Can Biscuits act as meal replacements?

37 Are biscuits really healthy ? Can Biscuits act as meal replacements? TV commercials talk about high • Biscuit is a hygienically packaged fiber, diabetic friendly multigrain food available at very biscuits and some biscuits claim to be competitive prices and in different providing the much needed nutrition tastes. at work. All these claims make you • According to a National Council believe that biscuits are healthy foods. of Applied Economic Research Are they really healthy and can they (NCAER) Study, biscuit is replace your meals? predominantly consumed by people from the lower strata of Haven’t you heard some frequent society, particularly children in travellers say “ I can manage a few both rural and urban areas. days of my travel with biscuits and fruits” finding an easy solution The different varieties of biscuits can for their food requirements in the be broadly classifiedas per the BIS absence of hygienic food? (Bureau of Indian Standards), on the basis of sensory attributes Biscuits have today become part Type I Sweet of our lives more out of habit and because of the sentiments attached Type II Semi-Sweet to certain meals like tea time etc. Type III Crackers You should really look at biscuits as Type IV Cookies they are- that is high in calories and Type V Speciality Biscuits with little nutrition, and look beyond Biscuit industry in in the the advertisements as being better organized sector produces around options for snacks. 65% of the total production, the This study helped us understand all balance 35% being contributed by the about biscuits! And the truth behind unorganized bakeries. the claims made by the manufacturers • Though India is considered as the third producer of Biscuits after • The word biscuit comes from the USA and China, the per capita Latin word, “bis coctus,” which consumption of biscuits in our means twice baked. Biscuits have country is only 1.8 kgs, compared been baked for over thousands of to over 7.5kgs in the USA, UK and years. Japan. 38 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013

• In west European countries • China has a per capita and South East Asian countries, consumption of 1.9kgs. the average consumption is between 2.5 to 5.5 kgs

ARE BISCUITS HEALTHY SNACKS? Some of the foods consumed as snacks are fruit, salad , sundal, roasted nuts, sandwiches, biscuits, murukku, bajji, , vadai etc. If fruit, salad , sundal or vegetable sandwiches are going to be replaced with biscuits then it is not an healthy option. However if biscuits are going to replace murukku, bajji , samosa , vadai etc, it is a much healthier option. (Note : This depends on the item one consumes; moreover murukku & vadai etc are considered to be a healthier food as they contain fat, protein & carbohydrate only whereas a biscuit may contain several chemicals which may do some harm than our traditional snacks) BISCUITS ARE NOT LOW ON CALORIES Marie which is considered to be one of the lighter biscuits contains 56 calories in just two pieces. You will require to do 30 minutes of aerobics to lose those calories. If Marie adds so many calories then imagine the number of calories other sweeter biscuits and the butter cookies will add! A good time to have a biscuit is after exercises and heavy activities. Because it is high in glucose/sucrose. (Note: glucose may be present only in certain biscuits where glucose has been added as per label claim whereas all other biscuits will definitely contain sugar (which is chemically known as sucrose). It can give a boost to your energy. But as a snack by itself, it would not give you nutrition that you should get especially after an activity. So eating cereals or fruits will be a better option. Cream biscuits and fat rich cookies are a big No for a person watching their calorie intake.

39 BISCUITS ARE NOT A GOOD SOURCE OF FIBER Don’t totally believe what they claim in the advertisements. Even with the fiber that is added in the biscuits, the content is much lower than the daily requirement for fiber. So instead of looking at biscuits for fiber we should look at fruits and vegetables for our requirement of fiber. COMPARATIVE TESTING under a grant from Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of Comparative Testing is a formal India. This year, CONCERT is testing process by which products & services 7 products and 3 services. One of of different vendors are tested for the products selected for testing are Quality; the services are tested for Biscuits. compliance to the regulations laid out by the regulatory authorities 34 different brands of biscuits from the four Southern States and CONCERT is undertaking to do this Puduchery were grouped under 6 Comparative Testing for South India categories as indicated below.

1. Marie Biscuits 6 Brands 2. Arrowroot Biscuits 3 Brands 3. Salt Biscuits 5 Brands 4. Milk Biscuits 7 Brands 5. Cream Biscuits 8 Brands 6. Bakery Biscuits 5 Brands

40 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013 Bakers, Biscuits (Chennai) Butter Salt Local brand () Cookie Man, Cakes, Kochi) Biscuits (Best & Crunchy Salt Macronal Crisp (Bakery Biscuits) Cream Biscuits Biscuits Britannia Bourbon – The Original (1) Britannia Treat Orange Cream Biscuit Cream Biscuits Sunfeast Dream Flavoured Cream Flavoured Cream (2) Amrut Mango Bikis Biscuits cookies Minis – Sugar Britannia Milk Vanilla Flavour Britannia Good Ragi Salt Biscuit Day Choco - Nut Cookies and Milk (1) Lays Aliva Milk (2) Nanjundeswara Salted Sunfeast Crisp Light, Salt Biscuits Pass Classic Salted Snack Parle Monaco Snacky Salted Masti Crackers Classic Regular Britannia Time Biscuits Biscuits Biscuits STATEWISE CATEGORYWISE SELECTION OF BISCUITS Arrowroot Arrowroot Arrowroot (2)Foster – Roozy– Thin (1) Pomsy – Fiber Fiber Actifit – Marie (1) Parle Sunfeast Britannia Digestive Marie Gold Marie High Marie Light – (2) Bisk Farm Original Extra Marie Biscuits Major Groups State 41 Cookies (Chennai) Butter Salt Big Bakers Local brand (Hyderabad) (Bakery Biscuits) Adyar Bakery Cream Biscuits Biscuits Chocolate (2) Dyna’s (2) Complan Mango Cream Cream Biscuits Cream Biscuits (1) Parle FESTO Orange Flavour Orange Flavored (1) Aachi – Enjoy Flavoured Cream Biscuits (1) Britannia (2) Amulya – Fiber Digestive Nutrichoice – Hi Cookies and Milk Parle Milk Shakti Healthy Rich Milk Jack Crackers Parle Krack Salt Biscuits The Original Kabhi Maska Kabhi Chaska Sweet & Salty Britannia 50 Thin Biscuits Britannia Arrowroot Arrowroot Nutrichoice Marie Mood McVitie’s Ankit Marie Marie Biscuits Major Groups Andhra Puduchery State 42 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013 Ingredients in Biscuits 2. Saturated fat Saturated fats have a stable chemical As per Section 2.4.15 of the Food Safety composition – they are solid at room & Standards (Food Products standards temperature and oxidize slowly. and food additives) Regulations 2011 Health wise, saturated fats raise the Biscuits are classified under Bakery level of cholesterol in the blood and Products. in large quantities they can increase They may consist of the following your risk of heart attacks and strokes. ingredients: 3. Total Sugar Biscuits including wafer-thin biscuits These are part of the total shall be made from Maida, Vanaspati carbohydrates content and are or refined edible oil or table butter measured in grams. These contain or desi butter or margarine or sugars from natural, normally present ghee or their mixture containing in the food, and added sugars. any one or more of the following The type of sugars that have ingredients, namely, Edible Common been added are indicated in the salt, butter, milk powder, cereals and ingredients list-for example, glucose, their products, cheese cocoa, coffee fructose, sugar, dextrose, maltose, extract, edible desiccated coconut, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice dextrose, fruit and fruits products, dry concentrate, turbinado, maple syrup, fruit and nuts, egg, edible vegetable molasses, barley, and malt. products, ginger, gluten, groundnut These added sugars, along with Trans- flour, milk and milk products, honey, fats, should be avoided by anyone liquid glucose, malt products, edible trying to improve body composition, oilseeds, flour and meals, spices and health and performance. condiments, edible starches such as potato starch and edible flours, 4. Total Salt sugar and sugar products, invert The amount of dietary salt consumed sugar, jaggery, protein concentrates, is an important determinant of BP oligofructose (max 15%) vinegar and levels and over all cardio vascular risk. other nutrients and vitamins. WHO recommends salt intake of less PARAMETERS TESTED than 5 grams per person per day for the prevention of Cardio – Vascular I. HEALTH & SAFETY Diseases (CVD). However, we consume salt nearly 10 grams a day; Tests performed on Biscuits (BIS or adding salt directly to some diet and AOAC) drink and eating salt dense pickles, 1. Total Fat papad, etc.

43 NIN recommends that salt be reduced of Trans fats be reduced to trace to 6 grams per person per day. amounts. 5. Cholesterol There are two sources of Trans fat (Tested only for Biscuits containing also known as Trans fatty acids: Butter Dairy fat or Egg) • Trans fat formed naturally – this Cholesterol, while necessary for the type of Trans fat is produced in endogenous production of many the gut of some grazing animals. substances in the body including That is why small quantities of Vitamin D and some hormones, can Trans fat can be found in animal become a problem if it’s too high. products like milk, milk products, and meat. 6. Trans Fat (Fatty Acid Profile) Trans fat formed during food Trans fatty acids are the common processing – this type of Trans name for unsaturated fat with trans- fat is created when hydrogen isomer (E-isomer) fatty acids. There is added to vegetable oil (a is also evidence that the risk of type process called hydrogenation) 2 diabetes is directly associated with to make it more solid. Partially consumption of saturated fat and hydrogenated oils are used by Trans fat. food manufacturers to improve The consumption of Trans fats the texture, shelf life, and flavor increases the risk of coronary heart stability of foods. disease by raising levels of LDL cholesterol and lowering levels of 7. Protein, “good” HDL cholesterol. Nutritional 8. Carbohydrate, authorities consider all Trans fats as equally harmful for health and 9. Nutritional Information recommend that consumption (calculated value of energy)

Though NIN recommends a maximum of 2% of total calories may come from Transfat, the recommendations of WHO is only 1%. The link between saturated fat and Transfat and increased risk of heart disease is well established.

In 2004, Denmark was the first country to ban industrially-produced Trans fatty acids at a level of not more than 2% of total fat.

44 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013 Recommended Dietary guidelines as per National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) (2011) as follows:

Carbohydrate - 50% – 60% In other words NIN Hyderabad outlines the nutrition requirements Free Sugars - < 10% for one adult Male, Female, and Protein - 10 – 15% Children (10-12 years) as mentioned in the following table: Salt - 6 grams per day Fat - 20% – 30%

Salt Trans Fat Kilo calories Carbohydrate Total fat Person (g/day (g/day allowed/day (g/day) (g/day) max) max) Adults Male 2320 6 290 – 348 39 – 78 2.6 Adult Female 1900 6 263 – 315 35 – 70 2.1 Children (10 – 12 yr) 2100 6 238 – 285 32 – 64 2.3 II. QUALITY the visual appeal but they are harmful to health. 1.Moisture content 2.Total Fiber – This is done if the 5. Ash insoluble in diluted biscuit claims to be rich in fiber. hydrochloric acid (HCL) This is the amount of indigestible This test is a measure of gritty, (insoluble fiber) or partially digestible Sandy matter present in the (soluble fiber) bulk from plant foods biscuits. such as fruits, vegetables, whole III. PACKAGING & LABELING grains, oats, nuts and seeds and is measured in grams. Foods high Labeling of Foods in fiber are shown to be beneficial FS&S Regulation 2.2. (Packaging, for weight control, diabetes, high Labeling) 2011 requires that every cholesterol and some forms of cancer. pre packaged food shall carry a Foods with six grams of fiber or more label containing the following are considered “high fiber” foods. information. 3. Test to measure the deterioration of • Name of the product oil/fat if any. • List of ingredients a.Kries test • Names/INS No. of additives b.Acidity of Extracted Fat • Nutritional Information per 100gm 4. Synthetic dye or per serving including Energy The synthetic dyes if used improve value (in kcal), 45 • Protein (in grams) of the total diet, to the reduced risk • Fat (in grams) of developing a disease or health related condition; • Carbohydrates(quantity of sugar – In grams), as per BIS/Codex/AOAC ii.“Nutrition Claim” means any methods representation which states, suggests, or implies that a food has particular • Batch No nutritional properties, which are • Date of manufacture not limited to the energy value but • Best before Date or include protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals; • Expiry date iii. “Risk Reduction” in the context • Instructions for storage and of health claims means significantly preparation altering a major risk factor for a • Address of Manufacturer, disease or health-related condition. Telephone No in case of consumer 1. Nutrition labeling is mandatory complaints, if any for most packaged foods • Any other label declaration in the United States, and is • MRP regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the LABEL CLAIMS U.S. Department of Agriculture. i.“Health Claims” mean any Unfortunately for many, what representation that states, suggests is on the labels can be difficult or implies that a relationship exists to understand. Additionally, between a food or a constituent of many times consumers are that food and health and include misled by companies In order nutrition claims which describe the to understand food labels physiological role of the nutrient in completely it is important to be growth, development and normal familiar with, and understand functions of the body, other functional key terms used on food labels. claims concerning specific beneficial 2. Key Food Nutrition label terms effect of the consumption or food and International Standards are or its constituents, in the context of given in Table below. the total diet, on normal functions or biological activities of the body. Such The following table indicates the claims relate to a positive contribution standard requirement for a biscuit to to health or to the improvement of be low in fat, low in sugar, Cholesterol function or to modifying or preserving free and fiber rich. health, or disease, risk reduction claim Nutrient Contents, Claims, and relating to the consumption of a food International Standards or food constituents, in the context 46 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013

