Is Hot and Sweet tomato chili sauce Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing and straight at the formulation. The base of this sauce is WATER, TOMATO PASTE, and CHILLI PUREE. These are all unequivocally vegan. The thickening agents, TAPIOCA STARCH and XANTHAN GUM, are derived from plants or microbial fermentation, making them safe for a plant-based diet.

The spices—CHILI POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, GINGER POWDER, and RED ONION POWDER—are simply dried vegetables and roots. The preservatives, SODIUM BENZOATE and ACETIC ACID (vinegar), are synthetic or fermented and contain no animal derivatives. However, the ingredient NATURAL FLAVORS is a gray area in food science. While it usually refers to plant extracts in savory products, manufacturers are not required to disclose the source, which can sometimes be animal-derived.

The primary flag for vegans is the SUGAR. In the United States and many other regions, white sugar is often processed using bone char—ground animal bones—used to filter and bleach the sugar crystals to make it white. Unless the manufacturer specifies that their sugar is organic, unrefined, or explicitly vegan, it is highly likely that this sauce is not strictly vegan due to the sugar processing method.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this sauce is designed to be a flavor enhancer rather than a nutrient-dense food. The primary macronutrients are carbohydrates from the SUGAR and TOMATO PASTE. Because it is a condiment, the serving size is small, meaning the calorie count is negligible—likely under 15 calories per tablespoon.

The sodium content is moderate due to the added SALT and preservatives, so it fits within most dietary limits if used sparingly. The fat content is virtually zero. However, the sugar content is the main nutritional concern for those monitoring blood sugar or caloric intake. While it fits a vegan diet (excluding the sugar issue), it is not a 'health food' due to the added sweeteners and sodium.