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Haldiram's

Classic Masala Peanuts

Name: Classic Masala Peanuts
Brand: Haldiram's

Use in moderation Not on SafeShelf

NOVA 4zero added sugarno artificial colourshigh fatvegetarian certifiedultra-processedlactose-freegluten-freediabetic-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

—

Pack

200 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8904063253859

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

PeanutsCaution

Edible Vegetable OilCaution

Edible Common SaltCaution

Cleared 2▾

Spices and Condiments (Black Pepper Powder, Red Chilli Powder, Mace Powder, Nutmeg Powder, Cardamom Powder, Cinnamon Powder, Clove Powder, Coriander Powder, Asafoetida)Cleared

Acidic Regulator (INS 330)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.

0/5

claims fully supported

“Your old favourite, fresher & crunchier!”unverified

Subjective sensory and heritage claim; no freshness metrics, texture data, or comparative product data are available to assess this.

“Roasted, Not Fried”unverified

Edible vegetable oil appears in the ingredient list, which is consistent with both dry-roasting with oil and frying; no process verification or oil-uptake data is available to confirm roasting vs. frying.

“Nuts are good for you!”misleading

Peanuts (technically a legume) do provide protein, healthy unsaturated fats, and micronutrients, but this product also contains added salt with undisclosed sodium levels, an acidic regulator, and nature-identical flavourings — framing a salted, ultra-processed snack as straightforwardly healthful overstates the benefit.

“Best Since 1941”unverified

Haldiram's is a well-established Indian brand with a long history, but no data in the available sources verifies the precise founding year or a 'best' quality benchmark.

“Serving you the best – Only nature packs it better”misleading

The product contains 'Nature Identical Flavouring Substances (Mixed Spice Flavour)' — lab-synthesised compounds that mimic natural flavours — and INS 330 (industrially manufactured citric acid via Aspergillus niger fermentation), directly contradicting the 'only nature' framing.

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

High peanut content (82%) — a nutrient-dense legume rich in protein and unsaturated fats
Zero declared sugars per 100 g
No artificial colours declared
Vegetarian certified (FSSAI)
Packaged in protective atmosphere preserving freshness without chemical preservatives
Whole-spice blend provides natural phytochemicals and antioxidants

Working against

NOVA 4 ultra-processed: contains INS 330 and nature-identical flavouring substances
Sodium content not declared — critical gap for a salted snack
Very high total fat (52 g/100 g); saturated fat data not disclosed
Trans fat stated as 'not more than 0.1%' — not quantified precisely
Peanut is a top-14 allergen; severe anaphylaxis risk for sensitised individuals
Fibre content not declared despite peanuts being a known fibre source

Who should approach with care

Nut Allergy — Peanut (82% of product) is one of the most severe IgE-mediated food allergens; even trace exposure can trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis in sensitised individuals, and avoidance is the only recognised management strategy per EFSA and FDA guidance.

Infants — Multiple ingredients — asafoetida (methemoglobinemia risk from direct exposure), red chilli powder (capsaicin mucosal irritation), nutmeg and mace powder (myristicin toxicity at low body-weight thresholds) — are explicitly flagged as inappropriate for infants.

Pregnancy — Asafoetida has documented abortifacient/uterotonic properties; nutmeg and mace contain myristicin with embryotoxic indications at elevated doses; high salt intake raises gestational hypertension risk — cumulative spice and sodium load warrants caution.

Lactation — Asafoetida's sulfur-containing compounds and mace's anticholinergic constituents may transfer into breast milk and affect nursing infants; medical guidance is advised for regular consumption.

Children — Chilli powder, cassia-type cinnamon (coumarin risk at low body weight), nutmeg, and high dietary sodium are all flagged as concerns for children by EFSA, WHO, and FSSAI guidance.

Hypertension — Edible common salt contributes sodium that directly raises blood pressure in hypertensive individuals; total sodium is undisclosed, making safe portion control impossible.

Kidney Disease — Impaired kidneys cannot efficiently excrete sodium (present via added salt), risking fluid retention and accelerated renal decline; capsaicin in chilli powder also concentrates in renal tissue per animal pharmacokinetic studies.

Heart Disease — Added salt raises sodium load and fluid burden (risk of CHF exacerbation); asafoetida has anticoagulant properties that may interact with antiplatelet medications common in cardiac patients.

Liver Disease — Peanuts are susceptible to aflatoxin B1 contamination (IARC Group 1 hepatocarcinogen); nutmeg myristicin, clove eugenol at higher doses, and capsaicin metabolites all impose additional hepatic metabolic stress in individuals with pre-existing liver conditions.

Epilepsy — Nutmeg's myristicin and asafoetida's ferulic acid-related compounds have neuroactive/CNS-stimulatory properties that may interact with seizure thresholds in susceptible individuals.

Ibs — Capsaicin (chilli), piperine (black pepper), volatile oils in coriander and cinnamon, and asafoetida's sulfur compounds can collectively exacerbate abdominal pain, cramping, and altered bowel habits in IBS sufferers.

Ibd — Chilli powder, black pepper, cardamom, and the hypothesised inflammatory potential of manufactured citric acid (INS 330 via Aspergillus niger) may aggravate mucosal inflammation in Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Migraine — Capsaicin in red chilli powder and phenylethylamine-like compounds in nutmeg are recognised dietary migraine triggers in susceptible individuals.

Diabetes — Added salt contributes to sodium intake that compounds cardiovascular and renal risk already elevated in diabetic individuals; US dietary guidelines recommend ≤1,500 mg/day sodium for this group.

Elderly — Declining renal sodium-excretion efficiency with age makes older adults more susceptible to the blood-pressure-raising effects of the undisclosed sodium content from added salt, per FDA guidance.

Other — Piperine (black pepper) significantly inhibits CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, raising bioavailability and potential toxicity of many common drugs including anticoagulants, immunosuppressants, and anticonvulsants; individuals on these medications should seek medical advice.

The full analysis

This is a popular Indian namkeen picked up by snack-lovers, commuters, and movie-night crowds looking for a spicy, crunchy bite. The core ingredient — peanut at 82% — is genuinely nutritious, delivering meaningful protein and heart-healthy unsaturated fats, and the spice blend is largely whole-food derived. However, the addition of an E-number acidic regulator (INS 330) and nature-identical flavouring substances nudges it into NOVA 4 (ultra-processed) territory, and the complete absence of declared sodium data makes it impossible to assess one of the biggest dietary risks for the salty snack category. The single most useful thing to know: the peanut base is solid, but the undisclosed sodium level and ultra-processed classification mean this is a snack to enjoy in moderation rather than a health food.

FSSAI licence

10012051000107

Manufacturer

Haldiram Snacks Pvt. Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched