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Kurkure

Kurkure Masala Munch

Name: Kurkure Masala Munch
Brand: Kurkure

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4ultra-processedhigh saturated fathigh sodiumcontains palm oilno artificial colourslactose-freegluten-freenut-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

20 g

Pack

82 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8901491100519

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 12 ingredients

Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein Oil)Caution

SaltCaution

SugarCaution

DextroseCaution

Cleared 8▾

Rice MealCleared

Corn MealCleared

Spices and Condiments (Onion Powder, Red Chilli Powder, Amchur Powder, Coriander Seed Powder, Garlic Flakes & Powder, Ginger Powder, Black Pepper Powder, Turmeric Powder, Spice Extract, Fenugreek)Cleared

Gram MealCleared

Tomato PowderCleared

Citric Acid (330)E330Cleared

Milk SolidsCleared

Edible StarchCleared

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.

2/4

claims fully supported

“Made with Dal, Corn & Rice”true

Gram meal (dal) at 3.3%, corn meal at 19.7%, and rice meal at 42.7% are all confirmed in the declared ingredient percentages.

“Namkeen”true

Product is classified under FSSAI packaging as 'Proprietary Food – Namkeen (15.1)' and categorised as an extruded/puffed namkeen snack; the descriptor is accurate.

“Kurkure ka masti bhara pack khul jaaye to dhamaal ho jaaye!”unverified

This is a Hindi marketing slogan ('When you open Kurkure's fun-filled pack, the party begins!') — it is a subjective brand expression with no verifiable nutritional or factual content to evaluate.

“Partnering with Farmers”unverified

The label directs consumers to www.pepsicoindia.co.in for details, but no certification, audit report, or programme details are provided in any of the four data sources to verify the nature or scope of this partnership.

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

FSSAI licensed product with traceable manufacturer codes
Uses natural spices and no declared artificial colours
Vegetarian certified (green dot)
Low added sugar per serve (0.8g = 0.3% RDA)
Contains gram meal and rice — recognisable whole-grain bases

Working against

Very high saturated fat: 15.2g/100g (palmolein oil primary driver)
High sodium: 694mg/100g — full pack delivers ~569mg
Contains palmolein oil: linked to raised LDL and process contaminants (GE, 3-MCPD)
Ultra-processed NOVA 4: dextrose, nature-identical flavourings, citric acid additive
Contains trans fat (0.1g/100g), though below FSSAI 0.2g/100g limit
High energy density: 556 kcal/100g with little fibre or micronutrient payoff

Who should approach with care

Infants — Red chilli powder (capsaicin) is explicitly contraindicated for infants due to severe GI mucosal irritation; additionally, rice meal contributes inorganic arsenic risk, onion and garlic contain FODMAP irritants, and the high sodium content is wholly inappropriate for infant physiology.

Children — High sodium (694mg/100g) exceeds age-adjusted WHO limits when consumed in typical quantities; saturated fat from palmolein, dextrose contributing to dental caries risk, and capsaicin-induced GI irritation are cumulative concerns for younger children.

Pregnancy — High sodium may worsen gestational hypertension risk; palmolein oil process contaminants (GE, 3-MCPD) warrant moderation; fenugreek at high doses has uterotonic properties, and inorganic arsenic from rice meal poses fetal developmental concern.

Lactation — Fenugreek (a galactagogue) and ginger are present; while culinary amounts are low-risk, limited safety data exist for nursing infants exposed via breast milk, and high sodium intake is generally discouraged during lactation.

Diabetes — Dextrose (GI ~100), sucrose, rice meal, and corn meal all drive rapid postprandial blood glucose elevation; the high energy density and refined carbohydrate base make this product a poor choice for individuals managing blood sugar.

Hypertension — Sodium at 694mg/100g (a full pack delivers ~569mg) directly elevates blood pressure; palmolein's high saturated fat further compounds adverse lipid profiles in hypertensive individuals per WHO and EFSA NDA assessments.

Kidney Disease — High sodium (salt ingredient) cannot be efficiently excreted by impaired kidneys, worsening fluid retention and renal decline; gram meal and milk solids contribute phosphorus and potassium loads that further burden restricted renal diets.

Heart Disease — High saturated fat from palmolein (15.2g/100g), elevated sodium, dextrose, and sucrose collectively raise LDL, triglycerides, and blood pressure — all independent cardiovascular risk factors; WHO links high sodium alone to 1.89 million deaths annually.

Liver Disease — Capsaicin from red chilli powder is metabolised by hepatic CYP2E1 to reactive phenoxy radicals capable of focal hepatic necrosis at high doses in animal studies; high-dose turmeric (curcumin) also carries hepatotoxic signals flagged by UK COT.

Ibs — Multiple high-FODMAP ingredients are present — onion powder, garlic (flakes and powder), and gram meal — alongside capsaicin (TRPV1 gut irritant), fenugreek galactomannan, and citric acid, all of which can trigger bloating, cramping, and altered bowel habits.

Ibd — Capsaicin, piperine, garlic, onion, fenugreek, and concentrated spice extracts can all individually aggravate mucosal inflammation and worsen flares of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Lactose Intolerance — Milk solids are a declared ingredient and confirmed allergen on the label; lactose-intolerant individuals may experience bloating, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramps.

Nut Allergy — Fenugreek belongs to the Fabaceae (legume) family and cross-reactive IgE-mediated allergic responses have been documented in individuals with peanut or other legume hypersensitivity; gram meal (chickpea) similarly carries legume cross-reactivity risk.

Migraine — Red chilli powder (capsaicin) is a recognised dietary trigger for migraine headaches in susceptible individuals.

Elderly — Age-related decline in renal sodium excretion capacity makes the elderly disproportionately susceptible to the hypertensive effects of the product's high sodium content, as noted by FDA.

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

Gluten Intolerance — Corn meal, gram flour, and edible starch may be cross-contaminated with gluten during processing; no certified gluten-free declaration is present on the label, making this product risky for coeliac individuals.

The full analysis

Kurkure Masala Munch is one of India's most recognisable grab-and-go snacks, popular across age groups for its punchy masala flavour and crispy texture. Beneath the familiar orange pack, the nutrition profile tells a less cheerful story: at 556 kcal/100g, 33.7g total fat (15.2g saturated — largely from palmolein oil), and 694mg sodium per 100g, a single 82g pack delivers over 450 kcal, 27.7g fat, and 569mg sodium — roughly a quarter of an adult's daily sodium allowance in one sitting. The product contains dextrose and sucrose alongside added nature-identical flavouring substances, firmly placing it in NOVA Group 4 (ultra-processed). Individuals with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease should be particularly cautious, and the product is wholly unsuitable for infants. The most useful thing a curious consumer should know: this is an occasional-treat food, not a daily snack — its saturated fat and sodium load accumulates rapidly across a full pack.

FSSAI licence

10014064000435

Manufacturer

Multiple manufacturers — see batch code prefix: N1: PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt. Ltd. Lic. No. 10012063000110; N2: PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt. Ltd. Lic. No. 10012022000339; N3: PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt. Ltd. Lic. No. 10012031000120; DF: Daawat Foods Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched