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Amul

Amul Butter Cookies

Name: Amul Butter Cookies
Brand: Amul

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4ultra-processedhigh saturated fatcontains trans fathigh added sugarno vegetable oilartificial flavouringlactose-freenut-freepregnancy-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

20 g

Pack

200 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8901262220347

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 · 5 ingredients shown

Caution5 of 8 ingredients

Refined wheat flour (maida)Caution

ButterCaution

SugarCaution

Liquid glucoseCaution

Emulsifier [481(i)]Caution

Cleared 3▾

Milk solidsCleared

Raising agents [500(ii), 503(ii)]Cleared

Artificial flavouring substances (vanilla)Cleared

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.

2/2

claims fully supported

“Made with Amul Butter”true

Butter is listed as the second ingredient at 25% and the brand is Amul; this is confirmed by the ingredient declaration in EXTRA INFORMATION.

“No added vegetable oil”true

The full ingredient list (refined wheat flour, butter, sugar, milk solids, liquid glucose, raising agents, emulsifier, artificial flavour) contains no vegetable oil of any kind.

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

Made with 25% real Amul butter — no vegetable oil or palm oil
No added vegetable oil confirmed by full ingredient list
FSSAI licensed and manufactured by established Indian dairy cooperative
Vegetarian certified

Working against

Very high saturated fat: 16.2 g per 100 g (81% of daily limit per serving)
Contains trans fat: 1.0 g per 100 g — no safe level established by WHO
High added sugar: 27.8 g per 100 g, exceeding WHO's 25 g/day target in ~2 servings
High sodium: 328 mg per 100 g
Ultra-processed: NOVA 4 with emulsifier E481i (polysorbate 80) and artificial flavouring
Made with refined wheat flour (maida) — high glycaemic index, negligible fibre
Liquid glucose adds further free-sugar load beyond declared sucrose

Who should approach with care

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

Diabetes — The combination of high-GI maida, sucrose, and liquid glucose causes rapid postprandial blood glucose spikes, making these cookies inappropriate for individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Children — Multiple ingredients — refined maida, sucrose, liquid glucose, and emulsifier E481i at levels approaching EFSA's ADI for toddlers — combine to deliver excess sugar, saturated fat, and ultra-processed additives that displace nutrient-dense foods in children's diets.

Infants — Liquid glucose (added sugar) is explicitly not recommended for infants under 12 months; the product also contains milk proteins, ammonia-releasing leavening agents (E503ii), and polysorbate 80 for which no paediatric safety margin exists.

Heart Disease — High saturated fat (16.2 g/100 g) from butter, 1.0 g/100 g trans fat, elevated sodium (328 mg/100 g), and high added sugar collectively worsen LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure — all established cardiovascular risk factors.

Hypertension — Sodium from the product (328 mg/100 g, with additional sodium contributed by sodium bicarbonate E500ii) can worsen blood pressure control in individuals on sodium-restricted diets.

Kidney Disease — Milk solids contribute phosphorus and potassium requiring restriction in CKD; sodium bicarbonate worsens sodium retention; ammonium bicarbonate (E503ii) may impair ammonia excretion in those with reduced renal function.

Liver Disease — High saturated fat from butter can exacerbate hepatic steatosis, and ammonium hydrogen carbonate (E503ii) releases ammonia that individuals with hepatic impairment may be unable to adequately clear via the urea cycle.

Ibs — Refined wheat flour contributes fermentable fructans (FODMAPs), liquid glucose can cause osmotic diarrhoea, and polysorbate 80 (E481i) may disrupt gut microbiota — all potentially exacerbating IBS symptoms.

Ibd — Polysorbate 80 (E481i) has been shown in animal and in vitro studies to increase bacterial translocation across the intestinal epithelium and promote inflammation, potentially worsening inflammatory bowel disease flares.

Lactose Intolerance — Both butter and milk solids contribute lactose and milk proteins; highly sensitive individuals may experience gastrointestinal discomfort, particularly across multiple servings.

Phenylketonuria — Refined wheat flour, milk solids (casein and whey), and potentially the artificial vanilla flavour formulation all contribute phenylalanine, requiring careful dietary accounting by individuals with PKU.

Pregnancy — Reliance on refined wheat flour rather than whole grains risks inadequate folate and B-vitamin intake critical for fetal development, while high saturated fat and trans fat intake during pregnancy is associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes.

Gout — Liquid glucose (glucose syrup) can elevate serum uric acid levels, which may trigger or worsen gout episodes in susceptible individuals.

Other — Individuals with confirmed cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) must avoid this product entirely due to residual casein and whey proteins from butter and milk solids capable of triggering IgE-mediated allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.

The full analysis

Amul Butter Cookies are a widely purchased mass-market biscuit bought primarily as an everyday tea-time snack or children's treat, trading on the Amul dairy brand's trust. While the product genuinely contains 25% Amul butter and carries no added vegetable oil—a meaningful positive in a category often dominated by palm oil—the overall nutrition picture is concerning: each 100 g delivers 16.2 g of saturated fat, 1.0 g of trans fat, and 27.8 g of added sugar, all well above prudent daily limits, alongside 328 mg of sodium and NOVA 4 ultra-processing markers including an emulsifier (polysorbate 80 / E481i) and artificial vanilla flavouring. The single most important thing a curious consumer should know is that despite the wholesome dairy association, these cookies are a high-sugar, high-saturated-fat, trans-fat-containing ultra-processed product best treated as an occasional indulgence rather than a daily staple.

FSSAI licence

10012021000071

Manufacturer

Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Ltd. / MMX Foods Pvt. Ltd. / Sumul Dairy (see batch number prefix for specific unit)

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched