Is Primal Kitchen Unsweetened Classic BBQ Sauce ultra-processed?

Barbecue sauces Sold in the United States

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring

21 ingredients
No additives

Less processed barbecue sauces

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Water, crushed tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard (apple cider vinegar, water, mustard seed, salt (processing marker), spices), sea salt (processing marker), tapioca starch (processing marker), coriander, cumin, black pepper, onion, chipotle, natural smoke flavor (ultra-processing marker), garlic, cinnamon, garlic

As written on the pack

Water, organic crushed tomatoes, organic balsamic vinegar, organic apple cider vinegar, organic dijon mustard (organic apple cider vinegar, water, organic mustard seed, salt, organic spices), sea salt, organic tapioca starch, organic coriander, organic cumin, organic black pepper, organic onion powder, organic chipotle powder, natural smoke flavor, organic garlic, organic cinnamon, organic garlic powder.

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

2 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 107 barbecue sauces

From least to most processed, this one ranks 18th. 86% of the barbecue sauces here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 107 barbecue sauces, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0855232007354, last edited 4 May 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.