Codex Proposed Standards FS & SAI Component Claim UK Standards Standards * (Not more (Not more than) than) Free 0.5g/100g 0.5g/100g Low 3g/100g 3g/100g 3g/100g Fat Medium 3-20g/100 g High > 20 g/100g Free 0.1g/100 g 0.1g/100g Low 1.5g/100g 1.5g/100g 1.5g/100g Saturated Fat Medium 1.5g To 5g/100g High > 5 g /100g Free 0.005g/100g - 0.005g/100g Cholesterol Low 0.02g/100g 0.02g/100g Free 0.5g/100g 0.5g/100g Low 5g/100g 5g/100g Sugar Medium 5-15/100g High > 15g/100g 0.12g/100g 0.12g/100g of Sodium or of Sodium Low 0.3g/100g (Salt) 0.3g/100g of or 0.3g/100g Salt Salt of Salt Medium 0.3-1.5g/100g (Salt) High > 1.5 g/100g (Salt) Source 3g/100g 3g/100g Dietary Fiber High 6g/100g 6g/100g * FS & SAI, New Delhi has published a Draft Regulation to amend the provisions of FS & S (Packaging & Labeling) Regulations 2011. This step aims to add a number of provisions to align with the International Standards. Besides understanding the food show consumers are often confused label, consumers should understand or actually misunderstand the terms. the terms above because many food Many manufacturers actually use this manufacturers make several health to their advantage when marketing claims using the terms above. Studies their products. 47 Failure to understand the labels by RATING OF CRITERIA AND consumers could put their health at PARAMETERS risk. We have chosen three major criteria Even when a food is low in fat, the against which the biscuits will be food may not necessarily be nutritious. rated. Even a low-fat food can be high in sugar. Food companies also may They are (1) Packaging and Labeling, make claims such as “No Cholesterol” (2) Safety and Health, and (3) Quality. (meaning there is no animal fat used Biscuits are categorized into (1) Marie, in making the product), but that does (2) Arrowroot, (3) Salt, (4) Cream, (5) not necessarily mean the product is Cookies and Milk Biscuits, and (6) low in fat. Local brand (bakery biscuits); the The ability to read and evaluate food results are shown in separate tables labels is not just a matter of choosing for each category of biscuits. to eat healthy. Every test parameter under each To those of us trying to gain muscle major criterion will be evaluated / mass and improve body composition tested and scored. choosing the right mix of foods can be critical to our success. And for Each criterion and parameter is rated people trying to manage chronic individually on a 5-point scale. The disease like heart ailment or diabetes, rating given is as follows: 1 (Poor), label reading can at times even be a 2 (Fair), 3 (Good), 4 (Very Good), and life saving matter. 5 (Excellent). For any parameter, when it falls short of the standard Using some simple calculations you requirement, the brand is rated as can figure out how much of the Poor or Fair based on the deviation difference between total calories from the standard. When it meets the and calories from fat comes from defined standards it will be given the carbohydrates and proteins. You can also simply figure out the rating of Good. When it exceeds the number of calories that comes from minimum standards substantially, carbohydrates and from protein by it will be rated Very Good. When it multiplying the grams of each by 4. exceeds the standards significantly and shows appreciable innovation, it * 1 gram of fat contains about 9 k. will be rated Excellent. calories. We have considered weightage for * 1 gram of protein contains about 4 the criteria as below: k. calories • Packaging and Labeling 30% * 1 gram of carbohydrate contains • Safety and Health 40% about 4 k. calories • Quality 30%

48 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013 BDL Low Low Thin High High Nutri Choice Medium Britannia Arrowroot BDL Low Foster Biscuits Medium Medium Medium Medium Arrowroot Arrowroot Biscuits BDL Low Thin High Pomsy Biscuits - Roozbi Medium Medium Medium Arrowroot BDL Low High Biscuits – Marie Medium Medium Medium Bisk Farm BDL Low Low High Ankit Mood Marie Biscuits Medium Medium BDL Low High High Health) Biscuits Medium Medium (Cheers to Britannia - Marie Gold Marie Biscuits BDL Low High High Parle Marie Actifit Biscuits Medium Medium Digestive PUBLISHED BY FS & SAI, NEW DELHI BDL Low High High Marie Biscuits Medium Medium Mc Vitie’s BDL Low Low High High Light Marie Biscuits Medium Sun feast COMPARATIVE NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE FOLLOWING TABLE IS AS PER EXISTING INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND ALSO BASED ON THE PROPOSED DRAFT REGULATIONS Nutrients Total Sugar Total Fat Saturated Fat Total Salt Fiber Cholestrol BDL - Below Detectable Level.

49 Salt (Local Brand Butter Kerala) Biscuits BDL Low Medium High Cream Mango Biscuits Amrut - Medium Medium Medium Big (Local Brand Bakers Andhra) Medium BDL Low High High Cream Dyna’s Orange Biscuits Medium Medium Flavored man Tamil (Local nadu) Brand Cookie Medium Low High High 10mg Cream Biscuits Medium Medium Local Brands ( From Unorganized Sector) Tamil (Local nadu) Adyar Brand Bakery Cookies Parle- Festo Medium Butter salt Snack Salted BDL Low Parle - High High Monoco Flavor Cream Medium Biscuits Medium Medium - Orange Complan Jack High - The Parle Krack Sweet & Salty Cream Biscuits Original Crackers Low Low High High High 15mg Dream Biscuits Cream - Sun feast & Vanilla Strawberry Low Biscuits - Crisp & Macronal (Karnataka) Crunchy Salt Low Low High High High 15mg Cream Biscuits Flavored Britannia Salt Biscuits Treat Orange Masti Salted Snacky Crackers Sunfeast Medium BDL Low High Cream Mango Biscuits Medium Medium Medium 50-50 Aachi Enjoy- Kabhi Kabhi Maska Chaska Biscuits Medium Britannia BDL Low Low High High Cream Salted Classic Biscuits Biscuits Medium Flavored Medium Britannia Bourbon - Britannia Time Pass The original

Sugar Fat Salt

Nutrients Nutrients Total Cholestrol Total Saturated Fat Total Fiber Total Sugar BDL - Below Detectable Level. 50 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013 Low High High 12mg Medium BDL High High Medium Medium Medium - Hi Fiber Britannia Digestive Nutri Grain Nutrichoice Low High High 15mg Medium Low High High High 13mg Cookies Medium Low Low Britannia High High Good Day Choco-Nut 20mg BDL Low High High Medium Sri Low Low High High Medium 1535mg Ragi Biscuits 1965- Ragi Salt Nanjundeswara BDL Low High High Medium BDL Low Low High High Biscuits Medium Amulya - Milk Tasty BDL Low High High Healthy Rich Medium Milk Biscuits and Cookies BDL Low BDL Low High High High High Shakti Honey) Medium Medium Medium of milk & Parle Milk the goodness (Biscuits with BDL Low High High Medium BDL Low High High Baked Medium Medium Lays -Aliva Milk Minis- Low 5mg High High Medium Low High High Bikis 10mg Medium Medium BDL Low High High Britannia Milk Medium Fat

