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POLO

POLO Mint

Name: POLO Mint
Brand: POLO

Use in moderation Not on SafeShelf

NOVA 4ultra-processedhigh added sugarno artificial coloursno artificial sweetenerszero fatempty calorieslactose-freegluten-freenut-freepregnancy-safeenjoy in moderation

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Ingredients

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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 6 ingredients

SugarCaution

Liquid glucoseCaution

Natural flavourCaution

Natural flavouring substanceCaution

Cleared 2▾

Edible StarchCleared

Anticaking agent (470(i))Cleared

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 total fat and zero saturated fat
No artificial colours declared
No artificial sweeteners used

Working against

Extremely high added sugar: 90.2 g per 100 g
Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) — contains glucose syrup and food additives
No protein, fibre, vitamins, or minerals — empty calories only
Liquid glucose (glucose syrup) raises glycaemic load significantly
Strong dental caries risk from near-pure sugar matrix
No FSSAI licence number present on available label data

Who should approach with care

Diabetes — Both sucrose and liquid glucose have a high glycaemic index and cause rapid postprandial blood-glucose spikes; at 90.2 g sugar per 100 g this product is particularly hazardous for individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Infants — Liquid glucose (added sugar) is not recommended in foods for infants under 12 months, and natural flavouring substances have not been assessed as safe for very young infants at standard dietary concentrations.

Children — WHO and EFSA identify high free-sugar intake in children as a leading cause of dental caries and excess weight gain; the near-pure sugar composition of this product makes it a significant risk for developing dentition.

Heart Disease — High free-sugar consumption from sucrose and liquid glucose is associated with elevated triglycerides, blood pressure, and cardiometabolic risk factors per WHO and EFSA evidence reviews.

Hypertension — Excess sugar intake is linked to raised blood pressure in cardiometabolic studies cited by WHO, and the sodium-containing anticaking agent E470i may marginally contribute to sodium load in individuals on strict sodium-restricted diets.

Kidney Disease — High sugar intake contributes to obesity, hypertension, and diabetes — all independent risk factors for chronic kidney disease progression — and sodium from E470i may be relevant where renal sodium clearance is impaired.

Ibs — High sucrose and glucose syrup loads can increase osmotic pressure in the gut and exacerbate bloating, diarrhoea, and abdominal discomfort in individuals with IBS; fermentable starch may compound symptoms.

Gout — High glucose and fructose intakes from liquid glucose (glucose syrup) can elevate serum uric acid levels and may trigger or worsen gout episodes in susceptible individuals.

Gluten Intolerance — Edible starch may be wheat-derived and could contain residual gluten traces; the product is not certified gluten-free, making it a risk for individuals with coeliac disease or non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.

Pregnancy — Natural flavour and natural flavouring substance ingredients may contain botanically derived constituents with uterotonic or fetotoxic potential; EFSA flags pregnant women as a sensitive population in flavouring safety evaluations.

Phenylketonuria — Certain natural flavour preparations may contain or be co-processed with phenylalanine-bearing compounds; individuals with PKU should confirm the specific flavouring source with the manufacturer before consumption.

Nut Allergy — Natural flavouring substances may be derived from tree nuts or peanuts; FSSAI and other jurisdictions require only the class name on the label, so individuals with nut allergies cannot verify the source without contacting the manufacturer.

Shellfish Allergy — Natural flavouring substance preparations may originate from crustaceans or molluscs; class-name-only labelling means shellfish-allergic individuals cannot identify the source from the ingredient list alone.

Sulfite Sensitivity — Some botanical-derived natural flavouring preparations (e.g., grape or wine-based extracts) may contain naturally occurring sulphites that could trigger reactions in sulfite-sensitive individuals, including those with asthma.

The full analysis

POLO Mint is one of India's most recognisable impulse-buy candies, typically purchased as a breath freshener or quick sweet treat. At 90.2 g of sugar per 100 g — the vast majority of which is added sugar from sucrose and liquid glucose — the product is essentially a delivery mechanism for free sugars with a mint aroma layered on top. While the tiny per-piece serving size limits absolute sugar intake per candy, habitual use or consuming multiple pieces adds up quickly, and the product offers zero nutritional value beyond calories. The single most useful thing a curious consumer should know is that each roll is almost entirely sugar, making it a product to treat as an occasional indulgence rather than a routine mouth-freshening habit, particularly for children, diabetics, and anyone watching their dental health.

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Analysis

Independently researched