- Ever read a food label and thought – “Oh, sounds fancy! Must be healthy!”
Arre ruk jao dost! Some ingredients sound posh but are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Let’s decode the top 5 ingredient names that marketers love and nutritionists fear.
👇 Scan these the next time you shop — or better, let SafeBite do the dirty work.
🧪 1. Maltodextrin – Sounds Like a Vitamin, Right?
Nope! It’s a highly processed white powder made from corn, rice, or potato starch. Often added to snacks, sauces, and even protein powders.
🔴 Why it’s a red flag:
- Spikes blood sugar faster than table sugar
- Can mess with your gut bacteria
- Sneaky source of empty calories
💡 Found in: Packaged soups, “diet” foods, chips, and instant mixes.
🍬 2. Invert Sugar / Glucose Syrup
Sounds science-y… must be some smart sugar, right? Wrong again! This is sugar turned into liquid form to extend shelf life and make food ultra-sweet.
🔴 Why it’s a red flag:
- Contributes to insulin resistance
- Linked to weight gain and inflammation
- No real nutritional value
💡 Found in: Mithai, soft drinks, energy bars, flavoured yoghurts.
🧴 3. Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Oh, look, “vegetable” oil! That must be healthy na? Actually, this is a processed fat loaded with trans fats – the type that even your arteries say “bhagwan bharose.”
🔴 Why it’s a red flag:
- Increases bad cholesterol
- Increases risk of heart disease
- Banned in several countries, but still lurking in India
💡 Found in: Namkeens, baked goodies, coffee creamers.
🌈 4. INS Numbers (e.g., INS 110, INS 102)
Yeh toh chemistry class lag rahi hai! These are additive codes for artificial colours and preservatives.
🔴 Why it’s a red flag:
- Some are linked to hyperactivity in kids
- Can trigger allergies or asthma
- Banned in EU countries but still chilling in Indian products
💡 Found in: Candies, flavoured drinks, ready-to-eat meals.
👉 Tip: Download SafeBite and scan for INS alerts before you buy.
🍞 5. Enriched Wheat Flour / Maida
“Enriched” sounds like a bonus, but it’s just a fancy label for maida (refined wheat flour) with synthetic nutrients added back after processing.
🔴 Why it’s a red flag:
- Stripped of fibre and natural nutrients
- Can cause blood sugar spikes
- Doesn’t fill you up – so you eat more
💡 Found in: Breads, biscuits, bakery snacks, noodles.
🚨 So What Can You Do?
Next time you see something that sounds healthy — pause. Flip the pack, read the label, and if it still looks sus… SafeBite scan karo!
Because if it’s “too good to be healthy” – it probably isn’t.
🏷 Tags:
#FoodAdditives #ReadTheLabel #ScanKaroSafeKhao #SafeFoodMovement #DesiNutrition #HealthyIndia #PackagedFoodIndia
🔎 FAQs
Q. Are all additives harmful?
Not all, but many are controversial or banned in other countries. Better safe than sorry!
Q. How can I remember all these names?
Don’t worry—just scan using the SafeBite app. We’ll give you a clear YES/NO.
Q. Why do companies use these?
For shelf life, taste, and marketing – not necessarily your health.
