Summary feedback
Cadbury Gems is a favourite with the Indian consumer for the last four decades. They are colourful button shaped chocolates which have been a favourite with kids and adults alike for years.
People tend to consume it in large quantities without looking at the nutritional label. Just 100 gm of this product contains an astounding 61.8 gm sugar which is extremely high and can cause diabetes and obesity if consumed regularly.
The foodnetindia rating for this product :-
foodnetindia safety rating: 2 – (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unsafe to very safe)
This product contains hydrogenated vegetable fats which are a source of trans fatty acids or “trans-fats”, which are harmful to health. Trans-fats increase the likelihood of heart disease,
In India and abroad, this product is consumed in large quantities, but this can be very detrimental to health as in just 100 gm serving of this product there is 13.4 gm of fat which is bad for the obese and those with lifestyle diseases.
foodnetindia wholesomeness rating: 3 – (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unbalanced nutrition profile to excellent nutrition profile)
Cadbury Gems contains wholesome milk and cocoa solids but the high sugar content and the hydrogenated vegetable fats in it makes it potentially unsafe and harmful for the obese and those suffering from lifestyle diseases.
Ingredients in Cadbury Gems which are a concern
• Sugar
• Liquid Glucose
• Hydrogenated Vegetable Fat
• Colours: IN 171, IN 102, IN 133, IN 127, IN 124, IN 132, IN 110
Hydrogenated Vegetable Fat
Partially Hydrogenated and Hydrogenated fats are a source of trans fatty acids or “trans-fats”, which are harmful to health. Trans-fats increase the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, cancer and many other ailments.
Trans-fats are toxic and some cities like New York have banned them from use in restaurants.
Trans-fats 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.
Sugar
Cadbury Gems contains 61.8 gm sugar in 100 gm serving. This food product does not specify which sugar has been used. This is important because different sugars have different metabolic effects. For example, Sucrose (Cane Sugar) is very different from Fructose (Fruit Sugar). Some foods use high fructose corn syrup which may be harmful in much lower quantities than sucrose. We believe that it is not responsible behaviour for a brand to not clearly state what ingredients have been used.
Liquid Glucose
Glucose syrup, also known as confectioner’s glucose, is a syrup made from the hydrolysis of starch. Glucose is a sugar.
Excessive sugar consumption is linked to a wide variety of metabolic diseases
Colours
Titanium Dioxide IN 171
It is a natural white mineral. White colour for surface coating, used to separate layers in products; whitening agent in toothpaste.
Tartrazine IN 102
Tartrazine is an azo dye. No side effects are known for pure tartrazine, except in people who are intolerant to salicylates (aspirin, berries, fruits); in that case tartrazine also induces intolerance symptoms. In combination with benzoates (E210-215), tartrazine is implicated in a large percentage of cases of ADHD syndrome (hyperactivity) in children. Asthmatics may also experience symptoms following consumption of tartrazine, as it is a known histamine-liberating agent.
Brilliant blue FCF:IN 133
It is synthetic blue colour. Blue food colour. Very soluble in water. It is used in ice cream and a few other food products, but mostly in cosmetics. Side effects rarely occur in the concentrations used. Some allergic reactions have been reported.
Erythrosine:IN 127
Synthetic iodine-containing red dye. Red food colour. Very soluble in water. Few side effects in the concentrations used in foods. Increased hyperactivity has been reported in a few cases, as well as a possible connection with mutagenicity. Erythrosine causes an increased photosensitivity in people with sensitivity to sunlight. In high concentrations erythrosine interferes with iodine metabolism. However, these concentrations cannot be reached through the consumption of food.
Ponceau 4R (Cochineal red A):IN 124
Synthetic azo dye. Red food colour. Very soluble in water. Since it is an azo dye, it may elicit intolerance in people intolerant to salicylates. Additionally, it is a histamine liberator, and may intensify symptoms of asthma. In combination with benzoates, it is also implicated in hyperactivity in children.
Indigotine (Indigo carmine):IN 132
Blue colour, naturally present in the shrub Indigofera tinctoria , though commercially it is produced synthetically.
Side effects rarely occur in the concentrations used in foods. Rare allergic reactions have been described, due to coupling of the colour to (body) proteins. It can also function as a histamine liberator.
Sunset Yellow: IN 110
Synthetic azo dye. Yellow food colour. Very soluble in water.
Since it is an azo dye, it may elicit intolerance in people intolerant to salicylates. Additionally, it is a histamine liberator, and may intensify symptoms of asthma. In combination with benzoates, it is also implicated in hyperactivity in children.
Ingredients present in Cadbury Gems which are not a concern
· Milk Solids
· Refined Wheat Flour
· Emulsifiers: IN 414, IN 442, IN 476
· Glazing Agent: IN 903
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