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Cadbury Choclairs is a widely consumed chocolate toffee in India, especially popular among kids.
As harmless the product seems to be, we are taken aback by the presence of harmful ingredients like hydrogenated vegetable fat in it along with a very high sugar content.
The product contains a high amount of sugar at 55.7 gm per 100 gm pack. High sugar consumption can cause childhood obesity and the onset of diabetes in kids. Such high sugar products must be eaten very sparingly and occasionally.
The product contains edible vegetable oil-palmolein oil, palm kernel oil and rice bran oil.
Rice bran oil has a high omega-6 content. A high consumption of omega-6 PUFA, may increase risk of several diseases if not balanced with adequate consumption of Omega 3 fats.
This product contains palm oil as one of the ingredients which is generally a safe oil as unlike most other vegetable oils, palmolein is primarily saturated fat. It does not have too much PUFA, which can get oxidized under heat and is often rendered toxic.
However, last year, the safety authority delivered a scientific report that current levels of glycerol-based process contaminants found in palm oil are a “potential health concern.” Animal studies have identified these contaminants, which are formed when vegetable oils are heated to high temperatures and then refined, as both genotoxic (damaging to DNA) and carcinogenic (causing cancer). Of all vegetable oils, palm oil was found to have the highest levels of these contaminants. At high levels of exposure, these contaminants are a health hazard for all age groups, the authority concluded, expressing particular concern for infants, toddlers and children under the age of 10.
Partially Hydrogenated and Hydrogenated fats are a source of trans fatty acids or “transfats”, which are harmful to health. Transfats increase the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, cancer and many other ailments.
Hydrogenated fat is widely used. We see it listed in the ingredients of margarine, biscuits, cakes, frozen meals, fried foods, sweets, crisps, fish fingers and many dairy products. It’s popular with food manufacturers because it gives food structure and does not feel or taste oily.
The foodnetindia rating for this product :-
foodnetindia safety rating : 3– (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unsafe to very safe)
The product has a high amount of sugar at 55.7 gm per 100 gm of the product. We specifically do not recommend this as a product suitable for frequent consumption by children who end up getting a lot of sugar from other sources.
It contains Hydrogenated vegetable fats which are a source of trans fatty acids or “transfats”, which are harmful to health. Transfats increase the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, cancer and many other ailments.
Transfats are toxic and some cities like New York have banned them from use in restaurants. Transfats have been shown to consistently be associated, in an intake-dependent way, with risk of coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death. They may also be responsible for alzheimer’s disease, cancer, liver disease and many more ailments.
Hydrogenated fat is widely used. We see it listed in the ingredients of margarine, biscuits, cakes, frozen meals, fried foods, sweets, crisps, fish fingers and many dairy products. It’s popular with food manufacturers because it gives food structure and does not feel or taste oily.
foodnetindia wholesomeness rating : 3 -(On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unbalanced nutrition profile to excellent nutrition profile)
The product contains wholesome milk solids, cocoa solids and cocoa butter in it, but the use of hydrogenated vegetable fats and high sugar is the reason why we are giving it a low rating.
Ingredients in Cadbury Choclairs which are a concern:
Liquid glucose
Sugar
Hydrogenated vegetable Fat
Edible vegetable oil-Rice bran oil
Salt
Sugar
The product contains 55.7 gm sugar per 100 gm of the product. Sugar is a carbohydrate found naturally in a host of different foods from lactose in milk to the fructose in fruit and honey. In fact, we need some sugar in our diets to supply ready energy to fuel our muscles and keep our brains active. The problem is that many processed foods have added sugar which supplies energy in the form of calories – and very little else. This means our body has to draw on the nutrients from the rest of our diet to process it and this can affect our health, including our immunity – leaving us more prone to bugs and colds. A high intake of sugar causes our blood sugar levels to shoot up, giving us that feel-good ‘high’ followed by a crashing slump which leaves us tired, irritable and craving more sugary foods. It’s a vicious cycle that may be contributing to our weight problems as well as health concerns like diabetes and heart disease.
Glucose Syrup
Glucose syrup, also known as confectioner’s glucose, is a syrup made from the hydrolisis of starch. Glucose is a sugar.
Excessive sugar consumption is linked to a wide variety of metabolic diseases
Edible Vegetable Oil-Rice Bran Oil
This product contains edible vegetable oil- Rice bran oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil. Rice bran oil is extracted from the germ and inner husk of rice, majority of rice bran oil on the market is chemically extracted using solvents, in particular petroleum-derived hexane and high heat which may destroy the antioxidants in it and oxidise the PUFA.
We do not have a clarification from the brand on the methods used for extraction.
One of the main features of Rice bran oil is that it contains Oryzanol, found to be a powerful antioxidant only found in rice bran oil. Oryzanol may reduce liver cholesterol synthesis and may be useful for treating menopausal disorders.
Rice bran oil has a high omega-6 content, which can be detrimental to health if oxidised by high heat cooking excessively. In addition, a high consumption of omega-6 PUFA, may increase risk of several diseases if not balanced with adequate consumption of Omega 3 fats.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Fat.
Partially Hydrogenated and Hydrogenated fats are a source of trans fatty acids or “transfats”, which are harmful to health. Transfats increase the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, cancer and many other ailments.
Transfats are toxic and some cities like New York have banned them from use in restaurants.
Transfats have been shown to consistently be associated, in an intake-dependent way, with risk of coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death. They may also be responsible for alzheimer’s disease, cancer, liver disease and many more ailments.
Hydrogenated fat is widely used. We see it listed in the ingredients of margarine, biscuits, cakes, frozen meals, fried foods, sweets, crisps, fish fingers and many dairy products. It’s popular with food manufacturers because it gives food structure and does not feel or taste oily.
Ingredients which are not a concern:
Milk solids
Palmolein oil, Palm kernel oil
Cocoa solids
Emulsifiers( 442, 471, 442,476)
Stabiliser 414
Cocoa butter
Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information. foodnetindia encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
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