real fruit pulp giving the signature sweet-sour tang.
Natural flavour (moderate) — Undefined flavouring - a processing marker with no nutritional value.
celery seed (safe) — A real spice contributing savory aroma in trace amounts.