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MTR

Jeera Rice

Name: Jeera Rice
Brand: MTR

Use in moderation Not on SafeShelf

NOVA 4ready to eatno artificial coloursno trans fatno preservativeshigh sodiumultra-processedlactose-freeinfant-safegluten-freediabetic-safenut-freepregnancy-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

100 g

Pack

250 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8901042956732

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 · 4 ingredients shown

Caution4 of 7 ingredients

Basmati riceCaution

ButterCaution

SaltCaution

Refined sunflower oilCaution

Cleared 3▾

WaterCleared

CuminCleared

Acidity regulator (E 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.

8/13

claims fully supported

“Ready to Eat”true

Product description and directions confirm it can be consumed straight from the pack with no cooking required.

“Daily Favourites”unverified

This is a brand variant descriptor found in the raw label data, not a nutritional or quality claim; no data supports or contradicts it as a factual assertion.

“Pure and Perfect”unverified

A vague subjective marketing phrase; no compositional, quality, or certification data in any of the four sources substantiates a defined standard behind this claim.

“Suitable for Vegetarians”true

vegetarianStatus is confirmed 'veg' in EXTRA INFORMATION and the product carries an FSSAI licence; all ingredients (rice, butter, cumin, sunflower oil, salt, citric acid, water) are vegetarian.

“Made with 100% Natural Ingredients”misleading

E330 (citric acid) is listed as an ingredient; approximately 99% of commercial citric acid is industrially produced via Aspergillus niger fermentation rather than extracted from fruit, making it a manufactured additive rather than a natural ingredient by common or regulatory understanding.

“No Preservatives”true

No ingredient in the list is categorised as a preservative; citric acid is declared as an acidity regulator (E330), not a preservative, and no classic preservatives (benzoates, sorbates, sulphites) appear.

“No Preparation Required”true

Product is confirmed ready-to-eat and can be consumed straight from the pouch per directions and product description.

“Mild”unverified

Cumin is present at only 0.4% and no chilli or pungent spices are listed; however, 'mild' is a subjective sensory descriptor with no objective threshold, and no sensory panel data is available.

“No Trans Fat”true

Nutrition panel shows transFatG: 0.0, and the label itself states 'Total trans fat content not more than 0.0 percent by weight.' No hydrogenated ingredients are present.

“No Hydrogenated Vegetable Fat”true

Ingredient list contains refined sunflower oil and butter; neither is hydrogenated. No hydrogenated fat appears anywhere in the formulation.

“No Added Preservatives”true

Consistent with 'No Preservatives' claim above; no preservative-category additive is present in the ingredient dossiers.

“No Artificial Colours”true

No colour additive (natural or artificial) appears in the ingredient list; the product's colour derives from rice, butter, and cumin naturally.

“100% Natural Ingredients”misleading

Duplicate of 'Made with 100% Natural Ingredients'; E330 (citric acid) is industrially manufactured via microbial fermentation and is not a natural ingredient in the conventional or FSSAI sense.

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

Short, recognisable ingredient list with no artificial colours
Zero trans fat confirmed on label and nutrition panel
No hydrogenated fats in formulation
No declared chemical preservatives
FSSAI licensed and ISO 22000:2005 certified
Suitable for vegetarians

Working against

Very high sodium: 500 mg per 100 g (1,250 mg per pack)
Ultra-processed NOVA 4 due to industrial acidity regulator E330
High saturated fat: 3 g per 100 g from butter
High glycaemic index from refined white basmati rice
Refined sunflower oil high in omega-6 with negligible omega-3
Butter contributes milk allergen and saturated fat

Who should approach with care

Hypertension — Salt is the dominant sodium source; a full 250 g pack delivers ~1,250 mg sodium (63% of the WHO 2 g/day limit), and butter may be salted, both of which directly raise blood pressure per WHO and EFSA NDA Panel guidance.

Kidney Disease — High sodium content (500 mg/100 g) combined with impaired renal sodium excretion causes fluid retention and accelerated renal decline; strict fluid and sodium restriction is standard of care per WHO and FDA guidance.

Heart Disease — High sodium (promotes fluid retention and raises cardiac workload) combined with saturated fat from butter increases cardiovascular risk; WHO links high sodium to ~1.89 million annual deaths.

Diabetes — Refined white basmati rice has a high glycaemic index; regular consumption has been associated with elevated type 2 diabetes risk and glycaemic dysregulation per rice ingredient dossier evidence.

Pregnancy — Basmati rice is a source of inorganic arsenic (FDA advises dietary grain variety during pregnancy), and the high sodium content may exacerbate risk of gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia per WHO guidance.

Infants — Not appropriate for infants: plain water risks hyponatremia under 6 months, inorganic arsenic from rice poses neurodevelopmental risk (FDA action level applies), refined vegetable oil introduces EFSA-flagged GE contaminants, and butter is an inappropriate primary fat for this age group.

Children — Children face disproportionate inorganic arsenic exposure from rice relative to body weight, EFSA identifies glycidyl ester concern from refined sunflower oil, and excess sodium from this product relative to their lower daily limits warrants moderation.

Elderly — Declining renal sodium excretion with age makes the elderly more susceptible to blood pressure elevation from this product's high sodium content, per FDA guidance on sodium and ageing.

Lactose Intolerance — Butter contributes trace lactose (~0.1 g/100 g); highly sensitive individuals may experience mild GI discomfort, particularly with a full 250 g serving.

Heart Disease — Butter's high saturated fat (~51 g/100 g butter) raises LDL cholesterol; combined with the pro-inflammatory omega-6-heavy refined sunflower oil, the overall fat profile is unfavourable for those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.

Ibd — Refined sunflower oil's very high omega-6 content may amplify pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid pathways, and manufactured citric acid (E330) has been hypothesised to trigger inflammatory responses in susceptible IBD patients.

Ibs — High fat from butter and refined sunflower oil can trigger IBS symptoms; citric acid case reports suggest possible GI irritation, and cumin in higher quantities may worsen bloating in sensitive individuals.

Liver Disease — Butter's high saturated fat can exacerbate hepatic fat accumulation (steatosis) in NAFLD or other chronic liver conditions, per clinical dietary guidance.

The full analysis

MTR Jeera Rice is a convenient ready-to-eat basmati rice dish aimed at time-pressed urban consumers, travellers, and anyone wanting a quick home-style Indian meal. The ingredient list is short and largely recognisable—basmati rice, butter, cumin, sunflower oil, salt, and water—but the inclusion of the industrial acidity regulator E330 (citric acid, produced via Aspergillus niger fermentation) and the retort processing method push the product into the ultra-processed NOVA 4 tier. More practically, the sodium content of 500 mg per 100 g is the single most important number on this label: a full 250 g pack delivers 1,250 mg of sodium—already 63% of the WHO daily limit—making this a meaningful concern for anyone managing blood pressure, kidney function, or heart health.

FSSAI licence

10012043000145

Manufacturer

MTR Foods Pvt. Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched