My diet:

Worcestershire sauce

No E-numberSauces & dressingsOrigin: Plant or animal
Get a personal answer

Pick your family’s diets in the bar above.

Every diet

VeganNo

The traditional recipe is made with anchovies.

Gluten-freeDepends

Many versions contain wheat flour or malt vinegar; the traditional recipe does not.

HalalDepends

Most versions contain anchovies, and some include wine or alcohol; check for a certificate.

KosherNo

Anchovies are fish without fins and scales, so they are not kosher.

KetoNo

The molasses and sugar in the traditional recipe are a carbohydrate load in a small volume.

Low-FODMAPNo

Molasses and the onion and garlic in the recipe are high FODMAP.

The short answer
Worcestershire sauce is a fermented condiment made with anchovies in the traditional recipe, which rules it out of a vegan or kosher diet and makes the halal answer depend on the bottle. It is also sweet, because molasses is a core part of it.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberNone
Comes fromPlant or animal
What it doesSauces & dressings
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledWorcestershire sauce, Worcestershire

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDANot evaluated as an additive
🇪🇺 European UnionNot evaluated as an additive
🇨🇦 Health CanadaNot evaluated as an additive
CaliforniaNo extra rules

Worcestershire sauce is a food and has no E-number, so it is outside the additive system. It is covered by the general rules for sauces and by the allergen declarations that apply to fish and to any wheat the manufacturer chooses to include, and several countries require the product to be labeled with its anchovies.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

The recipe was fixed in the nineteenth century by a chemist from Worcester who combined leftover fermented anchovies with tamarind, molasses and spices. Modern versions vary a great deal, and several mainstream brands now sell a vegetarian version made without the fish. A tablespoon of the traditional sauce carries around a gram of sugar and about a gram of salt, which is a lot for something used in dashes.

Where it comes from: A fermented condiment whose standard recipe combines anchovies, tamarind, molasses, garlic, shallot and spices. The fish is what makes the traditional version different from a generic spicy sauce, and it is what rules it out of a vegan or kosher diet.

Why it’s in food

  • Meat marinades
  • Steaks
  • Sauces and gravies
  • Beans and chilli
  • Cocktails

Often found in

SteakMarinadesChilli con carneBeansMeatballsBloody Mary cocktails

Also listed as: Worcestershire sauce, Worcestershire, Lea & Perrins, Worcester sauce, Worcestershire sauce, traditional, Worcestershire sauce, spicy

Health & gut impact

Sugar in a savory sauceUnder study

Molasses and sugar are what give the sauce its depth and they also make it sweet, so a savory food can pick up a surprising amount of free sugar from a spoonful. A tablespoon of the traditional recipe carries close to a gram of it.

USDA FoodData Central, Worcestershire sauce

SaltUnder study

The same tablespoon carries about a gram of sodium, which is a meaningful fraction of the daily limit in a condiment people use generously. It is the same trade-off as with any salty sauce.

USDA FoodData Central, Worcestershire sauce

Fish and allergensUnder study

Anchovies are fish, so fish has to be declared on the label in the US, the EU, Canada and Australia. People with a fish allergy should treat the traditional recipe as off limits, and there are vegetarian versions on the shelf for everyone else.

EU Regulation 1169/2011 allergen list

What can I use instead?

Soy sauce

Ratio: Use more, and add a little sugar and vinegar

Best for: The salty part of the flavor

Malt vinegar

Ratio: Use a dash with a little sugar

Best for: The acidic part of the flavor

Related

More sauces & dressings:

Apple cider vinegarApple cider vinegar is a fermented apple product with no E-number, and one of the safest things on a label, so it fits every diet. It seasons and preserves rather than nourishes, so reach for it when you want acid without more salt or sugar.Generally safeBalsamic vinegarBalsamic vinegar is an aged grape vinegar with no E-number, and it is safe and fits every diet except low-FODMAP in larger amounts. It is one of the few vinegars carrying real sugar, so measure a tablespoon rather than pouring.Generally safeBarbecue sauceBarbecue sauce is a sweet, salty tomato sauce with molasses in it. It is safe, but a tablespoon carries 4 to 9 grams of sugar and 105 to 260 milligrams of sodium, which makes it one to skip on a low-sugar or low-salt list.Use in moderationHoisin sauceHoisin is a thick, sweet Chinese barbecue sauce, safe to eat but heavy on sugar and salt, and unsuitable for keto and for strict gluten-free or low-FODMAP diets. For the flavor without the jar, mix soy sauce with a little honey and star anise.Use in moderation

Common questions

Is Worcestershire sauce vegan?

The traditional recipe is not, because it is made with anchovies. Several mainstream brands now sell a vegetarian version made without them, and it is worth checking the label, because the same brand often makes both.

Is Worcestershire sauce kosher?

No, because anchovies are fish without fins and scales, and kosher fish must have both. Kosher versions made without the fish do exist and are certified as such.

Is Worcestershire sauce halal?

It depends on the bottle. Fish is generally accepted as halal, but some versions also include wine or other alcohol and some use ingredients from animals that were not slaughtered according to halal rules. Look for a halal certificate if it matters to you.

Is Worcestershire sauce safe?

Use in moderation (66/100). Worcestershire sauce is a food and has no E-number, so it is outside the additive system. It is covered by the general rules for sauces and by the allergen declarations that apply to fish and to any wheat the manufacturer chooses to include, and several countries require the product to be labeled with its anchovies.

Is Worcestershire sauce vegan?

No. The traditional recipe is made with anchovies.

Is Worcestershire sauce gluten-free?

Depends. Many versions contain wheat flour or malt vinegar; the traditional recipe does not.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • USDA FoodData Central, Worcestershire sauce
  • EU Regulation 1169/2011 allergen list