Kikkoman Soy Sauce: 920mg Sodium a Tablespoon, ~0 Calories — Labelgrade C+ (68/100)
C+ 68 / 100 — Very low saturated fat, effectively zero sugar, and high sodium per 100mL.
🛒 Buy on Amazon →The short answer
Kikkoman Soy Sauce delivers 2g of protein and 10 calories per 1 Tbsp (USDA FDC 2053519). Per 100mL that’s 13.3g of protein; per fl oz, 3.9g. The Labelgrade is C+ (68 / 100): Very low saturated fat, effectively zero sugar, and high sodium per 100mL.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | B- | 70 / 100 | 13.3g per 100mL — moderate; the per-serving total matters more than the per-unit density |
| Ingredient quality | B | 77 / 100 | Short 5-ingredient list, no additive flags |
| Saturated fat load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0g saturated fat — perfect |
| Sodium load | F | 0 / 100 | 920mg per serving (1814mg per fl oz) — high; structural for cured/preserved foods |
| Sugar load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0g of sugar — perfect |
| Fiber | F | 30 / 100 | 0g fiber, expected for beverages |
| Overall | C+ | 68 / 100 | Weighted blend: protein 23% · ingredients 21% · saturated fat 18% · sodium 15% · sugar 15% · fiber 8% |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per serving | Per 100 g | Per oz | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kikkoman Soy Sauce (this product) | 2g | 13.3g | 3.8g | 10 |
| Heinz Indian Relish | 0g | 0g | 0g | 20 |
| Heinz Tomato Ketchup | 0g | 0g | 0g | 20.1 |
| Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce | 0g | 0g | 0g | 69.8 |
| Plain cooked chicken breast (benchmark) | — | 31g | 8.8g | ~165 |
The whole story is sodium — so let’s do the math honestly
There’s exactly one number that matters on this label: 920mg of sodium per tablespoon, which is about 40% of an entire day’s sodium in a single tablespoon. On a per-100mL basis that’s extreme, and it’s why the sodium dimension scores a flat F. We’re not going to soften that.
But context changes the verdict. Soy sauce is a seasoning measured in teaspoons and splashes, not a food measured in servings. A realistic amount over a bowl of rice or whisked into a stir-fry sauce is closer to a teaspoon — roughly 300mg, in the range of a slice of bread. The danger isn’t a single dash; it’s the cumulative pour. Drench a takeout container, dunk sushi piece after piece, or cook a whole pan sauce on top of an already-salty meal, and the milligrams stack fast. Used with a light hand, the sodium is manageable; used heavily, it’s the single easiest way to blow past your daily limit without noticing.
It’s a flavor tool, not a health food — grade it accordingly
Here’s the honest way to read the C+ (68/100): it is not a quality endorsement of a food, because soy sauce isn’t really a food. It’s brewed water, wheat, and soybeans whose entire job is to deliver salt and umami. The grade rides almost entirely on what soy sauce doesn’t have — ~0 calories, 0g fat, 0g sugar — which keeps it out of the territory of the sugary, fatty condiments it sits next to in the rankings table. A perfect saturated-fat and sugar score, plus a clean short ingredient list, drag a sodium F up to a passing C+.
So judge it as a seasoning. As soy sauces go, Kikkoman is a clean, traditionally brewed one — no high-fructose corn syrup, no thickeners, no caramel-color shortcuts. The only meaningful upgrade for most people is the Less Sodium (green-cap) version, which keeps the flavor and the near-zero macros while cutting the one number that actually counts by about 40%. If you cook with soy sauce often or watch your blood pressure, that’s the bottle to reach for.
Scope
This page covers Kikkoman Soy Sauce, UPC 041390000027, as represented in USDA Branded Foods FDC 2053519. Kikkoman sells multiple variants in this product line — other sizes, flavors, or fat levels may have different macros and Labelgrade scores. Manufacturers periodically reformulate; always cross-reference the actual package label, especially if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
WATER, WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALT, SODIUM BENZOATE: LESS THAN 1/10 OF 1% AS A PRESERVATIVE.
Where to buy
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Labelgrade score is independent of affiliate relationships. More.
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 1 Tbsp
See how this fits your day — protein calculator · macro calculator
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (1 Tbsp) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 10 |
| Protein | 2g |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 0g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
| Sodium | 920mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Soy Sauce · UPC 041390000027. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains no listed animal products
contains no listed meat or fish
contains a gluten-bearing ingredient
Frequently Asked Questions
How much sodium is in Kikkoman Soy Sauce?
920mg per tablespoon — about 40% of the entire 2,300mg daily limit in one tablespoon. On a per-100mL basis it's off the charts, which is why sodium scores an F. The saving grace is that you almost never use a full tablespoon at once; a splash over rice or in a marinade is closer to a teaspoon (~300mg).
Why does it grade C+ if sodium is an F?
Because the sodium is the only knock. Kikkoman has ~0 calories, 0g fat, and 0g sugar, so it can't hurt you the way a sugary or fatty food can — it adds salt and umami, nothing else. The C+ (68/100) is honestly a near-zero-calorie seasoning carried by everything that *isn't* sodium. Treat the grade as 'fine in small amounts,' not 'a healthy food.'
Is the 2g of protein worth anything?
No. Two grams per tablespoon is a rounding error — nobody uses soy sauce as a protein source, and you'd hit your sodium ceiling long before the protein mattered. The per-100mL protein density is a quirk of measuring a liquid seasoning; ignore it.
Is there a lower-sodium option?
Yes. Kikkoman's Less Sodium (green-cap) soy sauce cuts sodium by roughly 40% per serving while keeping most of the flavor. If you cook with soy sauce regularly or watch blood pressure, it's the more sensible default — same use, meaningfully less salt.
Is Kikkoman soy sauce keto and low-carb friendly?
Yes on the macros — 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fat per tablespoon fits keto and low-carb plans. The real watch-item on any diet isn't carbs here, it's sodium. Note it's brewed from wheat and soybeans, so it is not gluten-free or soy-free (a tamari is the GF swap).
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-06, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 2053519. We re-verify top-traffic pages monthly and update within 7 days when a manufacturer reformulates.