MasterChowSauces & Ketchup#23 of 23 in categoryRating 2/5

MasterChow Dark Soya Sauce

Red flags

  • Red flag: High added sugar (18.5g per 100g)
  • Red flag: High sodium (4800mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: Contains Potassium Sorbate

Green flags

Nothing stands out in its favour.

Ingredients, decoded

11 listed
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Iodized Salt
  • Soyabean Powder (11%)
  • Natural Colour (Ins150C)
  • Vegetable Protein
  • Garlic Powder
  • Mixed Spices & Condiments
  • Acidity Regulator (Ins260)
  • 1-G
  • Preservative (Ins202)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

EB5

Nutrition per 100 g
ENutritionBIngredients5Risk
VerdictPOOR
Energy108 kcal
Protein2.8 g
Carbohydrates24.4 g
Total sugars18.5 g
Added sugars18.5 g
Total fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Sodium4800 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Soya sauce built on sugar, salt and soy powder

MasterChow Dark Soya Sauce is water, sugar, iodised salt, soyabean powder (11%), caramel colour (INS 150c), vegetable protein, garlic powder, spices, an acidity regulator, a token printed as 1-G and potassium sorbate.

CleanPlate scores it EB5. 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, soyabean powder and vegetable protein), with additives that cost points: caramel colour. The 5 for risk comes mainly from sodium (4800 mg per 100 g) and free sugar (18.5 g per 100 g).

Claims vs reality

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

  • Product name

    “Dark Soya Sauce”

    Partly true

    Soyabean powder is 11% and vegetable protein is a second protein source, behind water, sugar and salt in the list.

How EB5 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
2.8 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
108 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
2
Flagged
Potassium Sorbate

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
5

Very high risk

Added sugar
18.5 g
Sodium
4800 mg
Saturated fat
0 g
Trans fat
0 g

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, iodised salt, soyabean powder 11%, natural colour (INS 150c), vegetable protein, garlic powder, mixed spices and condiments, acidity regulator (INS 260), "1-G" and preservative (INS 202).

Per 100 g: 108 kcal, 0 g fat of which 0 g saturated, 18.5 g sugar of which 18.5 g added, 2.8 g protein, 4800 mg sodium. No fibre line. The list prints "1-G", probably a flavour enhancer (I+G); it is not scored without a clearer label. "Vegetable protein" does not say whether it is hydrolysed, so it is scored as an industrial protein.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    4800 mg per 100 g, about 384 mg in an 8 g serve.

  • Sugar secondWorth watching

    Sugar is the second ingredient after water: 18.5 g per 100 g.

  • Unclear "1-G"Worth watching

    The list has an unreadable token, probably a flavour enhancer; it needs checking on the pack.

  • Soya and garlicFine

    Soyabean powder (11%) and garlic powder are real ingredients.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Dark soya sauce is a light seasoning"

At 4800 mg of sodium per 100 g, even a tablespoon (about 15 g) brings 720 mg.

Myth: "Sauces without fat are fine in any amount"

The risk here is salt and sugar: 18.5 g of sugar per 100 g.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Count the drops

Use by the teaspoon (about 240 mg of sodium for 5 g) and leave out added salt.

Balance with vegetables

Stir-fry plenty of vegetables so the salt is spread over a larger dish.

Common questions

Is MasterChow Dark Soya Sauce healthy?

MasterChow Dark Soya Sauce scores EB5 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: High added sugar (18.5g per 100g); High sodium (4800mg per 100g); Contains Potassium Sorbate.

What does the EB5 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 (5) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): very high risk.

Which ingredients in MasterChow Dark Soya Sauce should I watch?

Preservative (Ins202) (Potassium Sorbate).

Last reviewed October 10, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

Better Sauces & Ketchup

All 23 →