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Haldiram's

Lemon Bhel (Limbu Mamra)

Name: Lemon Bhel (Limbu Mamra)
Brand: Haldiram's

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4no added sugarultra-processedhigh sodiumcontains trans fatFSSAI registeredgluten-freediabetic-safenut-freelactose-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

20 g

Pack

200 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8904004400649

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 10 ingredients

Puffed RiceCaution

Refined Palmolein OilCaution

AsafoetidaCaution

Cleared 7▾

Bengal Gram Flour (Besan)Cleared

Split Pulse Bengal Gram (Chana Dal)Cleared

Curry LeavesCleared

Iodised SaltCleared

TurmericE100Cleared

Lemon PowderCleared

Acidity 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.

0/2

claims fully supported

“Tangy, Lite Any Time Snack”misleading

The product delivers 509 kcal and 24.53 g total fat per 100 g; a single 20 g serving provides ~102 kcal and ~4.9 g fat. 'Lite' typically implies reduced calorie or fat content; no such reduction claim or comparative benchmark is substantiated by the nutrition panel. The tangy descriptor is consistent with lemon powder and citric acid.

“An Eco Friendly Organisation”unverified

The label carries a CPCB Registration No. (BO-15-000-07-AAACH3628L-22) and the packaging instructions reference compliance with extended producer responsibility rules, and ecoFriendlyOrganisation is flagged true in the label data. However, no independent third-party environmental certification (e.g., ISO 14001, GreenPro) is present to substantiate a broad 'eco friendly organisation' claim.

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

Zero added sugar — declared sugar is 0 g per 100 g
Contains dietary fibre (3.1 g per 100 g) from pulse ingredients
Moderate protein contribution (9.45 g per 100 g) from besan and chana dal
FSSAI licensed manufacturer (Lic. No. 10015022004173)
Vegetarian product with no artificial colours or sweeteners

Working against

Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): contains industrial acidity regulator INS 330
High calorie density — 509 kcal per 100 g for a snack portion
Refined palmolein oil carries EFSA-flagged GE and 3-MCPD process contaminants
Elevated sodium — 568 mg per 100 g; 5 servings equals near full daily limit
Contains trans fat (0.1 g per 100 g, at limit of quantification per label caveat)
High glycaemic index puffed rice base — concern for blood sugar management
Asafoetida is unsafe during pregnancy and in infants

Who should approach with care

Pregnancy — Asafoetida has documented uterine-stimulating and abortifacient properties; additionally, refined palmolein oil carries EFSA-flagged genotoxic GE contaminants, puffed rice poses inorganic arsenic exposure risk, and iodised salt iodine balance during pregnancy requires clinical guidance.

Infants — Asafoetida is directly linked to methemoglobinemia in infants; iodised salt is inappropriate for immature renal function; refined palmolein oil's GE/3-MCPD contaminants pose the highest relative risk in this age group; and puffed rice presents elevated inorganic arsenic exposure per FDA and EFSA guidance.

Lactation — Asafoetida's bioactive sulfur compounds may transfer into breast milk with unknown infant safety implications, and iodised salt alone may not meet the elevated iodine requirements of lactating women — both warrant clinician guidance.

Children — Refined palmolein oil's GE and 3-MCPD contaminants approach tolerable levels at lower body weights; puffed rice inorganic arsenic exposure is disproportionate in children under five; and citric acid at high dietary frequency contributes to dental enamel erosion in developing dentition.

Diabetes — Puffed rice has a high glycaemic index (~82–87) and can cause rapid postprandial blood glucose spikes; culinary-dose curry leaves also have documented hypoglycaemic activity that may additively affect antidiabetic medication dosing.

Hypertension — Sodium from iodised salt contributes 568 mg per 100 g; individuals with hypertension need to track cumulative daily sodium closely, and regular snacking on this product can materially contribute to exceeding WHO's 2,000 mg/day threshold.

Heart Disease — Refined palmolein oil's palmitic acid content may adversely affect LDL and lipoprotein profiles; iodised salt raises sodium load; asafoetida has anticoagulant properties that may interact with warfarin or antiplatelet drugs; and turmeric at higher doses can interact with anticoagulant therapies.

Kidney Disease — Bengal gram flour and split chana dal are relatively high in potassium and phosphorus requiring mineral restriction in CKD; iodised salt compounds sodium and iodine load; and lemon powder and citric acid may alter urinary pH and mineral handling in compromised renal function.

Thyroid Disease — Iodised salt can precipitate iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis or worsen autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease in susceptible individuals.

Epilepsy — Ferulic acid and related compounds in asafoetida may have CNS-stimulatory effects that could theoretically lower seizure threshold in susceptible individuals per preliminary pharmacological literature.

Ibs — Bengal gram flour, split chana dal (both high-FODMAP legumes), asafoetida (GI mucosal irritant at higher doses), and manufactured citric acid (case-series reported GI inflammatory triggers) collectively make this product likely to aggravate IBS symptoms.

Ibd — High FODMAP and fibre content from pulse ingredients may exacerbate active IBD flares; manufactured citric acid may elicit inflammatory responses via Aspergillus niger residues; lemon powder's concentrated citric acid may irritate gastrointestinal mucosa.

Migraine — Lemon powder is derived from Citrus limon, a recognized dietary migraine trigger in susceptible individuals attributed to phenolic content and biogenic amines.

Gout — Split Bengal gram and besan contain moderate levels of purines as legume-derived ingredients; individuals with gout or hyperuricaemia are generally advised to moderate legume intake.

G6pd Deficiency — Chickpea-derived ingredients (besan and chana dal) contain oxidative compounds; while favism is classically linked to fava beans, individuals with G6PD deficiency should consult a physician before regular consumption.

The full analysis

Lemon Bhel is a popular grab-and-go namkeen bought for its tangy, crunchy profile. On the surface it looks simple, but the product is ultra-processed (NOVA 4) due to the industrial use of INS 330 as an acidity regulator and the refined palmolein oil that carries process contaminants (GE and 3-MCPD) flagged by EFSA as genotoxic and carcinogenic respectively. The 'Lite' framing is the most important thing to push back on: at 509 kcal and 24.5 g fat per 100 g, this is a calorie-dense, relatively high-fat fried snack — the most useful thing a curious consumer should know before reaching for a second serving.

FSSAI licence

10015022004173

Manufacturer

Haldiram Foods International Pvt. Ltd. (Unit-Hariomkar)

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched