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Vol.24 No 2 MARCH-APRIL 2004 K Y M C

15 Brands Tested ○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

TEST REPORT TomatoTomatoTomato SauceSauceSauce &&& KetchupKetchupKetchup How Much of Tomatoes Do They ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Have?

Slice a few tomatoes for country and 2 unbranded locally The Magic Of Lycopene or , grind them into , available samples from make , juice, or puree out of Ahmedabad. Our findings will tell Lycopene is the pigment them. And if none of these whets responsible for the characteristic you where your favourite brand deep red colour of ripe your appetite, go and buy them in stands. fruits and tomato products. It has bottles — in the form of many benefits. Some of them are: ketchup...Have them any way you Brands Tested want. They are good for health. • An antioxidant that once The brands tested were Druk absorbed by the body helps to Tomato , Tomato prevent and repair damaged Tomato and related products are Ketchup, Kissan Tom Tom cells. considered healthy foods for , Kissan Tom Tom • Studies show that lycopene several reasons. They are low in Tomato Ketchup, Madhur from tomatoes is absorbed and calories, cholesterol free, better into the blood stream if it Premium Tomato Sauce, Madhur is first heat processed. and a good source of fibre and Tomato Ketchup, Maggi Tomato • Studies suggest that lycopene . Tomatoes are rich also in Sauce, Maggi Tomato Ketchup, levels in the blood may be vitamins A and C, potassium and Nilon’s Tomato Sauce, Nilon’s associated with reduced lycopene. incidence of prostate, digestive Tomato Ketchup, Ohms Tomato tract, lung and cervical cancer. Sauce, Paulson Tomato Ketchup, • Lycopene comes primarily from We tested — and, of course, R.K.’s Tomato Ketchup, Sona tomatoes, although apricots, tasted — 15 brands of tomato Tomato Ketchup and Tops guava, watermelon, papaya are

also significant sources. ○○○○○○sauce and ketchup from across the Tomato Ketchup.

6 INSIGHT-The Consumer Magazine MARCH-APRIL 2004

BLACK COLOR 6 We also tested two Key Findings is lower than the minimum limit, brands, Sona Con- mould and yeast may grow tinental Sauce and reducing the shelf life of the We tested 15 brands of tomato product. The PFA Act and FPO have Tops Continental sauce and ketchup from across the set the limit as not less than 1.0 Sauce, which had country and two unbranded while the BIS has set the lower limit samples from Ahmedabad. The as 1.2. R.K.'s Ketchup (1.1) and vegetables among brands tested were Druk Tomato the ingredients, another loose sample L-2 (1.1) Sauce, , could not meet the requirement of besides tomatoes. Kissan Tom Tom Tomato Sauce, BIS but passed as per the PFA Act Hence we treated these Kissan Tom Tom Tomato Ketchup, and the FPO. two as a separate category. Madhur Premium Tomato Sauce, Madhur Tomato Ketchup, Maggi The presence of preservatives Tomato Sauce, Maggi Tomato prevents the microbiological Standards Ketchup, Nilon’s Tomato Sauce, spoilage and increases the shelf The samples were tested against the Nilon’s Tomato Ketchup, Ohms life of the product. But too much of specifications laid down in the Fruit Tomato Sauce, Paulson Tomato it is not desirable. The PFA, BIS as Ketchup, R.K.’s Tomato Ketchup , well as the FPO have set the limit Products Order (FPO), 1955, the Bureau Sona Tomato Ketchup and Tops as 750ppm. Paulson Ketchup of Indian Standards IS : 3882 and the Tomato Ketchup. (1457), Sona Ketchup (898) and one unbranded sample L-1(2812) Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) We also tested two brands Sona Act, 1954. The PFA Act and the FPO are were found with very high levels of Continental and Tops Continental benzoic acid. Heinz Ketchup (87) mandatory, but the BIS is voluntary. which had vegetables as was found with the lowest amount None of the brands carried the ISI mark. ingredients, besides tomatoes. of preservative. Hence we kept them as a separate category. Sona Ketchup and one unbranded sample L-2 were found with sunset How Much of Tomatoes The samples were tested against They Have yellow and hence both failed the the specifications laid down in the PFA test for coal tar colour. The tomato content of the ketchup can Fruit Products Order (FPO), 1955, be ascertained by the lycopene content. the Bureau of Indian Standards IS : Madhur Tomato Ketchup, Paulson Tomato Ketchup, R.K.'s Tomato We checked the lycopene content in all 3882 and Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA), 1954. The Ketchup and Sona Ketchup did not the brands. The more the lycopene, the PFA Act and the FPO are mandatory label the weight as per the more is the tomato content. Low levels while the BIS is voluntary. None of requirement of the standard. One of it may be due to less of tomato pulp the brands carried the IS mark. sample of R.K.’s Ketchup was found with less weight. The 1000 or poor quality of tomatoes used. None We checked the lycopene content gm bottle weighed only 966 gm of the standards talks about the of all the brands. The more the where the variation allowed by the lycopene content of the sauce. This lycopene, the more will be the standard is 15 gm. tomato content. Low levels of was an additional test we did on our lycopene may be due to less Ohms Tomato Sauce did not give own to check the lycopene content of quantity of tomato pulp or poor the batch number. each brand. Madhur Ketchup(10.2mg/ quality of tomatoes used. None of The FPO specifies that the bottle 100gm) had the highest lycopene the standards talk about the shall be sealed in such a manner content followed by R.K.’s Ketchup lycopene content of the sauce. This that it cannot be opened without was an additional test we did on our destroying the licence number and (9.9mg/100gm) and Maggi Sauce own to check the lycopene content the identification mark of the (9.1mg/100gm). of each brand. Madhur Ketchup manufacturer. Paulson did not label (10.2mg/100gm) had the highest the FPO licence number as the Germs in Your Ketchup lycopene content followed by R.K.'s requirement. Ketchup (9.9mg/100gm) and Maggi Our trained panellists tested the (Microbiological Parameters) Sauce (9.1mg/100gm). Microbial contamination is a serious samples for colour,consistency, We tested all the brands for mould, flavour and absence of defects. issue. We tested all the brands for yeast & spores count and bacteria Among the national brands, Heinz mould, yeast and spore count and count. Bacteria, yeast and mould Tomato Ketchup was preferred the bacterial count. Bacteria, yeast and are responsible for many types of most by them. Among the regional mould are responsible for many types food spoilage before and during the brands, Madhur Sauce was liked processing. Paulson Ketchup the most. of food spoilage before and during the (165), Sona Ketchup(231), Druk processing. A high count of these in Among the national brands, Maggi Sauce(140) along with both the Ketchup (79) scored the highest the finished food product indicates unbranded samples were found followed by Kissan Sauce (78) and decomposition or poor sanitary with a very high yeast and spores Heinz Ketchup(78). Among the conditions in the factory. count and hence failed this test. regional brands, Madhur Premium Sona Ketchup and both the Sauce and Ketchup topped the list. Yeast & Spores count : Though the BIS unbranded samples failed the test is silent on the yeast and spores count, for bacteria count. Sona Ketchup Among the national brands, the PFA Act and the FPO specify that had the bacteria count as 200 Nilon’s Sauce is our best buy while million per c.c against the limit of among the regional brands, 100 million per c.c. Madhur Ketchup is our best buy. In the Continental category Paulson Ketchup (0.7), Sona both the brands were found Ketchup (0.9), Ohms Sauce (0.8) non-conforming, hence and one unbranded sample L-1 they were not rated and (0.8) failed in the test for acidity as ranked. . If the acidity (acetic acid)

INSIGHT-The Consumer Magazine MARCH-APRIL 2004 7

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Preservatives Used heavy metals. All the brands conformed (Benzoic acid) to these tests. The presence of preservatives prevents the microbiological spoilage Is Your Sauce Thick Enough ? and increases the shelf-life of the () product. But too much of it is not With some brands you tilt the bottle desirable. With so much of packed and the sauce comes out very easily yeast and spores should not exceed instant food around, we are all the more while with some bottles you have to 125 per 1/60 c.m.m. Paulson Ketchup worried about the amount of wait for ages for the sauce to trickle (165), Sona Ketchup (231), Druk preservatives we take. down on your samosa. All of us have Sauce (140), along with both the gone through this experience some time unbranded samples, were found We checked the amount of preser- or the other. What should be the ideal with a very high yeast and spore vatives in all the brands. The PFA Act, thickness of a sauce ? The standards count and hence failed this test. the BIS and the FPO have set the limit do not talk about it. We checked this at 750 ppm. Paulson Ketchup(1457), on our own. Sona Ketchup was found

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Bacterial count : Sona Ketchup and both the unbranded samples failed Sona Ketchup (898) and one to be the most viscous, followed by this test. The PFA Act and the FPO unbranded sample L-1(2812) were Madhur Ketchup in the branded have set the limits at 100 million per found with very high levels of benzoic category. c.c. Sona Ketchup had the bacteria acid. Heinz Ketchup (87) was found count as 200 million per c.c. with the lowest amount of preservative. and Protein We wanted to assess the salt and Shelf Life protein content of all the brands. Check The brands were tested for acidity the results table to find how much of as acetic acid. If the acidity (acetic salt and protein are present in your acid) is lower than the minimum Is The Method Correct ? favourite sauce. limit, mould and yeast may While reviewing the entire gamut of testing methods for ketchup — Indian and foreign — grow, reducing the shelf- Is the Weight Right ? we found that the BIS method for testing for the The Standards of Weights and life of the product. The presence of benzoic acid as a preservative was not PFA Act and the FPO Measures (Packaged Commo- specific. But in compliance with the official and revised dities) Rules, 1977 has have set the limit as not method prescribed by the BIS, we had no option. We have, less than 1.0 while the therefore, decided to make a representation to the BIS to different specifications for BIS has set the lower review its method. Heinz claimed that it used no artificial different size bottles. For 100- limit at 1.2. Paulson preservatives, colours or emulsifiers. It also informed us 200 gm bottles the variation Ketchup (0.7), Sona that it did not add any artificial preser-vatives. BIS method allowed is 4.5 per cent which Ketchup (0.9), Ohms uniformly applies to all manufacturers. According to the works out to 9 gm for a 200 Sauce (0.8) and one BIS method, we have found benzoic acid as 87 ppm. In gm bottle. Both for 500 gm - 1 unbranded sample L-1 order to be fair to Heinz we also tested by other kg bottles and 1 kg - 10 kg (0.8) failed this test. R.K.’s methods but the results were not consistent. In the bottles the variation allowed is Ketchup (1.1) and another process we delayed our publication. Hope by 15 gm. unbranded sample L-2 (1.1) now most of our subscribers have could not meet the requirements received our intimation on the The Standards also specify that of the BIS but passed as per the delay. products of 1000 gm or more need to PFA Act and the FPO. The BIS, the label the net weight in kilogram. PFA Act and the FPO have only Madhur Tomato Ketchup, Paulson specified the lower (minimum) limit Added Colour Tomato Ketchup, R.K.’s Tomato for acetic acid and there are no (Coal Tar Colour) Ketchup and Sona Ketchup did not higher limits. On the other hand, high The PFA Act does not allow any label the net weight as per the acetic acid would indicate an permitted synthetic colours in ketchup requirement of the Standard. One extremely sour . The maximum or sauce. The BIS allows the addition sample of R.K.’s Ketchup was of less limit for acidity should be given, for of permitted colours and additives. The weight. The 1000 gm bottle weighed which we have written to the BIS. FPO allows the addition of certain only 966gm whereas the variation colours to the ketchup and sauce but it allowed by the Standards is of 15 gm. As tomato ketchup is highly acidic should not exceed 0.20 gm a kg. Sona The FPO, however, allows a variation in nature, it is better to avoid contact Ketchup and one unbranded sample L- of 5 per cent in the net content which with metallic vessels or utensils made 2 were found with the colour sunset means R.K’s Ketchup should weigh of copper and aluminium. Longer yellow and hence both failed the PFA minimum 950 gm. With 966 gm it meets contact can dissolve the metallic test. Sunset yellow can provoke asthma the FPO. content of the vessels and attacks, skin rashes, hyperactivity and contaminate the sauce with gastric problems. Marking

metals. The brands were also tested for total All the brands had the complete ○○○○○○ soluble solids, specific gravity and labelling information except Ohms 10 INSIGHT-The Consumer Magazine MARCH-APRIL 2004

BLACK COLOR 10 Tomato Sauce which did not give the results are posted to their registered batch number. offices by Registered A.D/ Courier. All the manufacturers receive the results The FPO specifies that the bottle shall of their own product only and are given be sealed in such a manner that it two weeks from the date of receipt to cannot be opened without destroying respond. Even most consumer groups the licence number and identification in industrially advanced countries do mark of the manufacturer. Paulson did not do this. The extracts from the not label the FPO licence number as per companies’ reply and our response (in the requirement. colour) are given below. viscosity. Regarding lycopene they said ○○○○ that “unless the inputs are controlled, We strongly feel that instead of just Hindustan Lever Limited, the the lycopene content will vary from labelling ‘preservatives added’, the manufacturers of Kissan Tomato batch to batch. Though your findings ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ companies should name them. So that Ketchup and Kissan Tomato Sauce, in this case may be accurate it is not if a person is allergic to a certain preser- raised concerns on the ranking based representative of what the concerned vative, he can avoid that product. on sensory attributes and the age of the products can deliver round the year and samples. They said, “We do not think hence the comparison may mislead the How They Tasted ranking on sensory attribute scores is a consumers”. (Sensory) fair representation...For example, on Test methods have been sent to them. We followed the method suggested by texture a score may be scaled from 1 to The results refer to testing done on a the BIS for the organoleptic (taste) 10 from very thin to very thick. particular batch. analysis of ketchup/sauce. Our trained Consumers may actually prefer a score panellists tested the samples for colour, of 6 and dislike products thicker than Heinz also said that “we strongly feel consistency, absence of defects and this. But a quantitative ranking of two that there is every likelihood of your flavour. The most preferred was Heinz products one with 8 and the other with findings, in their present form, Tomato Ketchup among the national 6, will erroneously convey that the very misleading the consumers if published. brands and Madhur Sauce among the thick product is `better’.” This might affect our business adversely regional brands. The sensory analysis has been done as and in such a case the responsibility per the pattern given in the BIS. will solely lie on CERS.” Areas Of Action We are not misguiding any one. BIS is •Harmonisation of standards should They also felt that the samples used by a national statutory standards be done. us for testing were rather old. institution. We have no choice but to •Though there is a lower limit for acetic The samples were purchased from the follow the methodology given by them. acid, there is no upper limit. Upper limit market and immediately taken up for Besides all care and caution have been should be specified. testing well within the expiry period. taken and references on the efforts •The BIS needs to look into the method made by CERS, as you find in the to check the preservatives (benzoic Heinz India, the manufacturers of Heinz article. acid). The present method is not Tomato Ketchup, did not agree to the presence of benzoic acid in their specific. J. J. Food Industries, the manufacturers product. They said that they do not add The labelling laws need to be revised. of Madhur Tomato Ketchup and • any preservatives, colour or thickeners/ Instead of just writing ‘class II Madhur Premium Tomato Sauce, said stabilizers/emulsifiers unlike other that they would make correction on their preservatives’, the manufacturer brands. They further said that “Benzoic label by printing the weight as 1.2 kg should specify the name of the acid determination is based on BIS instead of 1200 gm. preservative so that if a person is method which is known to give allergic to a certain preservative he/she interference due to presence of . Ohms Food Products Pvt Ltd., the can avoid it. Analyses of raw spices such as manufacturers of Ohms Tomato Sauce, and using this method said that they exercise care and Manufacturers’ Response gives a benzoic acid reading of 2000- attention to maintain the acidity level As a policy before publishing, we 3000 ppm. Heinz in India and anywhere as well as the weight of the sample. The convey the test results to all the else in the world does not add benzoic problem with the acidity and the weight manufacturers, irrespective of whether acid or class II preservatives to their could have crept in because of human their brands have passed or failed. The tomato ketchup. We are about pure and error. They said that it was not natural.” intentional and in the future they would We tested the brand by the method take care. Regarding the batch number suggested by the BIS and the they said that they plan to mark the preservative calculated as benzoic acid batch numbers. was found to be 87. Nilon’s Enterprises Private Heinz also wanted to know the methods

Limited, the manufacturers of used for testing lycopene, sucrose and ○○○○○○ INSIGHT-The Consumer Magazine MARCH-APRIL 2004 11

BLACK COLOUR 11 Sauce and Ketchup dressing or table to be Is there any difference between sauce consumed with chips, burgers, etc. and ketchup ? Not really. If you go by Ketchup is cold and is never heated the standards, they are one and the as a rule. Tomato sauce, on the other same thing. The standards are also hand, is made from tomatoes, oil, the same for them. meat or vegetable stock and spices. is not usually used. Hindustan Lever Ltd. informed us that are generally served hot. in India there is no difference between ketchup and sauce. Traditionally, in Most of the manufacturers informed the US, tomato ketchup is prepared us that ketchup is made with spices, with tomatoes, , vinegar/acetic and while sauce is acid and spices. It is used as a generally without the spices.

said that they are taking suitable wrote to us that they need another 15 measures to give more quantity to make days to investigate the matter but till up for any subsequent moisture loss. our going to press there was no response. Nilon’s Tomato Ketchup and Nilon’s Nestle India Limited, the manufacturers Tomato Sauce, were happy with the fact of Maggi Tomato Ketchup and Maggi The manufacturers of Tops Tomato that their product conformed to all the Tomato Sauce, were pleased to note Ketchup, Tops Continental Sauce and parameters but they were disappointed that their products conformed to all the Paulson Tomato Ketchup did not with the sensory score which they felt parameters. respond till our going to press. should be in the higher range. Manufacturers’ Addresses Sensory testing was done as per the R.K.'s Food Products, the manufacturers of R.K.'s Tomato Kissan Ketchup/Sauce method given in the BIS. We stand by Hindustan Lever Limited165/166 Backbay our results. Ketchup, were happy with their results. Reclamation, Mumbai - 400 020 Regarding their brand not meeting the Maggi Ketchup/Sauce Regarding the shortage of 3 gm in their acidity as per the BIS they said that Nestle India Ltd., M-5A, Connaught Circus bottle, they said that though, “it is within they manufacture their products as per New Delhi - 110001 the acceptable limits, the same is not the FPO and the PFA Act, which is clear Tops Ketchup/ acceptable to us as a company”. They from the results as well. Tops Continental Sauce The company complied with the G.D. Foods Mfg(I) Pvt. Ltd. Plot No. 61, requirements of the PFA Act and FPO Matiala Complex, New Delhi - 110 059 Continental Sauce for the acidity parameter; however, it Paulson Ketchup does not comply with the IS limit. Khanna Foods & Chemical Industries We tested two brands of sauce from 360, Naniwala Bagh, Azadpur, the continental sauce category. The Delhi - 110 033 brands tested were Sona Continental They also said that they have started Sona Ketchup/ Sauce and Tops Continental Sauce. using the unit of weight as 1 kg from This category has vegetables among Sona Continental Sauce the ingredients. May 2003. Everest Beverages & Food Industries D-21, Indl. Estate, Partapur, Meerut Both the PFA Act and the FPO have Regarding the less weight in one of Ohms Sauce specifications for this kind of sauce their samples they said that they use OHMS Food Products, Mettu Street, but the BIS has not specified any automatic filling machine and check the Iyappanthangal, Chennai - 600 056 Standards. weight on a random basis every month. Heinz Ketchup They promised to take extra care in the Heinz India Private Ltd. Sona Continental Sauce was found The Great Eastern Center with a bacteria count of 204 million per future to avoid such lapses. 70, Nehru Place, New Delhi - 110 019 c.c against the limit set by the FPO as Nilon’s Sauce/Ketchup 100 million per c.c. The brand also Bhutan Fruit Products Limited, the Nilon’s Enterprises (P) Ltd., Utran - 425117 failed the test on the yeast and spore manufacturers of Druk Sauce, were Druk Sauce count where the FPO has set the limit concerned about the high yeast and Bhutan Fruit Products Ltd. at 125 per 1/60 c.m.m. The yeast and spore count in their product. They said Tai Industries Ltd., 53A, Mirza Ghalib Street the spore count was found to be 140. that normally yeast and spores are Kolkata - 700 016 PFA Act is silent on these parameters. R.K.’s Ketchup Sona Continental Sauce (0.8) failed maintained well within limits. Maybe, RK’s Food Products the test for acidity as per the PFA and the particular bottle had the problem. FPO. Tops Continental Sauce (1.1) They gave assurance that in the future 5/13, G.I.D.C. Pandesara, Surat, Gujarat failed the test as per the FPO. Madhur Ketchup/Sauce they would be careful. J.J. Food Products, G.I.D.C. Naroda Sona Continental Sauce was found Ahmedabad - 382 380. with sunset yellow colour which Everest Beverages & Food Industries, should not be present as per the PFA the manufacturers of Sona Tomato For queries write to us at Act and hence it failed this test also. Sauce and Sona Tomato Ketchup, [email protected].

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