Shipping address must be located in the continental US (Lower 48 states) and only pertains to “USPS Ground Advantage” shipping. This offer only applies to physical food products, and not “Print on Demand” related merchandise, which will provide calculated shipping rates from our POD provider independently for those items.

“Skimpflation” is a profit driven strategy where companies reduce the quality of goods or services while keeping prices the same (or increasing them) to increase profit margins. Instead of changing the size (like shrinkflation), businesses "skimp" on ingredients, materials, or service, resulting in low-value, low-quality products for consumers. “Skimpflation” is often mistakenly used interchangeably with “shrinkflation”, but “Skimpflation” specifically refers to a quality decline, whereas “shrinkflation” refers to a reduction in quantity to increase profits.

Examples of “Skimpflation” in Food & Beverage:

*Replacing expensive olive oil with cheaper oils

*Reducing the chocolate content in candy by replacing it with “fillers”

*Using minuscule amounts of extremely expensive “super hot” peppers in a hot sauce (example: the peppers are listed last, or very close to last, in the ingredient list) leading to a shocking lack of spiciness despite the claim of “superhot” peppers being used on the label.

Smash Mouth Gourmet Foods views these profit driven tactics as unethical and reprehensible!

We package our hot sauces in oversized 8oz bottles(60% larger than the typical 5oz bottle) to increase value for our customers(the exact opposite of “shrinkflation”)!

The FDA requires that igredient lists on product labels be sequential based on the weight/mass of each ingredient. This means the first igredient is the majority of what is in the product (by weight) and the last igredient is the least prominent (based on weight) respectively.

Most people who are fans of “superhot” sauces has experienced the shock and diappointment of buying a product with an igredient list similar to this one: “John Does CRAZY HOT Ghost pepper sauce” Ingredients:

Vinegar, jalapeno peppers, garlic, salt, ghost peppers

The customer is dumbfounded by the extreme lack of spiciness of the product, considering it claims to be a “Ghost pepper” sauce,(and was expensive because it claims to be a “ghost pepper” sauce). How is it possible that this product has trivial “heat” (comparable to, or less than tobasco sauce) but has ghost peppers in it?? Here is the potential reality hidden from the consumer in that igredient list: (using 100g total quantity for easy math)

Vinegar 70g

Jalapeño peppers 25g

Garlic 4.5g

Salt 0.49g

Ghost Peppers 0.01g

Please look at our ingredient lists on our hot sauce products, and notice the peppers are listed FIRST, the exact opposite of “skimpflation”!

Note: Hot sauces ideally use blended peppers to create the “body” of the sauce, so the peppers should be listed first (or near the top).

“Spicy Honey” products are completely different as the “body” of the product is honey, with chile peppers “infused” into that medium, so the chile peppers used will NEVER be listed first on a spicy/hot honey product because the honey is, by weight, ALWAYS the dominant/most prevalent ingredient. This would NOT be an indication of “skimpflation” tactics.

Scoville heat units (SHU) measure the spice level of chili peppers and other hot foods based on the concentration of capsaicin, a compound found in Chile peppers that creates that burning sensation. Originally, the Scoville scale used a taste test, but modern measurement is done using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), which provides a more precise and consistent result. A higher SHU number indicates a hotter food.  

How the measurement works

Original method:

Wilbur Scoville's 1912 test involved diluting ground peppers in sugar water and having a panel of tasters determine how much dilution was needed before the heat was no longer perceptible/detectable. 

Modern method:

HPLC is the standard for measurement today. It works by grinding up the pepper and separating its compounds to quantify the amount of capsaicin and other heat-producing chemicals. The results can then be converted to SHUs. 

How the number is calculated:

For example, pure capsaicin has a value of about 16,000,000 SHU. Some of the hottest peppers can have SHU ratings well over 1 million, like the Carolina Reaper at over 2,000,000 SHU. 

Examples of SHU ratings

Bell pepper: 0 SHU

Jalapeño: 2,500 to 8,000 SHU

Habanero: 100,000 to 350,000 SHU

Ghost pepper: Approximately 1,000,000 SHU 

Moruga Scorpion Pepper: 1.5 - 2 million SHU

Carolina Reaper Pepper: 1.8 - 2.2 Million SHU

Dragon’s Breath: 2 - 2.5 Million SHU

Pepper X: 2.8 - 3.1 Million SHU

Origin:

Despite the unusual sounding name, Xanthan gum is a natural product created through a fermentation process using a plant-based sugar (typically from corn, soy, or wheat) and a type of bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris. After fermentation, the residue is dried and ground into a powder. It is often compared to natural products like vinegar or yeast due to its fermentation origin.

 Note: People with severe allergies to soy, corn, or wheat may want to avoid xanthan gum, out of an abundance of caution, by avoiding potentially consuming even trace amounts of these allergens.

Natural classification:

Because it is produced by a natural fermentation process, it is considered a natural food additive, similar to how other products like vinegar are made. 

Usage:

It is widely used as a thickener and stabilizer in many products (especially in gluten-free baking where it mimics the binding properties of gluten)

Note: The amount of xanthan gum content in an entire 8oz bottle of our hot sauce products is only 0.2 grams to 0.4 grams.

Although extremely rare (at the typically miniscule amounts used in food products) Xanthan gum can cause digestive issues in some people when consumed in large amounts.

In human studies , large doses, defined as >15 grams/day (Note: This amount would be very difficult to reach through a typical diet) of xanthan gum were found to have the following potential effects on the human GI tract:

-Increased frequency of bowel movements

-Increased stool output

-softening of the stools

-Increased gas

-Altered gut bacteria

These side effects do not appear to occur unless at least 15 grams/day are consumed.

Moreover, xanthan gum’s ability to alter gut bacteria may be a good thing, as many other soluble fibers alter gut bacteria. They’re known as prebiotics and promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut.

However, more research is needed to understand xanthan gum’s potential as a prebiotic.

To answer simply, yes: Hot sauce does expire. 

We understand that you might want to stock up on some bottles of your favorite hot sauce so that you will always have some on hand — and we don’t blame you! But if any of those bottles in your stash are past their expiration date, it’s time to toss them and buy new ones. When something goes past its expiration date, that means its freshness cannot be guaranteed. The safest option is to toss your old bottle and buy a new one.

The Longevity of Hot Sauce

The good news is that you have plenty of time to use your sauce before it expires! Most hot sauces will remain safe to eat while stored unopened, at room temerature (68° - 72°F) for up to a year, including our hot sauces. 

Just keep in mind that most sauces need to be put in the fridge once they have been opened. Once you open any of our hot sauces, please refrigerate them to prolong their lifespan over the following months. 

If you forget to refrigerate your hot sauce right away, that’s not a problem. Your hot sauce won’t immediately spoil. Just remember to keep it in the fridge moving forward.

Once you’ve opened and put your sauce in the fridge, you can keep it in there for six months to a year. (if you don’t finish it before then).

Why You Shouldn’t Eat Expired Hot Sauce

Perhaps you’re thinking, why does this matter anyway? Maybe you just want to have your expired hot sauce and eat it too. We’re not saying you can’t, but we strongly caution you against it.

While eating expired hot sauce is unlikely to kill you, there’s a chance it could send you to the hospital. Though hot sauce has ingredients that contribute to its long shelf life, and antibacterial properties, it’s not unheard of for expired hot sauce to be unfit for consumption.

If your well-aged hot sauce seems to have mold or something unusual around its cap, in the sauce, or smells off please do NOT consume it.

Smash Mouth hot sauces are made in a commercial kitchen environment where cross-contamination can occur. If you have severe food allergies, we recommend exercising caution with ANY food product not certified as allergen free.(made in compliance with strict allergen contamination avoidance protocols with 3rd party verification)

Yes! All our vegan friends who want an extra kick to their tofu can rest easy knowing we only use plant-based ingredients, with no animal-derived additives.

You can refer to our “Culinary Conflagration” meter as a guide. If you’re new to buying hot sauce online, go low at first. Once you’ve gotten a taste for the flavor profiles we provide, ramp up the heat and get out the tissues.

Which sauce is best for beginners?

A good starter sauce would be our Chili Chipmunk’s Happiness Elixir. This sauce is gentle enough that most young children can handle it!

Which sauce is the hottest?

Get out your ice cream, milk and tissues for The Mad King’s Revenge! This stuff is ridiculously hot!! It might peel the wallpaper off your ceiling if you’re not careful!

Do you ship nationwide?

Yes! We ship to all lower-48 (continental) states. We can accommodate Hawaii and Alaska, but the current price of shipping might make that a reach for some costumers. Please note shipping rates and delivery times depend on your exact location, and some restrictions apply.

Most orders for our Hot sauce/food products ship in 1-3 business days (Monday-Friday)

Our branded merchandise products will ship separately, after the lead time necessary, for our “Print on Demand” vendor to create the item for you.

Return/Refund policy

We have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item (delivery date) to request a return.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it: unopened, unworn, unused, with tags, in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt as proof of purchase.

To start a return, you can contact us at smashmouthfoods@gmail.com

If your return is accepted, we’ll send instructions on how and where to send your package. The customer will be responsible for paying shipping costs for returning the item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If the customer does not pay for shipping cost, the cost will be deducted from the refund issued. 

Note: Items sent back to us without first requesting a return authorization will not be accepted.

You can always contact us for any return questions at: smashmouthfoods@gmail.com.

Damage and issues
Please inspect your order upon arrival and contact us immediately if the item is:

-Defective

-Damaged

-The wrong item

This is so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right!

Exceptions / non-returnable items
Certain types of items cannot be returned, like perishable goods (such as food items). Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns about your specific item.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on sale items or gift cards.

Exchanges
The fastest way to ensure you get what you want is to return the item you have, and once the return is accepted, make a separate purchase for the new item.

Refunds
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund is approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund to your account.

We occasionally offer bundle packs for sampling or around holiday promotions. Keep checking back with our hot sauce online store to see when the next gift set is available. If you have a recommendation, reach out at smashmouthfoods@gmail.com.