⌕ Zoom

Photo from the brand's official website

Farmley

Black Pepper Cashews

Name: Black Pepper Cashews
Brand: Farmley

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4zero trans fatzero cholesterolno artificial coloursultra-processedcontains flavour enhancerhigh caloriediabetic-safepregnancy-safelactose-freegluten-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

20 g

Pack

200 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8906120100489

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 · 3 ingredients shown

Caution3 of 5 ingredients

Cashew NutsCaution

Rock SaltCaution

Flavour Enhancer (INS 635)Caution

Cleared 2▾

Black PepperCleared

Aregum (Gum Arabic)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.

1/3

claims fully supported

“Cholesterol Free”true

Nutrition panel declares cholesterol as 0 mg. Cashew nuts are plant-derived and naturally contain no dietary cholesterol. The claim is accurate.

“19% Protein Content”misleading

The nutrition panel clearly states 16.4g protein per 100g, which is 16.4% by weight — not 19%. Energy from protein is approximately 10.5% of total calories (65.6 kcal of 625 kcal). No calculation basis (per serve RDA contribution or otherwise) yields 19% protein content. The raw label data itself flags this discrepancy as a possible rounded marketing claim. The stated figure overstates actual protein content.

“Signature Oil Free Roasting”unverified

No oil or fat ingredient appears in the declared ingredient list (Cashew Nuts, Black Pepper, Rock Salt, Gum Arabic, INS 635, flavouring). The absence of any listed oil is consistent with the claim; however, processing conditions and any surface oil applied during roasting cannot be confirmed from label data alone.

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 declared
Zero cholesterol declared
No artificial colours identified in ingredient list
Reasonable plant protein at 16.4g per 100g
FSSAI licensed product with traceable manufacturer

Working against

Contains INS 635 — a flavour enhancer metabolised to purines/uric acid
Contains nature-identical flavouring substances — ultra-processed marker
Ultra-processed food (NOVA 4) despite 'healthy snack' positioning
High calorie density: 625 kcal per 100g
Sodium content not declared; two sodium-contributing ingredients present
INS 635 under active EFSA re-evaluation since 2023 — safety not fully settled

Who should approach with care

Nut Allergy — Cashew is a declared major tree-nut allergen under FSSAI, EU Regulation 1169/2011, and US FALCPA; exposure in sensitised individuals can cause severe anaphylaxis, and the pack also warns of cross-contamination with other nuts.

Infants — INS 635 is excluded from infant foods under EU and Codex standards due to immature purine metabolism, and introduction of tree nuts including cashew to infants requires allergist or paediatrician guidance.

Gout — INS 635 is metabolised to purines and then to uric acid, a well-established trigger for gout flares and worsening of hyperuricaemia.

Kidney Disease — Rock salt impairs fluid balance in compromised kidneys, cashew oxalates may exacerbate nephrolithiasis, and reduced renal uric acid clearance amplifies the purine load from INS 635 metabolism.

Hypertension — Rock salt contributes dietary sodium which directly and continuously raises blood pressure, worsening hypertension and increasing stroke risk per WHO and EFSA NDA Panel assessments; total sodium content per serving is not disclosed on label.

Heart Disease — Excess sodium from rock salt promotes fluid retention and raises cardiac workload; WHO links high sodium intake to approximately 1.89 million attributable deaths annually.

Children — Whole cashews pose a choking hazard in young children, WHO recommends lower sodium limits for children, and INS 635 carries a higher relative exposure on a mg/kg body-weight basis with regulators advising caution.

Pregnancy — Rock salt may exacerbate gestational hypertension risk per WHO, and high-dose animal piperine studies show embryotoxic effects — culinary black pepper is generally safe but worth noting.

Elderly — Declining renal sodium excretion capacity makes the elderly disproportionately susceptible to sodium-driven blood pressure elevation from rock salt, as noted by FDA.

Ibs — Piperine from black pepper stimulates GI motility and may worsen abdominal discomfort, and high-dose acacia gum undergoes colonic fermentation that can exacerbate IBS symptoms.

Ibd — Piperine's GI-irritant properties and acacia gum's colonic fermentation products may aggravate mucosal inflammation in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.

Other — Aspirin-sensitive individuals have reported pseudoallergic reactions (urticaria, rashes) linked to INS 635; individuals with latex-fruit syndrome may also cross-react with cashew proteins.

The full analysis

Farmley Black Pepper Cashews are aimed at urban Indian consumers seeking a convenient, protein-adjacent snack with a 'clean' nut image. While the base ingredient — cashew — is genuinely nutritious, the inclusion of INS 635 (a purine-yielding flavour enhancer under ongoing EFSA re-evaluation) and declared nature-identical black pepper flavouring substances classifies this product as ultra-processed (NOVA 4), not the wholesome roasted nut the branding implies. The most useful thing a consumer should know: if you have gout, kidney disease, or are buying this for children or infants, INS 635 is a meaningful concern that the front label does not highlight.

FSSAI licence

11421850000414

Manufacturer

Connedit Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched