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Kaleva

Khatta Meetha

Name: Khatta Meetha
Brand: Kaleva

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4no artificial colourscontains palm oilmulti-legume snackvegetarianultra-processedlactose-freegluten-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

30 g

Pack

—

Ingredients

Barcode

6 82564 00210 4

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 · 5 ingredients shown

Caution5 of 18 ingredients

Edible Vegetable Oil (Refined Palmolein Oil, Refined Cotton Seed Oil)Caution

RiceCaution

SugarCaution

PeanutsCaution

Black saltCaution

Cleared 12▾

Green PeaCleared

LentilsCleared

Rice FlourCleared

Corn FlourCleared

Tapioca StarchCleared

Chickpea FlourCleared

Husked GramCleared

Husked Dew GramCleared

Iodized SaltCleared

TurmericE100Cleared

Carom SeedsCleared

Acidity Regulator (INS 330)Cleared

Unknown 1▾

Spices CondimentsUnknown

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.

2/5

claims fully supported

“Traditional Indian Taste”unverified

The ingredient list includes traditional Indian spices (ajwain, turmeric, black salt, chaat-style spices), sugar, and lentil-based components typical of Bikaner-style namkeen; however taste is subjective and cannot be objectively verified.

“Bikaner Wale Ka”unverified

The manufacturer address is listed as Gole Market, New Delhi — no data confirming Bikaner origin or production is present in any of the four data sources.

“Khatta Meetha Mixture Sweet & Tangy Snack”true

The product contains sugar (sucrose) delivering sweetness and citric acid (INS 330) delivering tanginess, consistent with a sweet-and-tangy flavour profile; the ingredient list confirms a mixture of fried grains, legumes, and peanuts.

“Multi-layer pack to hold the freshness”true

Packaging information in EXTRA INFORMATION explicitly confirms 'Multi-layer pack to hold the freshness'.

“The perfect snacks Anytime Anywhere”unverified

A subjective marketing claim with no objective nutritional or safety basis to evaluate; the product is ready-to-eat, but 'perfect' and 'anytime anywhere' are unverifiable assertions.

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 artificial colours — turmeric used as natural colourant
Contains multiple legumes providing plant protein and fibre
Moderate sodium per serving (150 mg, 7% DV)
Zero trans fat
Vegetarian certified
FSSAI licensed; Made in India with APEDA membership

Working against

NOVA 4 ultra-processed — contains industrial additive INS 330
Fried in refined palmolein oil linked to GE and 3-MCPD contaminants
Contains refined cottonseed oil with poor omega-6:omega-3 ratio
Contains palm oil — environmental and cardiovascular concern
Added sugar present (4 g per 30 g serving)
Multiple allergen traces: wheat, sesame, soy, tree nuts, peanuts

Who should approach with care

Infants — Multiple ingredients pose infant-specific risks: refined palmolein and cottonseed oils contain GE and 3-MCPD contaminants at levels EFSA flagged as exceeding tolerable daily intake for infants; black salt and iodized salt add a sodium load infants' kidneys cannot handle; and peanuts require physician-guided introduction in high-risk infants.

Children — Children's lower body weight relative to intake amplifies exposure to GE/3-MCPD from refined palm and cottonseed oils; free sugar from sucrose is strongly linked to dental caries in developing dentition; and peanut sensitisation affects approximately 75% of allergic reactions in children per EFSA 2014.

Pregnancy — Refined palmolein's GE contaminants are classified as genotoxic/carcinogenic by EFSA warranting precautionary reduction; ajwain has documented abortifacient pharmacological activity at high doses; and black salt contributes sodium that may exacerbate gestational oedema or pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Diabetes — Sucrose is rapidly hydrolysed to glucose and fructose causing sharp postprandial blood glucose spikes, compounded by high-GI ingredients including rice flour, tapioca starch, corn flour, and white rice, making this snack a significant glycaemic load for individuals with impaired insulin regulation.

Hypertension — The product contains iodized salt, black salt, and citric acid salts, all contributing to sodium intake; WHO recommends under 2,000 mg sodium/day for adults, and excess sodium from combined salt sources directly raises blood pressure in hypertensive individuals.

Kidney Disease — Multiple ingredients — chana dal, moong dal, chickpea flour, lentils, black salt, and iodized salt — contribute high potassium, phosphorus, protein, and sodium, all of which require restriction in chronic kidney disease; consumption should only be under medical or dietitian supervision.

Heart Disease — Refined palmolein and cottonseed oils contribute saturated and omega-6 fatty acids that may adversely alter lipoprotein profiles; iodized salt and black salt add to sodium load increasing cardiovascular morbidity risk as identified by WHO; and sucrose raises triglycerides and cardiometabolic risk.

Liver Disease — Refined cottonseed oil contains 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD process contaminants shown to have hepatotoxic properties in EFSA-reviewed animal studies; peanuts may harbour aflatoxin B1 (IARC Group 1 hepatocarcinogen) under suboptimal storage conditions, posing elevated risk to individuals with pre-existing liver impairment.

Nut Allergy — The product contains 5% peanuts as a declared ingredient and the label explicitly states 'Contains traces of Peanuts, Nuts'; even trace quantities can trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis in sensitised individuals per EFSA and FDA guidance.

Ibs — Several ingredients — chickpea flour, chana dal, moong dal, lentils, green peas, tapioca starch, and sucrose — are high-FODMAP or fermentable substrates that can trigger bloating, flatulence, and abdominal cramping in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.

Ibd — High insoluble fibre and oligosaccharide content from multiple legume ingredients (chickpea flour, chana dal, moong dal), combined with sulfide compounds from black salt and potential inflammatory effects of manufactured citric acid (INS 330), may aggravate intestinal symptoms during active IBD flares.

Gout — Green peas, chickpea flour, chana dal, and moong dal all contain moderate purine levels; habitual snacking could contribute to elevated serum uric acid and precipitate gout flares in susceptible individuals.

Thyroid Disease — Iodized salt contributes dietary iodine; both excess and insufficient iodine can worsen hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or other thyroid conditions, and physician guidance on total iodine intake is recommended for affected individuals.

The full analysis

Kaleva Khatta Meetha is a classic Indian namkeen bought for casual snacking and sharing. While it draws on wholesome traditional ingredients like lentils, peanuts, and whole spices, it is deep-fried in a blend of refined palmolein and cottonseed oils — both of which carry EFSA-identified process contaminants (glycidyl esters, 3-MCPD) — and contains an industrial acidity regulator (INS 330), placing it firmly in the ultra-processed (NOVA 4) category. The most useful thing a curious consumer should know is that the snack is moderate in sodium (150 mg per 30 g serving) and sugar (5 g/serving), making occasional consumption relatively low-risk for healthy adults, but the refined palm oil and additive content mean it should not be a dietary staple, especially for children, pregnant women, or those managing cardiovascular or metabolic conditions.

FSSAI licence

13318009000

Manufacturer

Kaleva

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched