Summary feedback
Cadbury Oreo Dipped Chocolate Cookie is a new product launched by the company in India.
It contains sandwich biscuit 61%-(refined wheat flour, sugar, edible vegetable fat, palmolein, invert sugar, cocoa solids 2.3%, leavening agents IN 500ii, 503ii, edible salt emulsifier IN 322.
The choco coating 39% contains sugar, hydrogenated vegetable fat, milk solids 6%, cocoa solids 3%, emulsifier IN 442, 476 and added flavouring substances natural, nature identical and artificial(vanilla and caramel).
Oreo Dipped Chocolate Cookies should be eaten only in very small quantities and infrequently as it is a high sugar product at 47.9 gm per 100 gm pack. High sugar consumption by kids can cause obesity and make them susceptible to lifestyle diseases.
The product has a high sodium content of 326 mg or 1 gm salt per 100 grams. This is high as the WHO recommended salt intake per day is 1-3 gm. High salt consumption may cause hypertension and can be harmful for those with kidney disease.
It also contains hydrogenated vegetable fat 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.
The product contains palmolein as an ingredient which is considered to be a safer alternative in comparison to other vegetable oils, palmolein is primarily saturated fat, it is better suited for cooking. 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.
The foodnetindia rating for this product :-
foodnetindia safety rating: 3 (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unsafe to very safe)
This is a high sugar product and people tend to eat it in large amounts. High sugar consumption is unsafe for diabetics and people struggling with obesity. Even healthy people must limit sugar consumption from all sources to under 25 grams per day. This is easily exceeded by 100 grams of Oreo.
The hydrogenated vegetable fat contains Transfats which 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.
foodnetindia wholesomeness rating: 3 (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unbalanced nutrition profile to excellent nutrition profile)
Products like Cadbury Oreo Dipped Chocolate Cookie are eaten in large quantities especially by kids. Given the high sugar and use of hydrogenated fat, we do not consider this product as wholesome.
Ingredients of concern in Cadbury’s Oreo Dipped Chocolate Cookie
-
- Hydrogenated Vegetable Fat
- Sugar
- Invert Syrup
- Salt
- Artificial Flavouring Substances- Vanilla and Caramel
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.
Sugar
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.
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.
Invert Syrup
Inverted or invert sugar syrup is a mixture of glucose and fructose. It is used in several products such as honey, jam, golden syrup, etc. It is similar to high fructose corn syrup.
High Fructose Corn Syrup is increasingly being seen as a reason for the high incidence of metabolic diseases. It has negative metabolic effects at much smaller doses than sucrose.
Salt
High sodium diets have been known to be the cause of high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. The recommended daily intake of salt is between 1-3 grams.
Added Vanilla, caramel (Artificial flavoring substances)
This product does not specify the chemical names of the flavours used and does not mention the quantity used either. While we understand that the legal labelling requirements allow this practice, we find it irresponsible that brands do not self disclose.
Some people are allergic to some of these chemicals and others may want to avoid them. Consumers have a right to know and decide.
Other ingredients that are in the product but not a major source of concern in our opinion are:
Sandwich biscuit 61%
Refined wheat flour,
Palmolein,
Cocoa solids 2.3%,
Leavening agents IN 500ii, 503ii,
Emulsifier IN 322,
Choco coating 39%
Milk solids 6%,
Cocoa solids 3%,
Emulsifier IN 442, 476
Added flavouring substances natural, nature identical (Vanilla and Caramel)
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.
The ingredients list of the products may have changed since this page was published. Consumers are encouraged to read warnings, labels, ingredient lists, etc.
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