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The Healthy Binge

Quinoa Crispies Smokey BBQ

Name: Quinoa Crispies Smokey BBQ
Brand: The Healthy Binge

Use in moderation Not on SafeShelf

NOVA 4baked not friedlow sugarvitamin b12 fortifiedno preservativesultra-processedlactose-freepregnancy-safenut-freediabetic-safeinfant-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

40 g

Pack

—

Ingredients

Barcode

8908015363169

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 · 2 ingredients shown

Caution2 of 9 ingredients

Tower FlourCaution

Refined Sunflower OilCaution

Cleared 6▾

Quinoa FlourCleared

Rice FlourCleared

Potato PowderCleared

Vitamin B12Cleared

Spices and condimentsCleared

INS 551E551Cleared

Unknown 1▾

Nature & Nature identical flavouring substancesUnknown

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.

3/9

claims fully supported

“Good Source of Iron”false

Iron is 1.53mg per 100g (6.38% RDA per 100g). At the declared 40g serving, this provides approximately 2.55% of daily iron RDA — well below the FSSAI threshold of ≥15% RDA per serving required to claim 'good source'.

“Baked Healthy Snack”true

The brand description explicitly states 'fully baked'; the low saturated fat and near-zero trans fat are consistent with a baked product. The 'healthy' qualifier is subjective and contested given the ultra-processed nature, but the baked claim is supported.

“Rich Source of Vitamin E”misleading

Vitamin E is 1.84mg per 100g (15.48% RDA per 100g). At the 40g serving size, this provides approximately 6.19% of daily RDA — far below the ≥30% RDA per serving threshold required under FSSAI guidelines to claim 'rich source'. The product contains vitamin E but not at a level that justifies 'rich source'.

“50% Less Fat”unverified

The product contains 7.38g fat per 100g. No reference product or comparator is specified on the label or in any of the four data sources, making this claim impossible to verify.

“No Trans Fat”true

Trans fat is declared as 0.0004g per 100g, which rounds to 0.00g and is below detectable thresholds — consistent with the 0.00% RDA shown. The claim is substantiated.

“Indigenous Ingredients”misleading

The product is manufactured in India; the extra information references ingredients sourced from Indian farmers practicing regenerative farming. However, quinoa is not native to India (it originates from the Andes), so at least one primary ingredient is not indigenous. The claim is partially undermined.

“Gluten Free”false

The ingredient list includes Tower Flour, which is an alias for refined wheat flour (Maida) — a gluten-containing grain. This directly contradicts the 'Gluten Free' claim and poses a serious risk to consumers with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

“Sizzling Taste”unverified

This is a subjective sensory marketing claim with no objective measurable standard. None of the four data sources can confirm or deny it.

“As seen on Shark Tank India”true

The extra information field 'sharkTankIndia' explicitly states 'As seen on Shark Tank India', confirming this 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

Baked, not fried — confirmed by brand
Very low sugar (0.44g per 100g)
Low saturated fat (0.74g per 100g)
Effectively zero trans fat (0.0004g per 100g)
Fortified with Vitamin B12
Moderate dietary fibre (4.35g per 100g)

Working against

Contains refined wheat flour (Maida) — contradicts 'Gluten Free' claim
Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): nature-identical flavourings and anti-caking additive
High glycemic load: Maida, rice flour, and potato powder are all high-GI
Iron and Vitamin E content do not meet 'good source'/'rich source' thresholds at serving
Manufactured in a facility that also processes nuts — cross-contamination risk
No percentages declared for individual ingredients

Who should approach with care

Gluten Intolerance — The product contains Tower Flour (refined wheat flour/Maida), which contains gluten proteins (gliadin and glutenin) that trigger an autoimmune intestinal response in celiac disease and cause symptoms in non-celiac gluten sensitivity — the 'Gluten Free' label on this product is false and must be disregarded.

Diabetes — Three of the primary carbohydrate ingredients — refined wheat flour (GI ~70–74), rice flour (moderately high GI), and potato powder (high GI) — can cause rapid postprandial blood glucose spikes, making portion control essential for individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance.

Ibs — Quinoa flour contains FODMAPs and residual saponins, refined wheat flour contributes fermentable fructans, potato solids contribute resistant starch and fructans, and refined sunflower oil may trigger fat-induced GI symptoms — multiple ingredients compound IBS risk.

Ibd — Residual saponins and high fibre in quinoa flour may aggravate intestinal inflammation, the refined wheat flour carries pro-inflammatory refined-carbohydrate burden, and excess omega-6 from sunflower oil may amplify inflammatory signalling in active IBD; medical guidance is advised before consumption.

Infants — Multiple ingredients — quinoa flour (residual saponins, high fibre), rice flour (inorganic arsenic exposure), potato solids (high salt/fat in processed form), and cyanocobalamin (dose guidance needed) — are each individually flagged as requiring paediatric guidance for infants.

Children — Refined wheat flour and rice flour displace more nutrient-dense whole grains, while EFSA has flagged glycidyl fatty acid ester exposure from refined vegetable oils (including sunflower oil) as a potential health concern for all younger age groups, warranting moderation.

Pregnancy — Rice flour contributes inorganic arsenic exposure (a developmental concern per WHO and FDA), refined wheat flour may displace folate- and B-vitamin-rich whole grains critical for fetal neural tube development, and EFSA-flagged heavy-metal impurities in E551 represent an additional concern for pregnant individuals.

Kidney Disease — Quinoa flour contributes oxalate and potassium, potato solids are a significant source of potassium (potentially dangerous in advanced renal failure), and both rice flour and silicon dioxide (E551) require renal clearance — combined burden warrants caution and medical supervision.

Hypertension — The product contains 245mg sodium per 100g (12.26% RDA per 100g), and potato solids in processed snack form frequently carry added sodium; individuals managing hypertension should be mindful of cumulative sodium intake from this product.

Heart Disease — High-linoleic refined sunflower oil (~65% omega-6) with negligible omega-3 may promote pro-inflammatory eicosanoid production, and high refined-grain (Maida) intake is associated with elevated postprandial triglycerides and LDL in individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.

Phenylketonuria — Refined wheat flour contributes phenylalanine via its protein content (~10–12g protein per 100g flour); individuals with PKU must account for total phenylalanine intake across all protein-containing foods including wheat-based snacks.

The full analysis

Quinoa Crispies Smokey BBQ attracts health-conscious urban snackers drawn to its quinoa branding and 'baked, not fried' positioning — but the product's reality is more complicated than its packaging suggests. The single most critical issue is the 'Gluten Free' claim: the ingredient list clearly includes Tower Flour, which is refined wheat flour (Maida), making this claim outright false and dangerous for anyone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Beyond that, the product is ultra-processed (NOVA 4) due to the presence of nature-identical flavouring substances and an anti-caking additive (INS 551), and its iron and vitamin E content fall well short of the 'good source' and 'rich source' thresholds at a realistic 40g serving. On the positive side, sodium is moderate, sugar is very low, and it is genuinely baked — the most useful single thing a consumer should know is: do not trust the 'Gluten Free' label on this pack if you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

FSSAI licence

11521898000275

Manufacturer

NutriHoods

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched