The Surprising Amount Of Sugar In Culver's BBQ Sauce
Considering its consistent excellence, BBQ sauce definitely deserves some form of regal title to recognize its hefty services to food — if there can be presidents and monarchs of countries, why can't there be the same for foods? If that was the case, barbecue sauce would be able to take on taste buds everywhere with significant power and skill.
The only noticeable problem with BBQ sauce is deciding which version will best accompany the particular dish you're enjoying. There's no shortage of flavors, either. Today details options including South Carolina's mustard-infused sauce, a hot and spicy concoction from Eastern North Carolina, and a Texas creation that focuses on tomatoes.
Arguably a front-runner in the crowded space of BBQ sauces is Sweet Baby Ray's. The brand has been around since 1985 and boasts a sweet and tangy flavor, according to its website, and even features at the restaurant chain Culver's. Despite its many accolades, Culver's nutrition data shows that the barbecue sauce contains large amounts of sugar — but how much of a problem does that pose?
Culver's BBQ sauce can exceed daily sugar limits
The testified sweetness of Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce may relate to the volume of sugar in it. Culver's nutrition data shows that it's packed with 26 grams of sugar — more than the American Heart Association's recommended daily limit of 25 grams of added sugar for women, and a sizable chunk of the suggested maximum of 36 grams for men. The sodium content is also high at 450 milligrams — a large percentage of the recommended daily maximum of 2,300 milligrams, notes the FDA.
The NHS explains that added sugar levels matter because sugar contributes to tooth decay and weight gain — which can lead to increased risks of developing diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Similarly, salt is known to increase the risk of high blood pressure, explains the FDA.
Culver's clearly has a well-established customer base, achieving over $1.9 billion of sales at its 853 restaurants (via Culver's). It's a safe assumption that a large amount of barbecue sauce is doled out to hungry patrons every year, however, the high sugar content in Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce is something customers should be aware of.