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MTR

Sambar Powder

Name: Sambar Powder
Brand: MTR

Use in moderation On SafeShelf

NOVA 3no artificial additivesvegetarian certifiedno added sugarno preservativeswhole spice blendlactose-freegluten-freediabetic-safenut-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

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Pack

200 g

Ingredients

Barcode

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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

RiceCaution

Red ChiliCaution

FenugreekCaution

CassiaCaution

Cleared 2▾

CorianderCleared

CuminCleared

Why it’s on SafeShelf

Reviewed and added to SafeShelf — every ingredient checked against our safety, regulatory and processing standards.

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.

4/7

claims fully supported

“Pure and Perfect”unverified

A non-specific marketing phrase with no regulatory definition; ingredient list is clean but 'perfect' is not evaluable against any standard.

“Authentic Sambar taste”unverified

The ingredient profile — coriander, cumin, fenugreek, red chilli, cassia — is consistent with classical South Indian sambar masala formulations; sensory authenticity cannot be objectively verified.

“MTR Original Since 1978”true

Extra information confirms 'originalSince: Since 1978' and 'brandEstablished: Since 1924'; the Sambar Powder product line specifically dating to 1978 is supported by the label data.

“Suitable for Vegetarians”true

Certifications explicitly include 'Suitable for Vegetarians (V logo)' and vegetarianStatus is confirmed as 'veg'; all six ingredients are plant-derived.

“Ingredients for True South Indian Flavor”true

Coriander, cumin, red chilli, fenugreek, and cassia are canonical ingredients in South Indian sambar masala formulations; rice is used as a base/binder in many regional versions.

“Flavourful stew of lentils and vegetables, made the authentic South Indian way”unverified

This is a product description of the dish sambar (not the powder itself); it is a recipe usage description rather than a verifiable product attribute claim.

“Speciality of South India”true

Raw label data confirms 'originNote: Speciality of South India'; sambar is a well-documented South Indian culinary staple and the brand is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

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

No artificial colours, preservatives, or flavourings
Certified suitable for vegetarians
Short, recognisable ingredient list — all whole spices
No added sugars or sweeteners
No added sodium or MSG
Longstanding brand with documented formulation since 1978

Working against

Cassia contains high coumarin; hepatotoxic risk at frequent high-dose use
Fenugreek contraindicated in pregnancy at elevated doses
Red chilli may aggravate IBS, IBD, and acid reflux
Rice ingredient is a known dietary source of inorganic arsenic
Complete nutrition panel absent — macros cannot be assessed
No FSSAI licence number available for regulatory traceability

Who should approach with care

Pregnancy — Fenugreek has documented uterotonic properties that may stimulate uterine contractions and risk miscarriage or preterm labour; cassia and coriander at high supplemental doses also carry gestational cautions.

Lactation — Fenugreek is traditionally used as a galactagogue but high-dose use lacks sufficient clinical safety data for lactating women and nursing infants.

Infants — Cassia contains coumarin that is hepatotoxic, and infants have immature hepatic metabolism and very low body weight making them disproportionately vulnerable; rice also elevates inorganic arsenic exposure in this age group.

Children — Cassia's coumarin content can exceed EFSA's TDI of 0.1 mg/kg bw/day quickly in children due to lower body weight; red chilli may also cause GI discomfort in young children.

Liver Disease — Cassia contains high coumarin (mean ~3,856 mg/kg) which is hepatotoxic; individuals with pre-existing liver disease or CYP2A6 polymorphisms face significantly elevated risk of liver enzyme elevation even at moderate intake.

Diabetes — Fenugreek can potentiate antidiabetic medications and significantly increase hypoglycaemia risk; rice also has a high glycaemic index relevant to blood sugar management.

Kidney Disease — Red chilli capsaicin shows potential renal accumulation in animal studies and rice (brown variant) is high in phosphorus and potassium, warranting dietitian guidance for those with CKD.

Heart Disease — Fenugreek exhibits antiplatelet and mild anticoagulant activity and may interact with warfarin or other anticoagulant medications commonly used in heart disease management.

Ibs — Red chilli's capsaicin exacerbates GI motility and abdominal pain in IBS; fenugreek's high galactomannan content may worsen bloating and diarrhoea in sensitive individuals.

Ibd — Capsaicin-induced mucosal irritation and cinnamaldehyde from cassia can trigger or worsen flares in individuals with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Migraine — Capsaicin in red chilli is a recognised dietary migraine trigger via TRPV1-mediated neurogenic inflammation in susceptible individuals.

Nut Allergy — Fenugreek belongs to the Fabaceae (legume) family and cross-reactive IgE-mediated allergic responses have been reported in individuals with peanut or chickpea hypersensitivity.

Other — Individuals with known allergies to Apiaceae family plants (carrot, celery, fennel, parsley) may experience cross-reactive responses to both coriander and cumin present in this blend.

The full analysis

MTR Sambar Powder is a kitchen staple bought by home cooks seeking an authentic South Indian sambar base. The blend is commendably clean — no artificial colours, preservatives, or flavour enhancers — and all six ingredients are recognisable culinary spices or grains. However, several ingredients carry ingredient-level cautions worth flagging: cassia (a natural cinnamon variant) contains elevated coumarin levels that can be hepatotoxic at regular high intake, particularly for children and people with liver conditions; fenugreek has documented uterotonic activity making it a formal 'avoid' for pregnant women even in culinary forms at high dose; and red chilli can aggravate IBS and IBD. The most useful thing a curious consumer should know is that this is one of the cleaner commercial spice powders available, but the cassia and fenugreek content mean it is not entirely without consideration for sensitive groups.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched