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Kaleva

Boondi

Name: Boondi
Brand: Kaleva

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 3no added sugarno preservativesno artificial coloursthree ingredientsvegetarianlactose-freegluten-freediabetic-safenut-freepregnancy-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

—

Pack

120 g

Ingredients

Barcode

6825640770916

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 · 2 ingredients shown

Caution2 of 3 ingredients

Edible Oil (Cotton Seed & Palm Oil)Caution

Edible SaltCaution

Cleared 1▾

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.

3/5

claims fully supported

“A Perfect Combination of Gram Flour, Oil & Salt”true

The declared ingredient list is exactly gram flour, edible oil (cottonseed & palm), and edible salt — the claim accurately describes the composition.

“Masala, Chatpata, Little Nutty, Little Salty, Exactly What you Expect from Kaleva”misleading

The ingredient list contains no spices, masala blend, or chatpata seasoning — only gram flour, oil, and salt. 'Masala' and 'chatpata' imply a spiced flavour profile that is unsupported by the declared ingredients.

“The perfect snacks Anytime Anywhere”unverified

A purely subjective marketing statement; no nutritional or compositional data can confirm or deny suitability 'anytime anywhere' across all consumer groups — in fact, avoidFor data flags caution for several groups.

“A Proprietary Food”true

Under FSSAI regulations, 'proprietary food' is a defined category for products not covered by a specific standard; the FSSAI licence (13318009000362) is present and consistent with this classification.

“Multi-layer pack to hold the freshness”true

Confirmed in the packaging information field of the label data.

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

Only three whole-food ingredients — no artificial additives
Zero added sugar and zero trans fat declared
No artificial colours or preservatives
Good protein contribution from gram flour (~9.5 g/100 g)
FSSAI licensed; APEDA member — traceable Indian manufacturer
Vegetarian certified

Working against

Very high total fat: 42 g/100 g, including 13 g saturated fat
Contains palm oil — high in saturated palmitic acid; EFSA flagged genotoxic process contaminants (GE, 3-MCPD)
Cottonseed oil high in omega-6; may promote pro-inflammatory state with habitual intake
High caloric density: 572 kcal/100 g — easy to over-consume
Sodium content not declared, yet salt is a primary ingredient — actual sodium load unknown
No dietary fibre declared despite gram flour being a fibre source — data gap

Who should approach with care

Infants — Palm oil in this product carries EFSA-identified genotoxic process contaminants (GE) at levels of particular concern for infants, and cottonseed oil requires rigorous refining to remove gossypol — both oils pose disproportionate risk for the youngest age group.

Children — Children's lower body weight means proportionally higher relative exposure to GE and 3-MCPD from palm oil, and WHO recommends lower sodium limits for children than adults, both of which are exceeded risks in a salty fried snack.

Pregnancy — Cottonseed oil retains trace gossypol with documented antifertility and embryotoxic properties, palm oil carries genotoxic process contaminants relevant during fetal development, and excess sodium elevates risk of gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia.

Hypertension — Salt is a primary ingredient and sodium content is undeclared; excess sodium directly and continuously raises blood pressure, and the high saturated fat from palm oil further compounds cardiovascular risk.

Heart Disease — High sodium intake increases cardiac workload and fluid retention, while both palm oil (saturated palmitic acid) and cottonseed oil (pro-inflammatory omega-6 excess) exacerbate cardiovascular risk factors.

Kidney Disease — Impaired kidneys cannot efficiently excrete excess sodium from the added salt, and gram flour's naturally high phosphorus and potassium content is an additional concern for patients on mineral-restricted renal diets.

Liver Disease — Cottonseed oil contains residual gossypol, a documented hepatotoxin in animal studies; individuals with pre-existing liver disease should consult a physician before regular consumption.

Elderly — Declining renal sodium-excretion capacity with age makes the elderly disproportionately susceptible to hypertension from the undeclared but ingredient-confirmed sodium load.

Ibs — Gram flour is high in galacto-oligosaccharides (a FODMAP class) that can trigger bloating and abdominal discomfort in IBS sufferers, and cottonseed oil's high omega-6 content may compound intestinal irritation.

Ibd — During active IBD flares, gram flour's high fibre and FODMAP content combined with the pro-inflammatory omega-6 load from cottonseed oil may worsen gastrointestinal symptoms.

Gluten Intolerance — Gram flour is inherently gluten-free but is frequently processed in facilities handling wheat; individuals with coeliac disease must verify certified gluten-free labelling — no such certification appears on this product.

The full analysis

Kaleva Boondi will appeal to consumers looking for a no-frills, additive-free traditional namkeen with a recognisably short ingredient list. The product contains no artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, or added sugars, and its NOVA 3 classification reflects simple processing (frying gram flour batter in oil with salt) rather than ultra-processing. The most important thing a curious consumer should know is that at 42 g fat and 572 kcal per 100 g — driven by a blend of high-saturated-fat palm oil and omega-6-heavy cottonseed oil — this is an energy-dense snack that those managing heart disease, hypertension, or kidney disease should consume sparingly; everyone else can enjoy it in moderation as a cleaner-label alternative to additive-laden packaged snacks.

FSSAI licence

13318009000362

Manufacturer

Kaleva

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched