Valentina Mexican Hot Sauce — OKAY

Munch or Dump rates Valentina Mexican Hot Sauce by Valentina OKAY — score 60/90.

A short, mostly-simple chili-and-vinegar hot sauce with one synthetic preservative and a lot of salt.

Why this verdict

• Short list built on a real chili-pepper and vinegar base
• Near-zero calories, no added sugar and no fat
• Sodium benzoate is a synthetic preservative, not a whole-food ingredient
• Salt is high enough that sodium is the main concern

Ingredients (6)

• Water (safe) — Added back as a filler/texture agent; harmless but dilutes.
• CHILI PEPPER (safe) — The real food here; capsaicin plus trace vitamins A and C.
• vinegar (safe) — Spirit vinegar for flavour and mild preservation.
• Salt (moderate) — Added for taste and mild preservation. Fine in small amounts but adds to daily sodium.
• spice (safe) — Flavor blend, no health concern.
• sodium benzoate (moderate) — Preservative; can form trace benzene with vitamin C (not an issue here) but adds to the additive load.

Healthier alternatives

• Dank Sauce (Spicy Nopal Cactus)
• Tabasco Original Red Pepper Hot Sauce
• Crystal Louisiana Hot Sauce Red Pepper
• Tabasco Original Red Pepper Sauce