Summary feedback
Hamdard Roohafza is a popular “herbal” squash drink which has been consumed by Indians for more than 100 years.
Hamdard Roohafza has a very high amount of sugar in it at 40 gm per 40 ml serving which is extremely high, even if we account for the dilution with water before drinking it.
The foodnetindia Safety rating for this product:-
foodnetindia safety rating: 3 (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unsafe to very safe)
We are disappointed with the high added sugar content in this product. The high sugar factor in it makes it unsuitable for those who are overweight and for those at risk of lifestyle disease.
This product contains Red food coloring FD&C Red No. 40 which is the most commonly used dye in the U.S., according to Center for Science in the Public Interest. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in candy, cereal, baked goods, gelatin powder, drugs and cosmetics. Synthetically derived from petroleum, the additive is also known as FD&C Red No. 40, Allura Red and Red 40. Although most of the dye you ingest is excreted from your body, Red 40 has potential for serious side effects, states the CSPI.
Red 40 may cause symptoms of hypersensitivity in some people, including swelling around the mouth, and it may also cause hives. The colorant might contain contaminants that may contribute to cancer in humans and could trigger hyperactivity in children according to CSPI. In a handful of studies, Red 40 damaged the DNA of mice, according to the CSPI.
foodnetindia wholesomeness rating: 3 (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unbalanced nutrition profile to excellent nutrition profile)
Roohafza has very high sugar content. This makes it unsuitable except in very small quantities, even for the healthy.
Ingredients of concern in Hamdard Roohafza
- Sugar
- Invert Sugar
- FD&C Red No. 40
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 Sugar
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.
Permitted Synthetic Food Colours: FD&C Red No. 40
Red food coloring is the most commonly used dye in the U.S., according to Center for Science in the Public Interest. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in candy, cereal, baked goods, gelatin powder, drugs and cosmetics. Synthetically derived from petroleum, the additive is also known as FD&C Red No. 40, Allura Red and Red 40. Although most of the dye you ingest is excreted from your body, Red 40 has potential for serious side effects, states the CSPI.
Red 40 may cause symptoms of hypersensitivity in some people, including swelling around the mouth, and it may also cause hives. The colorant might contain contaminants that may contribute to cancer in humans and could trigger hyperactivity in children. In a handful of studies, Red 40 damaged the DNA of mice, according to the CSPI.
Other ingredients that are in the product but not a major source of concern in our opinion are:
- Water
- Pineapple Juice
- Thatch Screwpine distillate
- Orange Juice
- Damask Rose distillate
- White waterlily distillate
- Coriander distillate
- