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Bikaji

Bikaneri Bhujia

Name: Bikaneri Bhujia
Brand: Bikaji

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 3zero added sugarno artificial additiveshigh sodiumgood fibergi-tag protectedzero trans fatpregnancy-safenut-freediabetic-safegluten-freelactose-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

40 g

Pack

1000 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8905950003427

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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 · 2 ingredients shown

Caution2 of 4 ingredients

Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein Oil, Cottonseed Oil)Caution

Ground Spices and Condiments (Iodised Salt, Red Chilli, Ginger, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Clove, Nutmeg)Caution

Cleared 2▾

Dew Bean Flour (Moth Flour)Cleared

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.

5/5

claims fully supported

“Made in Bikaner”true

Manufacturer address confirmed as Bikaner, Rajasthan, India; product also holds GI Tag No. 142 certifying manufacture in Bikaner.

“Bikaneri famous savory spiced, dew bean & gram flour noodle snack”true

Ingredient list confirms dew bean (moth bean) flour at 45% and gram flour at 6%, seasoned with whole spices; product category confirmed as namkeen/bhujia noodle snack.

“Product of India”true

Country of manufacture confirmed as India; manufactured and distributed by Bikaji Foods International Ltd., Bikaner, Rajasthan.

“Namkeen”true

Product is categorised as Namkeen / Bhujia / Indian Savory Snacks in product data; label also notes 'Cereal based namkeen' in caveats.

“An ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 Certified Organization”true

Certifications field explicitly lists ISO 9001 Certified and ISO 22000 Certified for Bikaji Foods International Ltd.

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 artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives
Zero added sugar and zero total sugars
Decent dietary fibre: 6 g per 100 g
Whole-spice seasoning; no flavour enhancers
GI-tagged authentic regional product
Zero trans fat confirmed on label

Working against

Very high sodium: 867 mg per 100 g (347 mg per serving)
Contains palmolein oil — linked to process contaminants GE and 3-MCPD
Contains cottonseed oil — high omega-6, trace gossypol concerns
Deep-fried; total fat 43 g per 100 g
Facility processes peanuts, tree nuts, soy, milk, gluten, sesame, mustard, sulphites

Who should approach with care

Infants — Iodised salt is contraindicated in infant foods due to immature renal function; concentrated clove and nutmeg are acutely toxic to infants, and palmolein and cottonseed oil process contaminants (GE, 3-MCPD) pose disproportionate risk in this age group.

Children — Children face elevated relative exposure to palmolein process contaminants (GE, 3-MCPD), lower capsaicin tolerance causing GI distress, and higher vulnerability to nutmeg and clove toxicity at lower absolute doses.

Pregnancy — Palmolein process contaminants, cottonseed gossypol traces, iodised salt iodine balance requirements, and nutmeg's antiprogesterone activity collectively warrant medical guidance on portion frequency during pregnancy.

Lactation — Iodised salt may be insufficient to meet elevated iodine needs during lactation, while nutmeg myristicin may reduce prolactin-driven milk supply; a clinician should assess overall iodine adequacy.

Hypertension — Sodium content of 867 mg per 100 g (347 mg per 40 g serving) is high; iodised salt and palmolein's saturated fat profile can compound cardiovascular burden in hypertensive individuals.

Heart Disease — Palmolein's palmitic-acid-rich saturated fat fraction and cottonseed oil's high omega-6 load are associated with adverse lipid profiles and increased cardiovascular risk; high sodium further elevates concern.

Kidney Disease — High sodium (867 mg/100 g) combined with the phosphorus and potassium load from moth bean flour and gram flour, plus reduced renal capacity to excrete these minerals, makes this snack unsuitable without medical dietary supervision.

Thyroid Disease — Iodised salt delivers supplemental iodine that can precipitate iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis or worsen autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto's or Graves' disease.

Liver Disease — Cottonseed oil's potential trace gossypol, clove's eugenol, nutmeg myristicin metabolism via CYP enzymes, and capsaicin's reactive hepatic intermediates collectively place additional metabolic burden on a compromised liver.

Ibs — Moth bean flour and gram flour are high in fermentable oligosaccharides (FODMAPs), and capsaicin from red chilli stimulates GI TRPV1 receptors — together these can trigger bloating, urgency, and abdominal pain in IBS.

Ibd — High fibre and FODMAP content from legume flours, pro-inflammatory omega-6 from cottonseed oil, and capsaicin mucosal irritation from red chilli can aggravate symptoms during active inflammatory bowel disease flares.

Gout — Moth bean and gram flour are purine-containing legumes that can elevate serum uric acid levels, potentially precipitating gout flares in susceptible individuals.

Migraine — Capsaicin in red chilli is a well-recognised dietary migraine trigger via TRPV1-mediated neurogenic inflammation and sensory nerve sensitisation.

Epilepsy — Case reports associate high-dose nutmeg ingestion with seizures; while culinary quantities are small, individuals with a prior seizure history should be aware.

Gluten Intolerance — The product itself contains no gluten ingredients, but it is manufactured in a facility that processes cereals containing gluten; individuals with coeliac disease should verify certified gluten-free labelling before consuming.

The full analysis

Bikaneri Bhujia is a centuries-old namkeen with a clean, additive-free ingredient list — no artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, or emulsifiers — making it one of the more transparent products in the Indian savory snack category. Its main concerns are its very high sodium content (867 mg per 100 g, nearly 347 mg per 40 g serving) and its use of palmolein and cottonseed oils, both of which carry cautions for cardiovascular health and vulnerable population groups. The most useful thing a curious consumer should know is: this is a relatively honest, traditionally formulated snack, but its sodium load means even one serving delivers over 17% of the recommended daily sodium intake, so portions matter — especially for those managing blood pressure or heart health.

FSSAI licence

10016013001074

Manufacturer

Bikaji Foods International Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched