⌕ Zoom

Photo from the brand's official website

Kaleva

Navratan

Name: Navratan
Brand: Kaleva

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4ultra-processedhigh saturated fathigh sodiumhigh fibercontains artificial flavourslactose-freegluten-freediabetic-safepregnancy-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

30 g

Pack

—

Ingredients

Barcode

6 82564 00310 1

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 8 ingredients

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

PeanutsCaution

Rice FlakesCaution

Spices & Condiments (Onion Powder, Black salt, Garlic Pepper, Dry Ginger, Cumin, Dry Ginger, Coriander, Black Pepper, Rice flour, Corn Flour, Tapioca Starch, Potato, Iodized Salt, Turmeric, Red Chili)Caution

Cleared 4▾

Huled GramCleared

SevCleared

Green PeasCleared

Acidity Regulator (INS 330 & INS 280)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.

2/5

claims fully supported

“Traditional Indian Taste”misleading

The product uses traditional Indian spice ingredients (cumin, coriander, chilli, ginger, black salt) but also contains synthetic food colours and nature-identical flavourings, which are not part of a traditional recipe.

“Bikaner Wale Ka”misleading

The manufacturer address on the label is '109 Bangla Sahib Road, Gole Market, New Delhi – 110001', not Bikaner. The claim implies Bikaner origin or craft, which is not supported by the available manufacturer details.

“Assortment of Spices & Tangy snacks made from variety of Ingredients”true

The ingredient list confirms multiple spices (cumin, coriander, red chilli, black pepper, garlic pepper, dry ginger, turmeric, onion powder, black salt) and a variety of base ingredients (gram, peanuts, sev, green peas, rice flakes). Tanginess is consistent with the acidity regulator INS 330 (citric acid).

“Multi-layer pack to hold the freshness”true

The packagingInfo field in the extra information explicitly states 'Multi-layer pack to hold the freshness', confirming this is a declared packaging attribute.

“The perfect snacks Anytime Anywhere”unverified

This is a subjective marketing statement; no nutritional, safety, or suitability data in any of the four sources can confirm or deny universal appropriateness across all times, places, or consumer groups.

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

Good dietary fibre source (~5–6 g per 100 g)
Meaningful plant protein content (~12.9 g per 100 g per label panel)
Includes whole-food legume ingredients: peanuts, green peas, hulled gram
Vegetarian certified; no animal-derived ingredients declared
FSSAI licensed with valid licence number on pack
No declared artificial preservatives (e.g. sodium benzoate, sorbate)

Working against

Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): synthetic flavours, colours, propylene glycol
Very high saturated fat: ~22 g per 100 g per label panel
High sodium: ~640 mg per 100 g per label panel
Refined palmolein oil carries GE and 3-MCPD process contaminants (EFSA genotoxic/carcinogenic concern)
Propylene glycol (INS 280) unsafe for infants and very young children
Deep-fried format; calorie-dense (~565 kcal per 100 g per label panel)
Peanuts present — severe allergen requiring strict avoidance in sensitised individuals
Significant nutrition data discrepancy between intake fields and raw label panel (possible OCR error in per-100 g values)

Who should approach with care

Infants — Multiple ingredients are unsafe for infants: refined palmolein and propylene glycol (E280) pose metabolic and toxicological risks in neonates; black salt and iodized salt exceed infant sodium thresholds; sev is a choking hazard; and pungent spices including onion powder, garlic pepper, dry ginger, and red chilli are contraindicated for infants.

Children — Children face elevated inorganic arsenic exposure from rice flakes and rice flour per EFSA, may exceed the curcumin ADI from turmeric at maximum use levels, have lower tolerance to red chilli capsaicin, and face reduced propylene glycol (E280) clearance under age 5.

Pregnancy — Refined palmolein contains EFSA-classified genotoxic GE contaminants; cottonseed oil harbours trace embryotoxic gossypol; rice flakes and rice flour contribute inorganic arsenic; and several spices (ginger, garlic, red chilli, black pepper) warrant moderation at anything beyond normal culinary amounts during pregnancy.

Hypertension — The product contains multiple high-sodium ingredients — iodized salt, black salt (kala namak), and sev — contributing approximately 640 mg sodium per 100 g per the label panel, which is a meaningful fraction of WHO's 2,000 mg/day limit for adults managing blood pressure.

Heart Disease — Very high saturated fat (~22 g/100 g) from palmolein and cottonseed oils, high sodium, deep-fried preparation, and the potential anticoagulant interactions of garlic and ginger at higher dietary doses collectively warrant caution for individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes — High-GI components (rice flakes, rice flour, tapioca starch, potato, corn flour) combined with the deep-fried, calorie-dense format can raise glycaemic load and contribute to post-prandial blood glucose spikes in individuals managing diabetes.

Kidney Disease — Black salt is rated 'avoid' for kidney disease as impaired kidneys cannot efficiently excrete sodium and potassium, risking fluid retention and electrolyte imbalance; additional high-potassium/phosphorus ingredients (bengal gram, green peas, potato, rice flour) compound the burden and require dietitian guidance.

Liver Disease — Peanuts can harbour aflatoxin B1 (IARC Group 1 hepatocarcinogen); cottonseed oil may carry trace gossypol with documented hepatotoxicity in animal studies; high-dose garlic compounds in seasoning and capsaicin metabolism via CYP2E1 may place additional burden on a compromised liver.

Nut Allergy — Peanuts are a declared ingredient at 8% and are one of the most severe IgE-mediated food allergens; even trace quantities can trigger anaphylaxis in sensitised individuals, and no safe threshold exists.

Ibs — The product is dense in IBS triggers: high-FODMAP ingredients (onion powder, garlic pepper, bengal gram, green peas, sev/besan) combined with capsaicin (red chilli), piperine (black pepper), and manufactured citric acid, all of which can worsen bloating, urgency, and abdominal discomfort.

Ibd — Cottonseed oil's high omega-6 content may promote intestinal inflammation; black salt's sulfide compounds and the FODMAP load from legumes and onion/garlic seasonings may aggravate mucosal symptoms; capsaicin (red chilli) and piperine (black pepper) are established mucosal irritants during active flares.

Gout — Bengal gram, green peas, and sev (besan) all contain purines that can modestly elevate uric acid; while legume purines are lower-risk than animal-source purines, portion control is advisable for individuals with active gout.

Sulfite Sensitivity — FSSAI permits up to 2,000 ppm sulphur dioxide as a preservative in commercially dried ginger, meaning the dry ginger in this product may contain residual sulfites sufficient to trigger reactions in sulfite-sensitive individuals.

Migraine — Red chilli (capsaicin) is a well-recognised dietary migraine trigger via TRPV1-mediated neurogenic inflammation and sensory nerve sensitisation in susceptible individuals.

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

The full analysis

Navratan is a traditional-format Indian namkeen bought by consumers seeking a convenient, flavourful savoury snack. The product is ultra-processed (NOVA 4) due to the presence of acidity regulators (INS 330, INS 280/propylene glycol) and declared nature-identical and synthetic food colourings and flavourings. A critical data-quality flag: the nutrition figures supplied in the main intake form (174 kcal, 13 g fat, 300 mg sodium per '100 g') closely match a 30 g serving calculation, not a 100 g basis — the raw label panel within the same submission shows substantially higher per-100 g values (565 kcal, 46.6 g fat, 640 mg sodium, 12.9 g protein), which are far more plausible for a deep-fried snack mix; consumers and clinicians should rely on the label panel figures. The most useful takeaway: this is a high-fat, high-sodium, ultra-processed snack that should be eaten in small, occasional portions — particularly by people managing blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes.

FSSAI licence

13318009000

Manufacturer

Kaleva

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched