⌕ Zoom

Photo from the brand's official website

Britannia

50 50 Classic Sweet & Salty

Name: 50 50 Classic Sweet & Salty
Brand: Britannia

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4ultra-processedhigh added sugarcontains palm oilno trans fatartificial flavouringlactose-freenut-freepregnancy-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

13 g

Pack

—

Ingredients

Barcode

8901063016613

Buy on Amazon

01 — Ingredient mix

What’s in the box, ranked from most concerning.

Each ingredient gets a tier from our researched dossier. The list sorts worst-first; the donut summarises the distribution. Tap any ingredient for its full dossier.

Caution · 6 ingredients shown

Caution6 of 11 ingredients

Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)Caution

Refined (Palmolein & Palm) OilCaution

SugarCaution

Raising Agents (503(ii), 500(ii) & 341(i))Caution

Invert Sugar SyrupCaution

Dough Conditioner (223)Caution

Cleared 5▾

Iodised SaltCleared

YeastCleared

Acidity Regulators (270 & 330)Cleared

Emulsifier (472e)Cleared

Nature Identical and Artificial (Vanilla) Flavouring SubstancesCleared

02 — Claims audit

Every label claim, fact-checked.

We treat each claim as a question — does what’s inside back it up? Tap a claim for the reasoning.

1/2

claims fully supported

“0% Trans Fat”true

Both the per-serving nutrition panel and the rawLabelData per-100g nutrition record trans fatty acids as 0g/null, consistent with the claim.

“Win a 1g Gold Coin Everyday”unverified

This is a promotional sweepstake claim, not a nutrition or ingredient claim; confirmed present on pack via rawLabelData (QR code, promotionText). No nutritional evaluation is possible or applicable.

03 — The fuller picture

Read the whole thing if a one-line verdict isn’t enough.

What’s in favour, and what’s working against it

In favour

Zero trans fat confirmed on label and nutrition panel
Vegetarian-certified product
FSSAI licensed with traceable multi-site manufacturing
Iodised salt used, contributing dietary iodine

Working against

Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) with emulsifier, preservative, and artificial flavourings
High added sugar: 18g per 100g per label raw data
High sodium: 458mg per 100g per label raw data
Contains refined palm oil and palmolein — EFSA-flagged GE/3-MCPD contaminants
Sodium metabisulfite (E223) — EFSA withdrew ADI in 2022 due to toxicological data gaps
Refined wheat flour (maida) — high glycemic index, negligible fibre

Who should approach with care

Gluten Intolerance — Refined wheat flour (maida) contains gluten proteins (gliadin and glutenin) that trigger autoimmune intestinal damage in coeliac disease and symptoms in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity; complete avoidance is required.

Sulfite Sensitivity — Sodium metabisulfite (E223) releases sulfur dioxide and can provoke severe hypersensitivity reactions including bronchoconstriction, urticaria, and anaphylaxis in sulfite-sensitive individuals, including asthmatics.

Infants — Iodised salt and invert sugar syrup are both contraindicated for infants — immature renal function cannot handle added sodium, and WHO advises no added sugars before 24 months; palm oil's GE contaminants pose additional concern in this age group.

Diabetes — Sucrose (18% by weight) and invert sugar syrup both deliver rapidly absorbed free glucose and fructose, causing sharp postprandial blood glucose spikes that are hazardous for individuals with impaired insulin regulation; the high-GI refined wheat flour base compounds this effect.

Kidney Disease — Monocalcium phosphate (E341i) poses a specific risk — EFSA (2019) explicitly states the phosphate group ADI does not apply to individuals with moderate-to-severe kidney impairment; high sodium content from salt and sodium bicarbonate further burdens compromised renal function.

Hypertension — Sodium from iodised salt (0.8%), sodium bicarbonate, and sodium metabisulfite contributes 458mg sodium per 100g; WHO recommends limiting total dietary sodium, and biscuits can be a covert high-sodium snack for hypertensive individuals.

Heart Disease — Palm oil and palmolein contribute saturated palmitic acid; high added sugar (18g/100g) elevates triglycerides; sodium load raises cardiovascular risk — collectively warranting caution for individuals with pre-existing heart disease.

Children — High added sugar drives dental caries and childhood obesity risk (WHO); EFSA flags GE/3-MCPD exposure from palm oil fractions as of particular concern in younger age groups due to lower body weight relative to intake; sulphite exposure may also exceed tolerable thresholds in high consumers.

Pregnancy — Refined palm oil carries GE/3-MCPD process contaminants classified as genotoxic/carcinogenic by EFSA, warranting precautionary limitation; reliance on refined maida over whole grains also risks inadequate folate and B-vitamin intake critical for fetal development.

Lactation — Iodised salt alone is often insufficient to meet the elevated iodine requirement of 200µg/day during lactation (EFSA/WHO); a clinician should assess whether additional iodine supplementation is needed alongside habitual biscuit intake contributing sodium.

Thyroid Disease — Iodised salt can precipitate iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis or worsen autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis; individuals with pre-existing thyroid disorders should seek medical guidance on appropriate iodine intake from all dietary sources.

Liver Disease — Refined palm oil's high saturated fat may exacerbate lipid metabolism dysfunction in hepatic disease; free fructose from invert syrup promotes de novo lipogenesis and may worsen NAFLD; sodium metabisulfite releases ammonia-pathway metabolites that stressed liver tissue may not clear efficiently.

Ibs — Refined wheat flour contributes fructans (a FODMAP), invert syrup contributes free fructose (a recognised IBS trigger), and manufactured citric acid (E330) has been associated in case reports with GI inflammatory symptoms in susceptible individuals.

Ibd — Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies are a recognised biomarker in Crohn's disease and some gastroenterologists recommend limiting dietary yeast during active flares; manufactured citric acid may also elicit inflammatory responses via Aspergillus niger residues.

Gout — Yeast is among the richest dietary sources of purines, which are metabolised to uric acid and can trigger or worsen gout attacks in predisposed individuals.

Migraine — Vanillin (nature-identical and artificial vanilla flavouring) is a recognised aromatic aldehyde that may act as a dietary migraine trigger in susceptible individuals.

Phenylketonuria — Refined wheat flour contributes phenylalanine through its protein content (~7g/100g per label); individuals with PKU must carefully account for total phenylalanine from all protein-containing foods including wheat-based biscuits.

The full analysis

Britannia 50 50 is a widely popular snack biscuit bought across Indian households as a teatime accompaniment. The product carries a significant flag profile: it is ultra-processed (NOVA 4) by virtue of its emulsifier (DATEM/E472e), dough conditioner (sodium metabisulfite/E223), chemical raising agents, and artificial vanilla flavouring. The per-100g nutrition from the label's own raw data reveals a notably high sugar load (19g total, 18g added) and meaningful sodium (458mg), both of which are understated in the per-serving display. Palm oil appears in two fractions (palmolein and palm), bringing EFSA-flagged process contaminants (GE and 3-MCPD) into the picture. The single most useful thing a curious consumer should know: this biscuit delivers 18g of added sugar and 458mg of sodium per 100g — about four servings in a typical sitting — making mindful portion control especially important for people managing blood sugar, blood pressure, or heart health.

FSSAI licence

10015043001129

Manufacturer

Britannia Industries Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched