2.0 /10
4.5 /10
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce vs Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce
Decode Label-scored on the concerns that matter for Food — the facts from each label, side by side. We decode, you decide.
Pack images are shown to identify the products. Decode Label is independent of Ching's and is not sponsored or endorsed by it. Trademarks
What's different
- •Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce has about 65% more total sugar than Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce (28.3 g vs 17.1 g per 100 g/ml).
- •Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce has 2.9 g of protein per 100 g/ml; Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce declares 0 g.
- •Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce has 3× as much sodium as Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce (8,043 mg vs 2,667 mg per 100 g/ml).
- •Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce has about 97% more energy than Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce (217 kcal vs 110 kcal per 100 g/ml).
- •Only Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce lists the flagged ingredient Natural Colour.
- •Only Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce lists the allergen Soy.
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce
Fewer concerns on: Added & Hidden Sugar
Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce
Fewer concerns on: Excess Sodium & Salt, Overall Nutritional Value
Scores: Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce has the higher Decode Label score (4.5 vs 2.0). Which difference matters most depends on who is eating or using it — that's your call.
A higher score means fewer or lighter concerns found under Decode Label's published rules. It is not a medical "safe", and a lower score does not establish that a product is unsafe.
Safety Score
A dark soy sauce characterized by very high sodium and moderate sugar, with soybeans and wheat as key ingredients.
Safety Score
A chilli sauce with notable sugar content and moderate sodium, featuring a range of spices and refined flour.
Side by side
What each label says. Nutrition is per 100 g (or ml) so pack and serving sizes don't skew it.
Check the pack for "may contain" warnings if you have an allergy.
Brands choose their own serving sizes, so compare the per-100 figures above.
What these labels can't tell us
- How much of each ingredient is in the product — labels list order, not amounts.
- Cross-contact on the factory line beyond any "may contain" warning, and batch-to-batch variation.
- Anything a laboratory test would find — Decode Label reads labels; it does not test products.
Concern match
A separate lens from the overall Safety Score above — how well each product suits a specific concern, not an overall verdict. Each concern is scored 0–10: higher means less of that concern (5 ≈ neutral).
What matters most to you?
For , scores higher ( vs ). This is only a per-concern fit lens — it doesn't change the overall safety score, where still has the higher score.
For , the two are evenly matched. The overall safety verdict is unchanged.
This one is read from the two ingredient lists rather than measured by the Decode Label engine — useful for choosing, but it is not a safety finding.
Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce scores higher due to its lower sodium content per 100g (2666.67 mg) compared to Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce (8042.86 mg).
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce scores higher as it contains less sugar per 100g (17.14 g) compared to Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce (28.33 g).
Both products are considered even, as Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce contains refined wheat flour, while Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce contains wheat, both contributing to refined carbohydrate content.
Both products are considered even; Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce lists 'Natural Colour' without further specification, while Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce lists 'Paprika' which provides natural color.
Both products are considered even as neither explicitly lists MSG or other common flavour enhancers in their ingredients.
Both products are considered even as neither lists artificial sweeteners in their ingredients, relying on sugar for sweetness.
Both products are considered even as both list 'Preservative' and 'Acidity Regulator' without further disclosure of the specific substances, and Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce also lists 'Thickener' and 'Emulsifying & Stabilizing Agent'.
Both products are considered even; Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce lists 0g protein per 100g, while Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce contains 2.86g protein per 100g from soybeans and wheat.
Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce scores higher due to its lower sodium and higher energy content compared to Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce.
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce
In its favour, from the label
- Lower sugar content compared to the red chilli sauce
- Contains soybeans, contributing to protein content
Label findings to note
- Very high sodium per serving
- Contains ammonia caramel colour (E150c/d) — which can generate 4-MEI during manufacture — IARC classifies 4-MEI as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans); this label does not state its concentration
- Highly processed (NOVA) and high total sugar
- Colour, acidity regulator, preservative not disclosed — 3 additive classes are named without saying which substances they are
Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce
In its favour, from the label
- Lower sodium content compared to the dark soy sauce
- Contains various spices like garlic, coriander, cumin, capsicum, and paprika
Label findings to note
- Highly processed (NOVA) and high total sugar
- Acidity regulator not disclosed — the label does not say which substance this is
- Thickener, acidity regulator, preservative not disclosed — 3 additive classes are named without saying which substances they are
- Contains refined wheat flour
- Undisclosed thickener, acidity regulator, emulsifying & stabilizing agent, and preservative
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce vs Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce — frequently asked questions
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce has less per 100 g/ml. Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce has 17.1 g and Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce has 28.3 g of total sugar per 100 g/ml.
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce has more per 100 g/ml. Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce has 2.9 g and Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce has 0 g of protein per 100 g/ml.
Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce has less per 100 g/ml. Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce has 8,043 mg and Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce has 2,667 mg of sodium per 100 g/ml.
Decode Label rates both as ultra-processed, from their ingredient lists.
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce's ingredient list includes Soy and Gluten. Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce's ingredient list includes Gluten. Check each pack for "may contain" warnings if you have an allergy.
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce lists Natural Colour and Preservative. Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce lists Preservative.
Flagged ingredients in this comparison
Who classified each one, its regulation, and how common it is across the catalogue.
Related comparisons
Other side-by-sides you may want next.
-
Ching's Secret Green Chilli Sauce
vs
Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce
-
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce
vs
Ching's Secret Green Chilli Sauce
-
Ching’s Secret Dark Soy Sauce
vs
Ching’s Secret Schezwan Chutney
-
Ching’s Secret Schezwan Chutney
vs
Ching's Secret Red Chilli - Sauce
-
Ching’s Secret Schezwan Chutney
vs
Ching's Secret Green Chilli Sauce
Comparison generated by Decode Label from each product's listed ingredients. Every score and flagged finding comes from Decode Label's rules engine; the explanations are written with AI and cannot change a score. Always read the actual label.