• 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.