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Imagine!

Black Bean Patty

Name: Black Bean Patty
Brand: Imagine!

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4plant-basedno palm oilultra-processedcontains trans fatcontains preservativesdiabetic-safenut-freepregnancy-safelactose-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

80 g

Pack

160 g

Ingredients

Barcode

—

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 · 2 ingredients shown

Caution2 of 16 ingredients

Crumbing Batter (Refined Wheat Flour, Stabiliser (INS 466), Onion, Sunflower Oil, Bread Crumbs (refined wheat flour, preservative (INS 282), Yeast, Acidity regulator (INS 260)))Caution

CeleryCaution

Cleared 14▾

Black BeansCleared

WaterCleared

Potato StarchCleared

Seasoning (Tomato, Paprika, Caramelized Sugar, Garlic, Pink Salt, Black Condiments, Iodised Salt, Yeast, Rosemary)Cleared

PepperCleared

Garam MasalaCleared

CornflourCleared

LemonCleared

GingerCleared

Potato FlakesCleared

Spices and CondimentsCleared

Iodised SaltCleared

YeastCleared

RosemaryE 392Cleared

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.

2/7

claims fully supported

“13g Protein”false

The declared nutrition data shows 9.25g protein per 100g. Per serving of 80g that is approximately 7.4g protein — not 13g. No amino-acid profile or alternative protein source in the extra information supports 13g per serving. The RDA table on pack itself lists protein at 14.30% RDA per 100g, consistent with ~9.25g, not 13g.

“5 Min Ready”unverified

Directions state: take from deep freezer (do not thaw), deep fry at 175°C for 3–4 minutes. Total active preparation time could plausibly be around 5 minutes, but pre-heating oil is not counted and the claim is not independently verified by any data source.

“0% Cholesterol”unverified

Cholesterol is listed as null in the nutrition data — it was not declared on the label as captured by OCR. The product is entirely plant-based with no animal-derived ingredients, making zero cholesterol biologically plausible, but the value cannot be confirmed from available data.

“0% Palm Oil”true

The full ingredient list includes sunflower oil as the only declared oil. No palm oil or palm-derived fat appears anywhere in the ingredient declaration.

“0% GMO”unverified

No non-GMO certification, verified supply-chain documentation, or third-party audit appears in any of the four data sources. The claim cannot be confirmed or denied from available information.

“Insanely Delicious”unverified

Purely subjective sensory claim with no objective criterion; not verifiable from nutritional or ingredient data.

“Plant Based”true

All declared ingredients are of plant or microbial (yeast) origin. The product carries a vegetarian (veg) certification. No animal-derived ingredients are present in the ingredient list.

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

Plant-based, legume-forward patty with black beans as primary protein source
No palm oil in ingredient list
No artificial colours — caramel colour is E150a (plain caramel, heat-treated sugar)
FSSAI licensed and manufactured in India
Iodised salt included, supporting iodine intake

Working against

Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): contains emulsifier E466, preservative E282, and colour E150a
Contains trans fat (0.1g per 100g) — any detectable trans fat is a cardiovascular concern
Front-of-pack '13g Protein' claim is false; actual is ~7.4g per 80g serving
Moderate sodium at 267.6mg/100g (214mg per serving) — relevant for hypertension
E466 linked in emerging research to gut dysbiosis and intestinal inflammation
Contains caramelized sugar as an added-sugar source in seasoning blend

Who should approach with care

Gluten Intolerance — The product contains refined wheat flour in the crumbing batter and wheat-based bread crumbs; both are confirmed gluten sources that cause immune-mediated intestinal damage in individuals with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Other — Individuals with a confirmed IgE-mediated wheat allergy or celery allergy must avoid this product, as it contains both wheat (a major allergen with anaphylaxis risk) and celery (a mandatory EU/FSSAI allergen).

G6pd Deficiency — Black beans are a legume in the same family as fava beans; while direct G6PD risk is established primarily for fava beans, individuals with G6PD deficiency should consult a doctor before consuming any legume product as a precaution against potential haemolytic episodes.

Infants — The product contains added salt (pink salt and iodised salt), E466, paprika extract, garam masala, and wheat — none of which are appropriate for infants; pink salt is non-iodized and poses iodine deficiency risk, and added salt itself is contraindicated in infant feeding per WHO guidance.

Children — The product contains E466 (EFSA flagged safety data gaps for young children), E282 (anecdotal behavioural associations), E150a (children may exceed group ADI as high consumers), and refined vegetable oil (elevated GE/MCPD contaminant exposure per EFSA 2016).

Hypertension — Sodium from both iodised salt and pink salt contributes 267.6mg/100g (214mg per 80g serving); WHO recommends strict sodium restriction for hypertensive individuals, and neither salt type confers any advantage over the other for blood pressure.

Heart Disease — The product contains 0.1g trans fat per 100g (0.08g per serving), moderate sodium, and standard sunflower oil with a high omega-6 PUFA load, all of which are relevant risk factors for individuals managing cardiovascular disease.

Kidney Disease — Black beans, potato flakes, tomato, and lemon collectively contribute potassium and phosphorus that may need restriction in advanced CKD; sodium from dual-salt use and possible trace heavy metals in pink salt add further nephrotoxic concern.

Diabetes — The crumbing batter, potato starch, cornflour, and potato flakes are all high-glycaemic-index refined starches that can cause rapid postprandial blood glucose elevation, requiring careful portion monitoring for individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance.

Ibs — Multiple high-FODMAP ingredients are present — black beans (fermentable oligosaccharides), onion and garlic (fructans), wheat (fructans), and potato starch (resistant starch) — collectively making this product likely to trigger IBS symptoms including bloating, cramping, and altered bowel habits.

Ibd — E466 has been shown to disrupt the intestinal mucus layer, garlic and raw onion can irritate inflamed mucosa, and garam masala may stimulate GI motility — a combination that may worsen symptoms during active IBD flares.

Thyroid Disease — The product contains iodised salt, which provides iodine that can trigger iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis or worsen autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease in susceptible individuals.

Pregnancy — Pink salt is non-iodized and, if relied upon as a primary salt source without supplementation, may contribute to iodine insufficiency during pregnancy; concentrated celery and rosemary present in the seasoning are at food-additive levels and unlikely to be harmful, but iodine adequacy should be confirmed with a clinician.

Lactation — Pink salt lacks iodine, and lactating women have elevated iodine requirements (200µg/day per EFSA); reliance on this product without ensuring adequate iodine from other sources may compromise breast milk iodine content.

Gout — Black beans and yeast both contribute dietary purines that elevate uric acid; while plant-based purines are less problematic than animal-sourced purines, portion control is advisable for individuals with active or recurrent gout.

Migraine — Onion (histamine and biogenic amines), calcium propionate (E282, anecdotally reported as a trigger), and garam masala (high salicylate content, cumin and cinnamon as recognised triggers) may collectively provoke migraine episodes in susceptible individuals.

The full analysis

This product is aimed at urban Indian consumers seeking a convenient plant-based burger alternative. While it scores points for being legume-based, palm-oil-free, and vegetarian-certified with a valid FSSAI licence, the overall picture is less clean than the marketing implies. The patty is ultra-processed (NOVA 4) due to the presence of E466 (a stabiliser with emerging gut-microbiome concerns), E282 (a preservative), and E150a (a caramel colour). Most critically, the flagship '13g Protein' claim is numerically false — the declared nutrition data shows only 9.25g protein per 100g, which works out to roughly 7.4g per 80g serving, nowhere near 13g. A small amount of trans fat (0.1g/100g) is also present. The single most useful thing a curious consumer should know is: check the nutrition panel, not the front-of-pack claim — the actual protein per serving is nearly half what is advertised.

FSSAI licence

10021022000203

Manufacturer

SFP Foodstuffs Private Limited

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched