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MTR

Gulab Jamun Ready Mix

Name: Gulab Jamun Ready Mix
Brand: MTR

Use in moderation Not on SafeShelf

NOVA 4no artificial coloursno artificial flavoursno hydrogenated fatsultra-processedcontains palm oillactose-freediabetic-safenut-freepregnancy-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

25 g

Pack

175 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8901042969723

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 5 ingredients

Refined wheat flour (Maida)Caution

Edible vegetable fat interesterified (Palmolein oil, Palm kernel oil)Caution

Cleared 3▾

Milk solidsCleared

Leavening agent Sodium bicarbonate (INS 500 ii)Cleared

Acidity regulator Malic acid (INS 296)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.

6/13

claims fully supported

“India's No. 1 Gulab Jamun Ready Mix”misleading

The label caveats cite Kantar Worldpanel Household Purchase Data (Oct 2019–Sept 2020, All India Urban+Rural) as the basis; the claim is time-bound and sourced from a specific panel period, not an independent quality or nutritional ranking.

“Buy 1 Get 1 FREE!!”misleading

The label itself states 'T&C Apply. Offer valid in select cities till stocks last. Non-offer packs also available.' — the offer is geographically and temporally limited and cannot be verified as universally applicable.

“Ready Mix”misleading

The product is a dry mix that requires the consumer to add water, knead dough, deep-fry, and prepare a separate sugar syrup; it is a preparation mix rather than a ready-to-eat product.

“4 easy steps”true

Directions confirm four broad steps: (1) mix and knead dough, (2) shape into balls, (3) deep-fry, (4) soak in sugar syrup — consistent with the claim.

“Makes 35 Gulab Jamuns”true

Confirmed in the label data: 'Makes about 35 Gulab Jamuns of approximately 25g each.'

“MTR Original Recipe”unverified

No documentation, historical formulation records, or third-party verification is available in the provided data to confirm the recipe's originality or continuity from 1924.

“No Hydrogenated Fats”true

The fat used is described as 'interesterified' (not partially hydrogenated); no hydrogenated oil appears anywhere in the ingredient list, supporting the claim.

“No Artificial Colour”true

No artificial colour ingredient or INS colour additive appears in the ingredient list.

“No Artificial Flavour”true

No artificial flavouring agent appears in the ingredient list.

“Soft, Perfect & Meetha”unverified

A subjective sensory and marketing descriptor; no objective data in any of the four sources can confirm or contradict it.

“Deliciously soft and tempting Gulab Jamuns that melt in mouth”unverified

Purely subjective sensory claim; no data available to evaluate.

“A traditional Indian sweet for everyday celebrations”misleading

Gulab Jamun is a well-established traditional Indian sweet, though 'everyday' consumption of a deep-fried, sugar-syrup-soaked dessert is not aligned with standard dietary guidance; this is primarily a marketing framing.

“160g + 15g EXTRA”true

Confirmed in the label data under extraQuantityPromotion: '160g + 15g EXTRA = 175g'; net weight 175g is consistent.

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 hydrogenated fats — uses interesterified fat instead
No artificial colours in the ingredient list
No artificial flavours in the ingredient list
FSSAI licensed and BRC certified manufacturer
Vegetarian product

Working against

Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) with industrial food additives
Base ingredient is high-GI refined wheat flour (maida)
Contains interesterified palm fats — linked to adverse HDL and glucose effects
Palm kernel oil (~82% saturated fat) raises cardiovascular concern
Refined palm oils carry genotoxic GE and 3-MCPD process contaminants
No nutrition information legible — consumers cannot assess calories, sugar, or fat per serving

Who should approach with care

Gluten Intolerance — The primary ingredient is refined wheat flour (maida), which contains gluten proteins (gliadin and glutenin) that trigger autoimmune intestinal damage in celiac disease and symptoms in non-celiac gluten sensitivity; the label also explicitly declares 'Contains Gluten (Wheat)'.

Infants — The mix contains refined palm kernel oil and palmolein, both of which EFSA has found can expose infants to GE process contaminants at up to ten times the threshold of low public-health concern; additionally, milk solids present a cow's milk protein allergy risk in infants.

Diabetes — Refined wheat flour has a high glycaemic index (~70–74) causing rapid postprandial glucose spikes, and the interesterified palm fat may further impair insulin signalling and raise fasting blood glucose in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Heart Disease — The combination of high-saturated-fat palm kernel oil (~82% SFA), palmolein (~44–46% SFA), interesterified fat (linked to HDL lowering), refined wheat flour (associated with elevated triglycerides), and sodium-contributing sodium bicarbonate collectively poses multiple adverse cardiovascular signals.

Hypertension — Sodium bicarbonate (INS 500ii) contributes dietary sodium, and the high saturated fat load from palmolein and palm kernel oil may compound adverse lipid profiles that worsen hypertension-related cardiovascular risk.

Pregnancy — Refined wheat flour may contribute to inadequate folate and B-vitamin intake critical for fetal development; interesterified fats, palmolein, and palm kernel oil all carry precautionary concerns regarding saturated fat load and process contaminants (GE, 3-MCPD) during pregnancy.

Children — Refined wheat flour displaces nutrient-dense whole grains in children's diets, and EFSA identifies children as a high-risk group for GE and 3-MCPD exposure from refined palmolein and palm kernel oil due to their lower body weight and relatively higher intake.

Lactose Intolerance — Milk solids contain lactose; the label explicitly declares 'Contains Milk Products', and individuals with lactose intolerance may experience bloating, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramps.

Kidney Disease — Milk solids contribute phosphorus and potassium requiring restriction in CKD; sodium bicarbonate may worsen sodium retention in patients with impaired renal sodium excretion; and malic acid adds an organic acid load that reduced-function kidneys may struggle to excrete.

Ibs — Refined wheat flour contains fermentable fructans (FODMAPs) that can exacerbate bloating, cramping, and altered bowel habits in IBS, and malic acid may aggravate gastrointestinal discomfort in acid-sensitive individuals.

Ibd — Refined wheat flour's low-fibre, high-glycaemic character and interesterified fats' association with intestinal inflammation make this product poorly suited during IBD flares; a gastroenterologist should guide intake.

Phenylketonuria — Both refined wheat flour (~10–12 g protein/100 g) and milk solids (casein and whey) contribute phenylalanine, which individuals with PKU must carefully account for within their strictly controlled low-phenylalanine diet.

Other — Individuals with confirmed IgE-mediated or non-IgE-mediated cow's milk protein allergy must avoid this product entirely, as milk solids contain the primary allergenic proteins casein and whey; the label declares 'Contains Milk Products'.

The full analysis

MTR Gulab Jamun Ready Mix is a pantry staple for home cooks seeking the convenience of a restaurant-style Indian sweet without from-scratch preparation. The mix itself is ultra-processed (NOVA 4), driven by interesterified palm fats and food-grade additives (INS 500ii, INS 296), and its base ingredient is refined wheat flour (maida), which carries a high glycaemic index and displaces whole-grain nutrition. The fats used — palmolein and palm kernel oil in interesterified form — are a meaningful concern for heart health and, critically, for infants due to EFSA-documented glycidyl ester (GE) contaminants in refined palm oils. On the positive side, there are genuinely no hydrogenated fats, no artificial colours, and no artificial flavours, and the brand is FSSAI-licensed and BRC-certified. The single most useful thing a curious consumer should know is that the finished dish will be nutritionally very different from the dry mix — heavy in added sugar and frying fat — and this product is best treated as an occasional celebratory sweet rather than everyday food.

FSSAI licence

10012043000145

Manufacturer

MTR Foods Pvt. Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched