Beyond the Label: Sneaky Sauce Ingredients Sabotaging Your Health

We’ve all been there. You grab a bottle of sauce off the supermarket shelf, drawn in by tempting claims like “smoky,” “creamy,” or “zesty.” But have you ever turned that bottle around and truly read what’s inside?

Many commercial sauces are loaded with unwelcome guests—additives and preservatives that can undermine your health goals. At SuperSauced, we believe that healthy eating should be simple, transparent, and above all, flavourful. That’s why we’re passionate about creating preservative-free and oil-free sauces that never compromise on taste.

Let’s pull back the curtain. Here are the top ingredients you should look out for, and why we choose to do things differently.

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) & Artificial Sweeteners

What it is: A highly processed sweetener derived from corn, cheaper and sweeter than sugar.
Why to avoid it: HFCS is strongly linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease. It’s a source of “empty calories” that spikes your blood sugar without providing any nutritional value. Watch out for other artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose, which can disrupt your body’s natural ability to manage calories.

Our Promise: We sweeten our sauces naturally, using ingredients like a touch of pure fruit or responsibly sourced honey to achieve a balanced, complex sweetness that honours the natural flavour of our produce.

2. Artificial Flavours

What it is: Chemical mixtures created in a lab to mimic a specific taste, like “smoke” or “chilli.”
Why to avoid them: These additives are used to mask low-quality ingredients and create a one-dimensional, overpowering flavour. This dulls your palate to the subtle, complex taste experience you get from fresh, real food and authentic spices.

Our Promise: We never use artificial flavours. We build deep, satisfying taste the old-fashioned way: by slowly simmering and blending proudly South African vegetables, herbs, and spices.

3. Artificial Preservatives (Like Sodium Benzoate & Potassium Sorbate)

What it is: Chemicals added to prevent spoilage and give products a unnaturally long shelf life.
Why to avoid them: These preservatives can cause allergic reactions in some people and are the subject of ongoing health debates. More simply, their presence is a clear sign that a product is far from fresh and has been sitting in a warehouse—or on a shelf—for months.

Our Promise: We are proudly preservative-free. Our small-batch, handcrafted approach means our sauces are made to be enjoyed fresh, celebrating the local goodness of ingredients at their peak.

4. Refined Vegetable Oils (Soybean, Canola, Sunflower)

What it is: Highly processed oils that are often genetically modified and extracted using chemical solvents.
Why to avoid them: These oils are high in inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids. A diet high in these inflammatory oils is linked to heart disease, among other chronic health issues. They are often added as cheap fillers to create a creamy texture or bulk out a product.

Our Promise: We are an oil-free sauce company. We achieve rich textures and depths of flavour through reduction, blending, and the use of natural ingredients—never by adding cheap, inflammatory oils.

5. Artificial Colours (Tartrazine, Allura Red)

What it is: Synthetic dyes used to make sauces look more vibrant and appealing.
Why to avoid them: Many artificial colours are derived from petroleum and have been linked to hyperactivity in children and potential carcinogenic effects. Why does your tomato sauce need a chemical to make it red? Ripe, fresh tomatoes provide their own beautiful, natural colour.

Our Promise: The vibrant colours in our sauces come from one place: our real, whole ingredients. You’ll never find an artificial colour in a bottle of SuperSauced.

How to Be a Savvy Sauce Shopper:

  1. Turn the Bottle Around: Ignore the marketing on the front. The truth is in the ingredient list on the back.
  2. The shorter, the better: A short, recognisable ingredient list is usually a good sign.
  3. Can you pronounce it? If an ingredient sounds like a chemical from a lab, it probably is.
  4. Look for the Source: Choose brands that prioritise local ingredients and transparent sourcing, like we do at SuperSauced.

Choose Flavour, Choose Health, Choose Local

At SuperSauced, we believe that what you leave out is just as important as what you put in. By saying no to these harmful additives, we say yes to authentic flavour, yes to your health, and yes to supporting proudly South African agriculture.

Your next meal deserves a sauce that enhances it, not one that hides a secret list of unwanted ingredients.

Ready to experience the difference that real ingredients make?
[Explore our range of fresh, flavourful, and preservative-free sauces here.]

From the Kitchen to the Table: How Sauce Brings People Together

Here in Mzansi, we know a fundamental truth: food is more than fuel. It’s a language of love, a reason to gather, and the centrepiece of our most cherished memories. From the sizzle of the braai to the comforting simmer of a potjie, our best conversations happen around a table. And what’s the silent hero, the thread that ties these moments together? Sauce.

At SuperSauced, we believe a great sauce does more than just add flavour to your plate; it adds connection to your life. It’s the catalyst for conversation, the bridge between different dishes, and a taste of local goodness that makes everyone feel at home.

The Alchemy of the Kitchen: Where Connection Begins

The journey of togetherness starts long before the first bite. It begins in the kitchen—the heart of the home.

Imagine: the rich, earthy scent of roasting tomatoes and peppers, the zing of fresh herbs being chopped, the gentle simmer of a pot filled with natural, wholesome ingredients. This process of creation is an act of care. When you choose a sauce made with intention, you’re not just choosing a condiment; you’re choosing a story.

Our small-batch, handcrafted approach means every bottle of SuperSauced is made with that same kitchen-table love. We skip the preservative-free shortcuts and oil-free unnecessary additives because what you pour onto your food should be as pure and honest as the connections you’re building around it. It’s fresh flavour, captured.

The Centrepiece of the Table: The Great Unifier

Now, bring that bottle to the table. Watch what happens.

A dollop of our smoky Chakalaka relish next to a boerewors roll becomes an instant topic of conversation. A tangy Peri-Peri drizzle over a shared platter of grilled chicken turns a simple meal into a taste experience. The sauce bottle is passed around, preferences are shared, and taste buds are delighted.

Sauce is the great unifier. It respects individual choice (a little for you, a lot for me!) while enhancing a shared meal. It has the magical ability to elevate the humble potato, transform the simple sandwich, and become the secret ingredient that keeps guests asking, “What’s in this? It’s amazing!”

Proudly South African: A Taste of Local Goodness

Our connection to food is deeply tied to our connection to place. That’s why we are passionately Proudly South African. We source our ingredients locally where possible, supporting our communities and capturing the bright, bold flavours of our sun-soaked land.

Every bottle is a celebration of local goodness. It’s a taste that feels familiar yet exciting, a reminder of the vibrant culinary spirit that defines us. Choosing local isn’t just a tagline for us; it’s a commitment to our roots and to the people we share our tables with.

More Than a Meal: It’s a Foundation for Healthy Eating

Healthy eating isn’t about deprivation; it’s about enhancement. It’s about adding vibrant, nutrient-rich flavours that make you feel good. When your food is bursting with flavourful, natural taste, you’re more satisfied, more nourished, and more likely to make choices that honour your well-being.

A delicious, preservative-free sauce encourages you to enjoy more vegetables, lean proteins, and whole foods. It’s the perfect partner for your healthy eating journey, proving that what’s good for you can also be incredibly exciting to eat.

Pass the Sauce, Share the Moment

So next time you’re planning a meal, remember the power of the pour. Whether it’s a quiet family dinner, a lively party with friends, or a solo meal that feels special, let SuperSauced be your partner in creating moments of connection.

We invite you to: Grab a bottle, gather your people, and experience how a simple sauce can turn a meal into a memory.

What’s your favourite way to bring people together with food? Share your stories with us in the comments below or tag us on social media with #SuperSaucedTogether!