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LO Foods - Protein Chef

Baked Bikaneri Bhujia

Name: Baked Bikaneri Bhujia
Brand: LO Foods - Protein Chef

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 3no added sugarno preservativesno artificial colourshigh fibreno palm oilnut-freediabetic-safegluten-freelactose-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

20 g

Pack

80 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8906112995871

Buy on Brand site

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 · 3 ingredients shown

Caution3 of 5 ingredients

Cotton Seed OilCaution

Mixed Spice (Black Pepper, Chat Masala, Ajwain, Haldi, Hing)Caution

Edible Common SaltCaution

Cleared 2▾

Moth Bean FlourCleared

Gram FlourCleared

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.

2/8

claims fully supported

“High Protein”misleading

Protein is 12.7g per 100g, which meets the FSSAI threshold of ≥10g/100g for a 'high protein' declaration. However, a single 20g serving delivers only 2.5g protein (4.7% RDA), which is modest in absolute terms.

“Zero Trans Fat”true

Nutrition panel confirms 0.0g trans fat per 100g and per serving.

“Low Carb”false

Total carbohydrates are 41.5g per 100g (8.3g per 20g serve). This is not low carb by any standard definition (typically <10g/100g or <26g/day); the claim is contradicted by the nutrition panel.

“Gluten Free”misleading

The core ingredients (moth bean flour, gram flour) are inherently gluten-free; however, the product label explicitly states 'May Contain Gluten, Nuts, Sesame and Soy', indicating shared-facility cross-contamination risk that makes a gluten-free claim unreliable for coeliac consumers.

“Super Healthy”misleading

The product contains 41.3g total fat and 19.3g saturated fat per 100g — levels that are high even by snack-food standards — alongside moderate sodium at 424.8mg/100g. While it has no artificial additives and some fibre, 'super healthy' is not supportable against its fat profile.

“No Palm Oil”true

The declared oil is cottonseed oil; no palm oil or palm-derived fraction appears anywhere in the ingredient list.

“13g Protein”misleading

Protein per 100g is 12.7g (not 13g). Per pack (80g) it would be approximately 10.2g. Per serving (20g) it is 2.5g. The figure 13g does not accurately match any serving unit on the label; the nearest plausible interpretation (rounding 12.7g/100g) overstates by ~2.4%.

“100% Baked”unverified

The product name and variant descriptor both state 'Baked'. However, total fat at 41.3g per 100g and saturated fat at 19.3g per 100g are unusually high for a baked snack and raise questions about the baking process or oil absorption; no third-party verification or process documentation is available to fully confirm the claim.

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

No added sugar (0g per serving confirmed on label)
Decent dietary fibre at 5.6g per 100g
No artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives
No palm oil used; cottonseed oil declared
Zero trans fat confirmed in nutrition panel
FSSAI licensed; ISO 22000:2018 certified manufacturer

Working against

Very high total fat: 41.3g per 100g, atypical for a baked snack
Very high saturated fat: 19.3g per 100g (17.5% RDA per 20g serve)
Sodium 424.8mg per 100g; multiple sodium sources (salt, black salt in chaat masala)
Cottonseed oil is high in omega-6; chronic excess may promote inflammation
Low-carb claim is false at 41.5g carbohydrates per 100g
Cross-contamination risk for gluten, nuts, sesame, and soy noted on label

Who should approach with care

Pregnancy — The mixed spice blend contains both ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi, documented abortifacient activity) and asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida, uterine-stimulating properties), either of which independently warrants avoidance during pregnancy; additional caution signals from high sodium, cottonseed oil gossypol traces, and black pepper piperine compounds compound the concern.

Infants — Asafoetida (hing) in the spice blend has been associated with methemoglobinemia in infants, and chaat masala contributes high sodium and pungent spices that are developmentally inappropriate for infant kidneys and digestive systems.

Lactation — Bioactive sulfur-containing compounds from asafoetida may transfer into breast milk and formal safety data for nursing infants are lacking, warranting medical guidance before regular consumption.

Children — WHO recommends lower sodium limits for children aged 2–15 years, and the combined sodium from salt and black salt in chaat masala (424.8mg/100g) is a concern; EFSA also flags that children may exceed the curcumin ADI from turmeric in processed foods consumed in regular quantities.

Hypertension — Edible common salt contributes directly to sodium load (424.8mg/100g) and chaat masala adds further sodium from black salt (kala namak); high sodium intake is a well-established driver of elevated blood pressure per FDA and WHO guidance.

Kidney Disease — Multiple ingredients — edible salt, chaat masala's black salt, and the high-phosphorus and high-potassium legume flours (moth bean and gram flour) — create a combined electrolyte burden that impaired kidneys cannot efficiently clear, risking fluid retention and accelerated renal decline.

Heart Disease — High sodium (424.8mg/100g), very high saturated fat (19.3g/100g), cottonseed oil's pro-inflammatory omega-6 profile, and asafoetida's anticoagulant properties collectively pose significant risk for individuals with cardiovascular disease.

Liver Disease — Cottonseed oil carries residual gossypol hepatotoxicity concern for individuals with pre-existing liver conditions, and high-dose curcumin from turmeric has been flagged by the UK COT as a hepatotoxic signal in those with liver or bile duct disease.

Diabetes — US dietary guidelines recommend ≤1,500mg sodium/day for people with diabetes to reduce compounding cardiovascular and renal risk, and this product's sodium content warrants portion control.

Elderly — Ageing kidneys are less efficient at excreting sodium, and the combined sodium burden from salt and chaat masala increases cardiovascular risk in older adults per FDA guidance.

Epilepsy — Preliminary pharmacological literature suggests ferulic acid and related CNS-active compounds in asafoetida may lower seizure threshold in susceptible individuals.

Ibs — Multiple ingredients — moth bean flour (oligosaccharides, trypsin inhibitors), gram flour (galacto-oligosaccharides/FODMAPs), black pepper (GI motility stimulation), chaat masala (asafoetida, high-FODMAP spices), and turmeric at higher doses — collectively create a high gastrointestinal symptom burden for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.

Ibd — High fibre from legume flours, the pro-inflammatory omega-6 profile of cottonseed oil, and GI-irritant properties of black pepper and asafoetida may aggravate intestinal inflammation during active IBD flares.

Gout — Both moth bean flour and gram flour are legume-derived and contain purines that can elevate serum uric acid, potentially precipitating gout flares in hyperuricaemic individuals.

Sulfite Sensitivity — Some commercial chaat masala formulations contain dried amchur or other dried fruit/vegetable components processed with sulfite preservatives; individuals with sulfite sensitivity should verify the specific chaat masala formulation used.

Gluten Intolerance — While the base ingredients are gluten-free, the label explicitly states 'May Contain Gluten', indicating shared manufacturing equipment or facility risk that is incompatible with coeliac disease management.

The full analysis

This bikaneri bhujia targets health-conscious Indian consumers looking for a 'better-for-you' namkeen with higher protein from legume flours (moth bean and gram flour). The ingredient list is refreshingly clean — no artificial additives, preservatives, or E-number emulsifiers — and the product earns credit for no added sugars and decent dietary fibre. However, several marketed claims are misleading or outright false: at 41.5g carbohydrates per 100g it is not 'low carb,' and with 41.3g total fat and 19.3g saturated fat per 100g the product's 'super healthy' positioning is hard to defend. The most useful thing to know: this is a moderately processed but nutritionally lopsided snack — reasonable protein from legumes, but unexpectedly high fat and saturated fat for a 'baked' product.

FSSAI licence

11222999000278

Manufacturer

Regulus Agro-Organic Pvt. Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched