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Haldiram's

Chai Puri

Name: Chai Puri
Brand: Haldiram's

Avoid SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4no added sugarcontains hydrogenated oilhigh saturated fatultra-processedno artificial colourslactose-freepregnancy-safediabetic-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

40 g

Pack

200 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8904063200570

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.

Avoid · 1 ingredient shown

Avoid1 of 8 ingredients

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm & Sesame Oil)Avoid

Caution 5▾

Refined Wheat FlourCaution

Vegetable Oil (Palmolein)Caution

Sesame SeedsCaution

Red Chilli PowderCaution

SaltCaution

Cleared 2▾

CuminCleared

Turmeric PowderE100Cleared

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.

2/4

claims fully supported

“A Crispy & Salted Refined Wheat Flour Chips”true

Refined wheat flour constitutes 63% of the product; salt is listed as an ingredient; product is deep-fried and described as crispy — all consistent with the claim.

“NEW”unverified

No launch date, reformulation record, or novelty certification is present in any of the four data sources to confirm or deny this claim.

“Export Pack”true

The label carries Arabic product description text, an importer/distributor listed as STC/Dubai with a UAE phone number (+9714 3596600), confirming this pack is intended for export markets.

“Perfect savoury snack with just the right chipsness. You can choose to bite into them whole or enjoy them with pickle. Relish your Chai Puri with your favourite cup of chai.”unverified

This is purely subjective marketing/serving-suggestion copy with no verifiable factual assertion; no nutritional or ingredient data can confirm or deny taste or pairing claims.

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 (0 g added sugars per serving)
Short, recognisable ingredient list — no synthetic colours or preservatives
Valid FSSAI licence and vegan certified
Zero trans fat declared on label
Reasonable portion calories (~190 kcal per 40 g serving)

Working against

Contains hydrogenated vegetable oil — risk of trans fats and process contaminants (GE, 3-MCPD)
High saturated fat: 7 g per serving (~35% of WHO daily limit)
Made with refined wheat flour (maida) — low nutritional density, low fibre
190 mg sodium per serving; five servings per pack contribute ~950 mg sodium
Palm oil fraction raises EFSA-flagged genotoxic contaminant concerns especially for children and infants
NOVA 4 ultra-processed product

Who should approach with care

Gluten Intolerance — Refined wheat flour (63%) contains gluten (gliadins and glutenins) which causes immune-mediated intestinal damage in coeliac disease; strict lifelong avoidance is the only treatment per EFSA.

Other — Individuals with confirmed IgE-mediated wheat allergy or sesame allergy must avoid this product entirely, as both allergens are present and can trigger anaphylaxis.

Heart Disease — Hydrogenated palm and sesame oils raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL; combined with high saturated fat from palmolein, this product directly worsens cardiovascular risk per FDA and EFSA findings.

Hypertension — 190 mg sodium per serving from salt, plus saturated and potential trans fats from hydrogenated oils, together elevate blood pressure and compound cardiovascular risk in hypertensive individuals.

Kidney Disease — EFSA identified the kidney as the primary target organ for 3-MCPD toxicity from palm-based hydrogenated oils; additionally, impaired kidneys cannot efficiently excrete excess sodium from the added salt.

Infants — EFSA concluded GE in palmolein and hydrogenated palm oil is genotoxic and carcinogenic with infant exposure up to ten times the low-concern threshold; chilli powder also causes GI mucosal irritation in infants.

Children — EFSA identified children as a high-risk group for GE and 3-MCPD process contaminants from palm oil products; wheat and sesame allergen sensitivity is also heightened in paediatric populations.

Pregnancy — Trans fatty acids from hydrogenated oils cross the placenta and affect fetal lipid metabolism; GE process contaminants and excess sodium from salt may further worsen gestational outcomes.

Diabetes — High saturated and potential trans fat intake from hydrogenated palm and sesame oils is associated with insulin resistance and worsened glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Liver Disease — 3-MCPD and GE from hydrogenated palm oil have shown hepatotoxic potential in animal studies; capsaicin from chilli powder generates reactive species via hepatic CYP2E1, adding further liver stress.

Ibs — Capsaicin in red chilli powder activates TRPV1 receptors in the gut epithelium, exacerbating abdominal pain, cramping, and altered bowel habits in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.

Ibd — Chilli powder can trigger disease flares and worsen mucosal inflammation in individuals with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Elderly — Declining renal sodium excretion with age makes the elderly disproportionately susceptible to blood pressure elevation and cardiovascular harm from the sodium content in this product.

Migraine — Capsaicin from red chilli powder is a recognised dietary trigger for migraine headaches in susceptible individuals.

The full analysis

Chai Puri is a popular Indian tea-time snack bought for its light, crispy texture and mild spiced flavour. The product's biggest concern is its use of hydrogenated vegetable oil (palm and sesame), which introduces the risk of industrial trans fatty acids and process contaminants such as glycidyl fatty acid esters (GE) and 3-MCPD — flagged by EFSA as genotoxic and carcinogenic — placing this firmly in NOVA Group 4. Saturated fat is high at 7 g per 40 g serving (35% of WHO's daily limit), and sodium at 190 mg per serving adds up quickly across multiple servings in a 200 g pack. There is no added sugar, it carries a valid FSSAI licence, and its ingredient list is short and relatively clean of synthetic additives, but the presence of hydrogenated fat remains the single most important thing a health-conscious consumer should know before buying this product regularly.

FSSAI licence

10012051000107

Manufacturer

Haldiram Snacks Pvt. Ltd.

Importer

STC/Dubai

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched