MaggiSauces & Ketchup#13 of 23 in categoryRating 2.3/5

Maggi Hot & Sweet Tomato Chilli Sauce

Red flags

  • Red flag: High added sugar (32g per 100g)
  • Red flag: High sodium (807.7mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: Contains Sodium Benzoate

Green flags

Nothing stands out in its favour.

Ingredients, decoded

12 listed
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Tomato paste (11.9%)
  • Red chilli puree (6.6%)
  • Iodized salt
  • Acidity regulator (260)
  • Starch
  • Mixed Spices
  • Garlic powder
  • Thickener (415)
  • Onion powder
  • Preservative (211)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

EB4

Nutrition per 100 g
ENutritionBIngredients4Risk
VerdictPOOR
Energy135 kcal
Protein0.4 g
Carbohydrates33.8 g
Total sugars33.3 g
Added sugars32 g
Total fat0 g
Sodium807.7 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

A third sugar, with tomato and chilli in support

Maggi Hot & Sweet Tomato Chilli Sauce is water and sugar with tomato paste (11.9%), red chilli puree (6.6%), salt, starch, spices, garlic and onion powder, xanthan gum and sodium benzoate.

CleanPlate scores it EB4. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g. The B for ingredients reflects mostly refined or industrial ingredients (led by sugar, tomato paste and red chilli puree), with additives that cost points: xanthan gum. The 4 for risk comes mainly from free sugar (32 g per 100 g) and sodium (808 mg per 100 g).

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

  • Product name

    “Hot & Sweet Tomato Chilli Sauce”

    Holds

    Tomato paste is 11.9% and red chilli puree 6.6%.

  • Retail listing

    “Plant-Based”

    Holds

    No animal ingredient is listed.

How EB4 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
E

Very low nutrient density

Protein
0.4 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
135 kcal

Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
B

Good, few concerning additives

Base
Water
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
3
Flagged
Sodium Benzoate

Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
32 g
Sodium
807.7 mg

Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Water, sugar, tomato paste 11.9%, red chilli puree 6.6%, iodised salt, acidity regulator (INS 260), starch, mixed spices, garlic powder, thickener (INS 415), onion powder and preservative (INS 211).

Per 100 g: 135 kcal, 0 g fat, 33.3 g sugar of which 32 g added, 0.4 g protein, 808 mg sodium. The Nutrition Information text has no saturated or trans fat lines (total fat is 0.0 g).

Ingredients to watch

  • Added sugarConcern

    32 g per 100 g; sugar is second on the list.

  • SodiumWorth watching

    807.7 mg per 100 g.

  • Xanthan gumWorth watching

    A thickener that costs 2 points in the additive score.

  • Real tomato and chilliFine

    Tomato paste 11.9% and red chilli puree 6.6%, both declared.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Chilli sauce is a vegetable"

Here sugar is the main solid: 32 g per 100 g.

Myth: "Tomato sauce and ketchup are the same"

Both are sweet and salty condiments; the sugar and salt are what to compare.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Mix with plain curd

A spoon mixed into curd gives a dip with less sugar per bite.

Use a smaller dollop

A teaspoon adds the taste for about 1.6 g of sugar.

Common questions

Is Maggi Hot & Sweet Tomato Chilli Sauce healthy?

Maggi Hot & Sweet Tomato Chilli Sauce scores EB4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: High added sugar (32g per 100g); High sodium (807.7mg per 100g); Contains Sodium Benzoate.

What does the EB4 score mean?

The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very low nutrient density. The second letter (B) grades ingredient and label integrity: good, few concerning additives. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Maggi Hot & Sweet Tomato Chilli Sauce should I watch?

Preservative (211) (Sodium Benzoate).

Last reviewed October 9, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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