/ / Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Sauce - 18 oz

Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Sauce - 18 oz

Contains monosodium glutamate

Oyster extractives are the first ingredients, with sugar and modified corn starch also included. It has 4 g added sugar and 830 mg sodium per tablespoon; the ingredient list includes MSG despite the “No MSG added” claim.

Seed-oil freeNo artificial flavorsNo natural flavorsNo synthetic preservativesNo added nitritesNo phosphatesDairy-freeContains wheatContains shellfishContains corn
$8.99 18 oz · lowest price at L'ami eMarket: Authentic Vietnamese & Asian Groceries, Delivered
Price and stock checked Oct 30, 2026
Key nutrition facts
30caloriesPer serving · 1 tbsp (19g)
Protein
1g
Fiber
—
Added sugar
4g▼
Sodium
830mg▼
Saturated fat
—
▲ raises the score · ▼ lowers it · From the product label
Ingredients: Oyster Extractives (Oyster, Water, Salt), Sugar, Water, Monosodium Glutamate, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Wheat Flour, Caramel Color
42 / 100
Poor Scored automatically
Weighted as ready meals, soups, saucesMedium confidence · Scored on 8 of 11 inputs
Nutrition · counts 35%12
Ingredients · counts 25%72
Processing · counts 15%35
Sourcing · counts 10%50
Transparency · counts 15%65
Why it scores 42
Nutrition 12 · Compared with other ready meals and sauces: more sodium (830 mg); 4 g added sugar per 1 tbsp
Ingredients 72 · Sugar, 2nd ingredient (added sugar, −20); Caramel colour (additive, −4); MSG (monosodium glutamate) (additive, −4)
Processing 35 · Sauce with modified starch, MSG and caramel color
Sourcing 50 · Origin and production practices for the oysters aren't stated
Transparency 65 · Complete ingredient list; MSG conflicts with the no-MSG-added claim
4 g added sugar per serving
Contains MSG despite the “No MSG added” claim
Contains wheat
Evidence behind the Ingredients deductions
Strong evidence−20 for sugar
Varies by additive−8 for caramel colour, msg
Scored Oct 20, 2026 · Scoring guide v3.1 · Updated Oct 20, 2026 · See what changed

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Ingredients
Oyster Extractives (Oyster, Water, Salt) Sugar Water Monosodium Glutamate Salt Modified Corn Starch Wheat Flour Caramel Color
8 ingredients 2 to watch1 to avoid
Sourcing

Origin not disclosed on the product page.

Additives4 additives · 4 limited risk
Caramel colour (E150)ColourLimited risk
Some types (E150c, E150d) can contain 4-MEI, which IARC lists as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B); levels are regulated.
Modified starch (E14xx)ThickenerLimited risk
Chemically treated starch; considered safe, but a marker of more processed food.
MSG (monosodium glutamate) (E621)Flavour enhancerLimited risk
Considered safe; EFSA set an acceptable daily intake in 2017, and some people report short-lived symptoms.
Added sugarSugarLimited risk
Added sugar; the WHO and the US Dietary Guidelines advise keeping added sugars under 10% of daily calories.
Matched from the ingredient list. Risk levels summarise findings from EFSA, the FDA, IARC and published studies; they explain a concern, not a diagnosis.

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