Salt

Nutrients Total Sugar Total Fat Saturated Total Fiber Cholestrol Total Fat Saturated Fat Total Salt Fiber Cholestrol BDL - Below Detectable Level. 51 SCORING AND RATING TABLE* Total score MRP in Packaging & Health & by different Brand Name Quality Rs as per Labeling Safety weightages Label/wt (%) Marie Biscuits 12 Ankit- Marie Mood V.Good V.Good Good 82.58 (120g) 20 Sunfeast - Marie Light V.Good V.Good Good 82.58 (250g) Parle - Actifit Digestive Good V.Good Good 81.46 5 (67g) Marie 25 Mc Vitie’s – Marie Good Good Good 78.26 (324g) 28 Britannia - Marie Gold Good Fair Good 73.46 (320g) 28 Bisk Form – Marie Good Poor Fair 67.24 (300g) Arrowroot Biscuits Britannia -Nutri Choice 15 Good V.Good Good 83.06 Thin Arrowroot (166g) Foster -Arrowroot 15 Fair Fair Good 73.93 Biscuits (200g) Pomsy - Roozbi Thin 13 Good Fair Fair 70.44 Arrowroot Biscuits (140g) Cream Biscuits Complan -Cream V.Good Good Good 79.38 12 (75g) Biscuits Dyna’s - Orange V.Good Good Good 79.38 5 (51g) Flavored Britannia - Bourbon 25 Good Good Good 76.66 The Original (196g) Aachi- Enjoy Mango Good Good Good 75.06 5 (55g) Cream biscuits Sunfeast - Dream Cream Strawberry and V.Good Fair Good 74.58 10 (75g) Vanilla Biscuits Britannia -Treat Orange 25 Good Fair Good 73.46 Flavored Cream Biscuits (145g) Amrut – Mango Cream Poor V.Good Good 73.28 5 (60g) Biscuits Parle Festo Cream Good Fair Good 71.86 5 (70g) 52 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013

Total score MRP in Packaging & Health & by different Brand Name Quality Rs as per Labeling Safety weightages Label/wt (%) Salt Biscuits Britannia - Time Pass 15 Good V.Good Good 76.66 Classic salted Biscuits (150g) Sunfeast - Snacky V.Good Good Good 76.18 10 (93g) Salted Masti Crackers Britannia -50-50 Khabi 10 Good Good Good 73.46 Maska Khabi Chaska (61.5g) Parle - Monoco Salted 10 Good Good Good 75.06 Snack (120g)

Parle - Krack Jack – 10 The Original Sweet and Good Fair Good 71.86 (100g) Salty Crackers

Macronal - Crisp & 25 Crunchy Salt Biscuits - Poor Good Good 69.60 (200g) (Local Karnataka)

Milk Biscuits & Cookies Parle - Milk Shakti Good V.Good Good 78.26 5 (75g)

Lays -Aliva Milk Minis- Good Good Good 76.66 15 (50g) Baked

Britannia Nutrichoice - 18 Hi Fiber Digestive Nutri Fair Good V.Good 76.24 (100g) Grain Amulya - Healthy Rich 20 V.Good Fair Good 74.58 Milk Tasty Biscuits (175g) Britannia -Good day 30 Good Fair Good 73.46 Choco-Nut Cookies (140g) 10 Britannia- Milk Bikis Good Fair Good 73.46 (114g) Sri Nanjundeswara 1965- Ragi Salt Poor Good Good 68.48 20 (75g) Ragi Biscuits

53 Total score MRP in Packaging & Health & by different Brand Name Quality Rs as per Labeling Safety weightages Label/wt (%) Local Brand Biscuits (From Unorganized Sector) Adyar -Butter Salt Not Not 35 Cookies (Local Good Good Available Applicable (200g) Tamilnadu)

Cookie man - Local Not Not 190 Good Good brand Tamilnadu Available Applicable (250g)

Big Bakers - Bakers Not Not 35 & Confectioners Fair Good Available Applicable (200g) (Andhrapradesh)

Butter Salt Not Not 35 Biscuits(Cookies) - Fair Good Available Applicable (250g) Local brand Kerala

* This Scoring and Rating Table has been prepared based on the Nutritional Analytical Values obtained on Chemical Analysis.

We shall present the results against Claims containing adjectives such as these major criteria in each category “Natural,” “Fresh,” “Pure,” “Organic,” that in our opinion is fair and without “Original,” “Traditional;” “Premium,” any subjective element. The user is ‘Finest,” “Best,” “Authentic,” encouraged to study these results “Genuine,” “Real,” etc shall be in and make his buying decisions based accordance with the conditions laid on his requirements and judgment. down therein. Even words like, “Home made,” “Home Cooked,” which may Observations give an erroneous impression to the Proposed New FS & SAI Regulations- consumer shall not be used. A way to check the misleading Nutrients Comparative Claims advertisements Nutrients Comparative Claims that a The proposed new Draft Regulations particular nutrient is low, medium, or on labeling claims under FS & S high with respect to a defined level Act 2006 states that claims must be is not mandated in our food safety truthful, unambiguous, meaningful, regulations. and not misleading.

54 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013

Only very recently, just before the who give their consumers more publication of this result, FS & SAI, inputs as far as product information New Delhi has come out with a very is concerned. detailed draft amendment to the Beware !!! newly published FS & S Regulations 2011. Some of the lesser known brands resemble the more popular brands in It is one of the progressive steps the shelves!!! to all consumers to make an informed choice if only they spend When we were collecting samples of a few minutes to read the label and biscuits from the 4 Southern states understand it correctly. for our comparative testing, we came across some look alike brands where When the entire world has become a the consumer could easily be cheated. single food market, it is high time that These are we also fall in line with other countries Well known brand Look alike brand Complan cream biscuits Dyna’s Orange biscuits Britannia Marie gold Ankit marie mood Parle Krack Jack Ankit Krack Crunch Britannia Milk Bikis Dyna’s Milk Bite

55 ARE THE HEALTH CLAIMS JUSIFIED?? – some observations.

Name of Claim Fact from table Remarks Biscuit 1. 1St digestive biscuits Note 1:7.1% of wheat with mix 1. Wheat fiber 7.1% fiber & 2.4% apple fiber of Cereal & & Apple fiber 2.4% is available in 8 biscuits Fruit Fiber (one serving of 100 2. Total Dietary fiber 2. Fiber Rich grams. 6 grams Digestive Note 2: Since the 100% Biscuits 3. Fiber rich foods RDA of calcium is 800mg, 3. Digestive aid digestion Smart 8 biscuits will contribute Horlicks the required amount of Nutribic a. Trans fatty acid 0 calcium & vitaminD. a. Zero Trans gram Note 3 : To get 6gms of Fat b. Calcium 800 mg dietary fiber one has to b. 100% RDA c. Vitamin D 5 mcg consume the entire pack of Calcium d. Nature identical of the biscuit. c. 100% RDA flavor (spices & of Vitamin D condiments) Moreover fruits and vegetables are the best d. No Artificial e. Protein 6 gm source of dietary fiber. Flavor (Protein isolate) e. Protein Punch

1. Goodness of Oats Note : Mc Vities HobNobs 2. Whole 1. Oats 20.34% claims that their product wheat & 2. Whole wheat contains 20.34% Oats, Honey flavor 12.98% 12.98% whole wheat 3. Oatmeal 3. Hence the claim flavor & 1.3% Honey for Mc Vities Cookie 100grams. This works HobNobs oatmeal cookie a. Zero out to 1.8 grams of Oats, Cholesterol a. Cholesterol 0 mg 1.18 grams of whole b. Goodness b. Honey 1.3% wheat flavor and 0.11 grams of Honey per of natural c. Trans fat 0g biscuit. honey c. No trans fats

56 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013

Name of Claim Fact from table Remarks Biscuit

1. Contains Note : As per multi grains & international standard & Proposed draft Flaxseeds, Hence regulations on labeling this claim on FSSAI low calories 2. Biscuit is not a 1. HEALTHY means a product that fried snack. does not contain energy SNACK 3. (Corn, Oats, Ragi 2. Non Fried more than 40kcal per & Rice) 5% 100grams for solids, 3. Multigrain 4. Flax seeds 2.8% whereas this biscuit Britannia 4. Flaxseeds 5. Calories 461 kcal contains 461 Kcal per Nutrichoice- 5. Low Cal 6. Fat 20.5 gm (The 100g, Multigrain 6. Low Fat claim made on Thins the label that low Hence the claim a. Zero calorie & low fat is misleading. The manufacturer compares cholesterol are compared it with other fried snacks b. Zero Trans to fried snack and claims it to be low in fat products available calorie in comparison. in the market)* (The product is not available in the market. a. Cholesterol 0 mg Production has been b. Trans fat 0g. stopped two months ago)

57 Name of Claim Fact from table Remarks Biscuit Note 1: The biscuit contains 13 different nutrients The manufacturer claims that 10 vital nutrients are present in the the biscuit. There is no mention of them or the % of the nutrients present. 1. Multigrain The claim regarding Breakfast 1. Wheat flavor, Oats, Ragi, Rice & Corn the fiber content is only cookies (35%) mentioned as 12.5%. UNIBIC 2. 10 vital Multigrain There is no reference to nutrients 2. Contains 13 Breakfast RDA of fiber. (At present 3. High dietry different nutrients Cookies fiber there is no official 3. Fiber 12.5 gm 4. Zero recommended daily Cholesterol 4. Cholesterol 0mg allowance (RDA) for dietary fiber. 5. Trans fat 5. trans fat 0g free However, official guidelines advise about 20-25g of fiber per day, for both men and women. Thus consuming the entire pack of biscuits will provide a person only 50% of the dietary fiber he/she requires.

58 CONSUMER’S DIGEST OF CAI JULY 2013

Name of Claim Fact from table Remarks Biscuit

1. High in anti- oxidants & fiber 1. Oats – which are clinically Reduces proven to help reduce Cholesterol bad cholesterol. 2. Corn contains 2. Corn – Heart vitamin B1, Poly Health unsaturated fatty 3. Ragi – High acids, potassium and Calcium, magnesium, all these are known to make Hi Fiber heart healthier. Note : serial Numbers 4. Rice – Low 3. Apart from being 1,2,3,4 and 5 are giving fat a good source of the qualities, Nutritional 5. Wheat – fiber, it is also rich composition of Oats, in calcium & other Source of Corn, Ragi, Rice, Wheat minerals that help in Energy respectively. The above strengthening of teeth statements have nothing Britannia 6. No Trans fat and bones. to do with the biscuits Nutrichoice- inside the packet as the Dietary fiber 4g 5Grain 7. No above statements are Biscuits Cholesterol 4. Low in fat. clearly printed with the 8. 3 biscuits Contains complex pictures of the above (one carbohydrates. food grains. Complex serving) of Since the biscuits are carbohydrates get Britannia not tested for analytical digested & absorbed Nutri choice parameters no comments slowly than refined 5 Grain on the qualities like sugars. Biscuits with transfat & cholesterol etc a cup of 5. Contains natural could be offered. milk, and a proteins and banana in carbohydrates that the morning provide energy. gives your 6. Trans fatty acids 0g day a healthy start. 7. Cholesterol 0mg 8. A general claim about the product

59 Name of Claim Fact from table Remarks Biscuit

Note : Growth nutrition’s reference to five micro nutritients iron, vitamin A, Vitamin D, Folic acid & Calcium required as per RDA for 7 to 9 years old Indian children (NIN 2007)

1. Contains 1. Iron 7mg, Calcium The 100g pack provides th 25% daily 100mg, folic acid 1/4 of the daily Tiger growth 25mg vitamin A requirement of the Biscuits nutrition’s 150mg, Vitamin D growth nutrients. Thus a per 100g 25mg single biscuit will contain negligible amount of nutrients. Therefore, to say the biscuit provides growth nutrients in their advertisement is misleading.

COMPARATIVE TEST TEAM

Trustee in-charge of the Project - Mr.S.Ramani Program Manager - Mr. M.Mohan Concert Lead - Mr. G.Santhanarajan EAC Members - Mr.V.D.Sattigeri Mr.S.S.Pandiperumal Mr.S.Muthaiyan Report Compiled by consultant editor - Ms. S.Sripriya Edited by - Ms. Nirmala Desikan Special supplement designed by -Mr. S.Baskar Rao, Webmoksha

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