In 2020, McCormick & Company acquired Cholula Hot Sauce for $800 million.
For years, Cholula was known for its simple, traditional recipe rooted in Mexican flavor.
But after the acquisition, people started noticing changes in the ingredients.
Ingredients BEFORE:
• Water
• Peppers
• Salt
• Vinegar
• Garlic Powder
• Spices
• Xanthan Gum
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Ingredients AFTER:
• Water
• Peppers
• Salt
• Acetic Acid
• Xanthan Gum
• Spices
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Garlic Powder
• Natural Flavor
⸻
What changed?
Traditional vinegar → partially replaced with acetic acid
“Natural flavor” added
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Why people are talking about it
For many Mexican and Mexican-American households, Cholula isn’t just a sauce — it’s part of the culture 
So even small changes feel bigger:
• Moving away from tradition
• More “corporate” ingredients
• Less authentic taste (according to some fans)
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The bigger picture
This is what often happens when a legacy brand becomes part of a global company:
Small changes… that most people don’t notice at first.
Source: OEM
Puebla Post
