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The Healthy Binge

Chickpea Cheese Triangles

Name: Chickpea Cheese Triangles
Brand: The Healthy Binge

Use in moderation Not on SafeShelf

NOVA 4baked not friedgluten-freeno added sugarno cholesterolmillet-basedultra-processednut-freediabetic-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

30 g

Pack

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Ingredients

Barcode

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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 · 1 ingredient shown

Caution1 of 7 ingredients

Seasoning & Condiments (Cheese Powder, Ajwain, Salt, Dehydrated Vegetables Powder (Onion, Garlic), Milk Solids, Chili Powder, Black Pepper Powder)Caution

Cleared 5▾

Rice FlourCleared

Bengal Gram FlourCleared

Jowar FlourCleared

Sunflower OilCleared

Anticaking agent (INS 551)Cleared

Unknown 1▾

Nature and Nature Identical FlavoursUnknown

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.

10/16

claims fully supported

“Protein Packed”misleading

Protein is 4g per 100g, contributing approximately 12% of total calories (16 kcal out of 137 kcal). No recognised regulatory or nutritional standard classifies this as 'protein packed' or high-protein.

“High Protein”misleading

At 4g/100g, protein contributes ~11.7% of energy — well below the ≥20% energy threshold commonly used to substantiate a 'high protein' claim. FSSAI's draft Nutrient Content Claim regulations require ≥10g protein per 100g for a 'high protein' claim on solid foods.

“0% Maida”true

The ingredient list contains rice flour, bengal gram flour, and jowar flour. No maida (refined wheat flour) is listed. Claim is supported.

“No Cholesterol”true

Cholesterol is confirmed at 0 mg per 100g in the nutrition panel.

“Cholesterol Free”true

Cholesterol is confirmed at 0 mg per 100g in the nutrition panel.

“Zero Cholesterol”true

Cholesterol is confirmed at 0 mg per 100g in the nutrition panel.

“Baked Not Fried”true

Brand description explicitly states '100% baked' and no frying agent or frying-process indicator is present in the ingredient list.

“100% Baked”true

Brand description confirms '100% baked'; ingredient profile (no frying medium in large quantity, sunflower oil only as a minor ingredient) is consistent with a baked product.

“No Added Sugar”true

Sugar is 1.52g/100g. No added sugar sources (dextrose, glucose syrup, cane sugar, etc.) appear in the ingredient list. Residual sugar likely comes from naturally occurring sugars in flours and dairy ingredients.

“Gluten Free”true

All primary ingredients (rice flour, bengal gram flour, jowar flour) are inherently gluten-free and no wheat or barley derivatives are listed. The product is manufactured in a facility that processes nuts but no mention of wheat cross-contamination is made; claim appears substantiated for the formulation itself.

“Gluten-Free”true

Same as above — all listed ingredients are gluten-free grains and legumes. No wheat allergen declared.

“Zero Trans Fat”unverified

Trans fat is listed as null in the available nutrition data — it was not measured or reported. The brand description asserts zero trans fat. The data neither confirms nor contradicts; sunflower oil is not hydrogenated, making zero trans fat plausible but the field is unconfirmed.

“Fibre Rich”misleading

Dietary fibre is 1.8g per 100g (0.54g per 30g serving). FSSAI draft regulations require ≥6g/100g (or ≥3g/100 kcal) for a 'high fibre' claim. This product falls significantly below that threshold.

“Anytime Snack”unverified

A convenience positioning statement with no nutritional or regulatory basis to evaluate; not a falsifiable claim.

“Creamy & Crispy”unverified

A subjective sensory descriptor that cannot be objectively verified from the available ingredient or nutrition data.

“As seen on Shark Tank India”true

The EXTRA INFORMATION award badge field explicitly states 'As seen on Shark Tank India', confirming the claim.

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

Baked, not fried — lower fat than comparable fried snacks
No maida (refined wheat flour) in ingredient list
Cholesterol confirmed at 0 mg per 100g
Contains millets (jowar) and chickpea — whole-grain pulse base
No added sugars detected in ingredients or nutrition panel
FSSAI licensed; vegetarian certified

Working against

NOVA 4 ultra-processed: contains nature-identical flavourings and INS 551
Protein content (4g/100g, ~12% of calories) does not meet 'high protein' standard
Fibre content (1.8g/100g) well below threshold for 'fibre rich' claim
Cheese powder and milk solids present — unsuitable for lactose-intolerant or dairy-allergic consumers
Manufactured in nut-processing facility — cross-contamination risk for nut-allergic individuals
Sodium daily value percentage (76.3%) on pack appears inconsistent with 180 mg/100g — possible OCR or label error

Who should approach with care

Infants — Multiple ingredients pose risk to infants: ajwain and chili powder are contraindicated for infants (GI irritation, no safe threshold); rice flour contributes inorganic arsenic; cheese powder and milk solids may trigger cow's milk protein allergy — collectively making this product entirely inappropriate for infants.

Children — Chili powder can cause mucosal irritation in young children; rice flour and sunflower oil carry inorganic arsenic and process-contaminant (GE/MCPD) concerns at higher exposure levels; excess sodium from salt may promote early blood pressure elevation per WHO guidance.

Pregnancy — Rice flour contributes inorganic arsenic (developmental risk per FDA/WHO); ajwain at supradietary doses has documented abortifacient activity; salt may exacerbate gestational hypertension risk; silicon dioxide (INS 551) carries trace heavy-metal impurity concerns flagged by EFSA for pregnant individuals.

Lactation — Ajwain-containing preparations are not recommended during lactation by EMA due to insufficient safety data on thymol-rich ingredients in this population.

Diabetes — Rice flour has a moderately high glycemic index and can cause rapid postprandial blood glucose elevation; individuals with diabetes should manage portion sizes carefully and prefer lower-GI alternatives.

Hypertension — Salt and cheese powder are both concentrated sodium sources; excess sodium directly and continuously raises blood pressure, worsening hypertension and increasing cardiovascular risk per WHO and EFSA NDA Panel assessments.

Kidney Disease — Salt's sodium directly impairs fluid and blood pressure management in compromised kidneys; cheese powder and milk solids add phosphorus and potassium loads; bengal gram flour and rice flour further contribute minerals requiring restriction under renal dietary management.

Heart Disease — Salt promotes fluid retention and raises blood pressure (linked to 1.89 million annual deaths by WHO); cheese powder adds saturated fat contributing to elevated LDL cholesterol; standard sunflower oil's high omega-6 content may promote pro-inflammatory pathways.

Liver Disease — Chili powder's capsaicin is metabolised by hepatic CYP2E1 to reactive species shown to cause focal hepatic stress in high-dose animal studies; ajwain at supradietary doses has also shown hepatic oxidative stress effects in animal models.

Ibs — Multiple high-FODMAP ingredients are present — bengal gram flour (galacto-oligosaccharides), onion powder (fructans), garlic powder (fructans), and jowar flour (resistant starch) — which are well-documented triggers for bloating, cramping, and altered bowel habits in IBS sufferers.

Ibd — Chili powder (capsaicin), onion powder (fructans and organosulfur compounds), garlic, and jowar's insoluble fibre can each exacerbate gut mucosal inflammation and trigger symptom flares in Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Lactose Intolerance — Cheese powder retains residual lactose and milk solids contain lactose; consumption can trigger bloating, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramps in lactose-intolerant individuals.

Migraine — Onion (dehydrated) contains histamine and biogenic amines, and chili powder (capsaicin) are both recognised dietary migraine triggers in susceptible individuals.

Phenylketonuria — Milk solids contain phenylalanine-rich casein and whey proteins; individuals with PKU must account for the phenylalanine contribution within their strictly controlled low-phenylalanine diet.

G6pd Deficiency — Bengal gram (chickpea) contains oxidative compounds; while favism is classically linked to fava beans, individuals with G6PD deficiency are advised to consult a physician before regular high-quantity legume consumption.

Elderly — Renal sodium excretion capacity declines with age and blood pressure sensitivity to sodium increases; the combined sodium load from salt and cheese powder warrants moderation per FDA guidance for this population.

Nut Allergy — The product is manufactured in a facility that also processes nuts, creating a cross-contamination risk for individuals with tree nut allergies; no 'nut-free' certification is present.

The full analysis

Marketed at students, gamers, and on-the-go snackers seeking a 'guilt-free' alternative to fried chips, these baked triangles do deliver on a few promises — no maida, no cholesterol, and genuinely baked rather than fried. However, the 'high protein' and 'fibre rich' headline claims don't hold up to scrutiny: at 4g protein and 1.8g fibre per 100g, neither metric meets any recognised threshold for those descriptors. The inclusion of nature-identical flavourings and an anti-caking agent (INS 551) pushes this firmly into NOVA 4 ultra-processed territory, and individuals with lactose intolerance or cow's milk allergy should steer clear due to cheese powder and milk solids. The most useful takeaway: this is a better-than-fried snack with a misleading protein story.

FSSAI licence

11021998000173

Manufacturer

True Agriprods Pvt Ltd

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched