Avoid

Hot Bbq Sauce

by Buster's

Scores 5/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 5 flagged ingredients identified.

Barcode 0692082100107 · Serving size 31 g (2 Tbsp)

The verdict

Hot Bbq Sauce by Buster's scores 5/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 72 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 5 ingredients are flagged for caution. This is not a recall, allergy, medical, or dietary-safety determination; check official notices and the product label for current decisions.

5/100
Avoid safety score
5
flagged ingredients of 72 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
D
Nutri-Score nutrition grade

Computed directly from OpenFoodFacts ingredient data cross-referenced with FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. See our methodology for the scoring formula.

What the Data Says About Hot Bbq Sauce

Hot Bbq Sauce by Buster's carries a composite safety score of 5/100, which we classify as "Avoid" on our four-tier shelf-label framework.

The score is computed by mapping each labeled ingredient against FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status and CSPI Chemical Cuisine classifications, then penalizing the overall product for each additive rated as caution-or-worse. Product data originates from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative catalog; safety annotations come from federal regulators and the Center for Science in the Public Interest. This score is a transparent derived index we compute from that public data, not an official FDA rating or endorsement; see the Methodology page for the exact weighting.

Our scan identified 5 flagged ingredients in this product, components that at least one official source has classified as requiring caution, targeted avoidance, or further evaluation. Flagged ingredients are the items most likely to surface in FDA inspection findings, state-level ingredient bans, or outbreak-related recall notices, so the per-ingredient breakdown below is the most useful lens for anyone screening this product for a specific dietary concern.

On the NOVA processing scale, Hot Bbq Sauce is classified as Group 4 (Ultra-processed). NOVA measures industrial processing intensity rather than ingredient-level safety, so it complements the SAFFA and CSPI ratings: a product can be clean on additive flags but heavily processed, or lightly processed but carry individually flagged ingredients. Combining both lenses gives a fuller picture than either alone. The Nutri-Score grade of D reflects nutritional balance, calories, saturated fat, sugar, sodium versus fiber, protein, and produce content, which again is a distinct dimension from additive safety and worth weighing alongside the scores above.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for Hot Bbq Sauce
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 5/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 5 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score D OpenFoodFacts

Composite metric derived from FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine, OpenFoodFacts. See methodology.

How It Compares to Its Category

Among the 35,367 products we've scored in the Condiments category, the average safety score is 98.6/100. Hot Bbq Sauce scores 93.6 points below that category average (5/100 vs. 98.6/100), so it is a comparatively weaker pick for shoppers screening within that category specifically, rather than against the product catalog as a whole.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Ketchup
2
Organic Tomato Concentrate From Red Ripe Organic Tomatoes
3
Distilled Vinegar
4
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
5
Corn Starch
6
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
7
Spice
8
Onion Powder
9
Flavoring
10
Water
11
Worcestershire Sauce
12
Molasses
13
Corn Syrup
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, LEAVENING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, TEXTURIZER
Cut Back GRAS
14
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
15
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
16
Spices
17
Anchovies
18
Natural Flavor
19
Soy
20
Tamarind
21
Red Wine Vinegar
22
Brown Sugar
23
Invert Sugar
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Cut Back GRAS
24
Cane Molasses
25
Dehydrated Soy Sauce
26
Distilled Water
27
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
28
0.1 Of 1% Benzoate Of Soda
29
Orange Flavored Syrup
30
Citric Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, ENZYME, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, LEAVENING AGENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Safe GRAS
31
Potassium Benzoate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT
GRAS
32
To Protect Taste
33
Natural Flavors
34
Modified Food Starch
35
Glycerol
36
Ester Of Wood Rosin
37
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
38
Brominated Vegetable Oil
Avoid Banned (FDA revoked 2024)
39
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
40
Dimethylpolysiloxane
LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Prior Sanctioned
41
Onion
42
Lemon Juice
43
Filtered Water
44
Lemon Juice Concentrate
45
Preserved With Sodium Benzoate And Sodium Bisulfite
46
Natural And Artificial Hickory Smoke Flavor
47
Bacon
48
Pork
49
Sodium Phosphate
50
Sodium Erythorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
Safe GRAS
51
Sodium Nitrite
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT
Avoid Prior Sanctioned
52
Garlic Powder
53
Paprika
54
Mustard Powder
55
Chili Power
56
Seasoned Beef Brisket
57
Beef Brisket
58
Black Pepper
59
Garlic Salt
60
Season Supreme
61
Celery Seed
62
Cajun Seasoning
63
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
64
Pepper
65
Red Pepper
66
Silicon Dioxide {An Anti-caking Agent}
67
Jen Mai Seasoning
68
Dextrose
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Cut Back GRAS
69
Disodium Inosinate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Approved
70
Red Pepper Flakes
71
Cayenne Pepper
72
Instant Coffee Crystals

Full Ingredient List

Ketchup (tomato concentrate from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, salt, spice, onion powder, natural flavoring), water, worcestershire sauce (distilled vinegar, molasses, corn syrup, water, salt, caramel color, sugar, spices, anchovies, natural flavor [contains soy], tamarind), red wine vinegar, brown sugar (sugar, invert sugar, cane molasses), soy sauce (distilled water, hydrolyzed soy protein, salt, corn syrup, caramel color, 0.1 of 1% benzoate of soda), orange flavored syrup (high fructose corn syrup, water, citric acid, potassium benzoate [to protect taste], natural flavors, modified food starch, glycerol, ester of wood rosin, yellow 6, brominated vegetable oil, red 40, dimethylpolysiloxane), onion, lemon juice (filtered water, lemon juice concentrate, preserved with sodium benzoate and sodium bisulfite), natural and artificial hickory smoke flavor, bacon (pork, water, salt, sodium phosphate, sugar, spices, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite), garlic powder,paprika, mustard powder, chili power, seasoned beef brisket (beef brisket, black pepper, garlic salt, season supreme [salt, spices, celery seed, paprika, salt, cajun seasoning [salt, garlic, paprika, pepper, onion, spices, red pepper, silicon dioxide {an anti-caking agent}], jen mai seasoning [dextrose, salt, natural flavors, disodium inosinate]), red pepper flakes, black pepper, cayenne pepper, instant coffee crystals.

Categories

Condiments Sauces Hot sauces Groceries

Data Sources

Data as of May 2026. Source: OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Product data from OpenFoodFacts (ODbL). Ingredient safety ratings from FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine. See our methodology for details.

This information is for reference only and does not constitute dietary or medical advice.

Product data from Open Food Facts; additive safety from the FDA SAFFA inventory and CSPI Chemical Cuisine. See our methodology for details. Compiled by PlainFoodSafe

Every figure on PlainFoodSafe is rendered directly from OpenFoodFacts and FDA data, no number is typed in by an editor. Product figures are computed directly from OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, and CSPI Chemical Cuisine data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2026.