Updated November 2026 · 4 min read
The short answer
More than you'd think. Regular tomato sauce (ketchup) is often around 20 to 25g of sugar per 100g, so roughly a teaspoon of sugar in every tablespoon. Barbecue, sweet chilli, teriyaki, hoisin and many marinades are often sweeter still. Check the per 100g column and swap to sauces built on herbs, oil, citrus and spice.
A dollop here and a drizzle there doesn't feel like much. But sauces are one of the quietest sources of added sugar, because we rarely think of them as food at all.
Which sauces are highest in sugar?
Recipes vary by brand and country, so always check the label, but these are the usual suspects:
- Tomato sauce or ketchup: often 20–25g of sugar per 100g.
- Barbecue sauce: frequently higher than tomato sauce.
- Sweet chilli sauce: often one of the sweetest bottles in the fridge.
- Teriyaki, hoisin and plum sauce: sugar is usually a main ingredient.
- Bottled salad dressings: especially "lite" and honey-mustard styles. See our rundown on salad dressings.
- Pasta sauces and simmer sauces: many add sugar to balance the acidity of tomatoes.
How to check a sauce label
- Look at sugars per 100g. 5g or less is low; over 22.5g is high.
- Read the first few ingredients. If sugar, glucose syrup or fruit concentrate is near the top, it's a sweet sauce.
- Think in tablespoons. One tablespoon is about 20g, so a sauce with 25g of sugar per 100g has about 5g (just over a teaspoon) per tablespoon.
Our guide to reading food labels for sugar covers this step by step.
Lower-sugar sauces to keep on hand
- Pesto (check the jar, or make your own)
- Chimichurri or salsa verde: herbs, garlic, vinegar and oil
- Mustard: plain Dijon or wholegrain rather than honey mustard
- Tamari or soy sauce with garlic, ginger and lime
- Tahini loosened with lemon and water
- Plain Greek yoghurt with herbs, garlic or harissa
- Tinned tomatoes simmered with garlic and herbs instead of a jarred pasta sauce
Frequently asked questions
How much sugar is in a tablespoon of tomato sauce?
Usually about 4 to 5g, roughly one teaspoon, though it varies by brand.
Are "no added sugar" sauces better?
They're usually lower in sugar, but check what's been used instead. Some use fruit concentrate or sweeteners.
Is soy sauce high in sugar?
Plain soy sauce and tamari are generally low in sugar, though high in salt. Sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) and teriyaki are a different story.
One sauce, many meals
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General information only. Sugar content varies by brand and country; always check the label.
