Comparative Chart of Lab Test Results: Condiments & Sauces — Just in time for BBQ season!

Published: April 18, 2026
A Quick Note From Tamara Rubin

It’s BBQ Season!

Below you will find a comparative chart showing the lab test results for many of the popular condiment and sauce products we have sent in for independent, third-party laboratory testing to date (since we started the Lead Safe Mama, LLC Community Collaborative Laboratory Testing Initiative in March of 2024).

There are currently lab test results for seven products included in this chart as of the date of publishing, and we have several more that we are still raising funding for (we often raise funds through product-specific GoFundMe campaigns to help cover the cost of laboratory testing and reporting for specific products). Here are some of our not-yet-funded campaigns for condiment testing (any contributions you may be able to make in support of this testing and reporting would be greatly appreciated!):

1.) Trader Joe’s Organic Balsamic Vinegar: https://gofund.me/85f89b36e
2.) Portland Organic Ketchup: https://gofund.me/593264259
3.) French’s Organic Classic Mustard: https://gofund.me/f758ff4c5
4.) Maille Old Style Mustard: https://gofund.me/9b57a2af3
5.) Bubbie’s Prepared Horseradish: https://gofund.me/4cfa24ae0

As always – to see the full original lab report for each noted product, click the link for the article for that specific product (numbers in the list of linked articles below correspond with the numbers for each of the products shown in the chart below) and scroll down to the very bottom of the article. The lab reports are always BELOW the sharable social media graphic and BELOW the list of Lab Tested Safer Choices that is embedded in each article.

As with most of the lab test results we share, we will take a moment reiterate two key points:

All relevant federal agencies have published statements that are in agreement with the consensus in the scientific and medical communities that there is no safe level of Lead exposure for human beings — especially in products that will be ingested.

Additionally, Cadmium is a known carcinogen — with the rise of GI related cancers in GenX and younger, it is prudent for all of us to avoid known sources of Cadmium exposure whenever possible. More on that here.

1. Organic Red Wine Vinegar
2. Tabasco Sauce
3. Organic Heinz Ketchup
4. Organic Primal Kitchen Ketchup
5. Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard
6. San-J Tamari Soy Sauce
7. Organic Whole Foods Balsamic Vinegar

The Lead Safe Mama, LLC Community Collaborative Laboratory Testing Initiative is direct by you (our readers help nominate products for testing and reporting), and funded by you (our readers help cover the costs of the testing and reporting we do).

The testing and reporting for several of the products included in this chart was not funded. If you appreciate this information (if it is helping you to make science-based informed choices for yourself and your family) and you would like to support our work with a financial contribution, we would like to encourage you to either make a one time contribution via any of the GoFundMe links above OR to join us on Patreon with a small monthly gift in support of the Lead Safe Mama, LLC Community Collaborative Laboratory Testing Initiative. The link to our Patreon membership page is below. Thank you for considering this request. Even a monthly gift of just $2.00 or $3.00 makes a difference! Our current average monthly gift is $3.91 a month (there are also some fun membership perks at the $25.00 / month and $50.00 / month levels, so please do check those out as well).   https://www.patreon.com/leadsafemama/membership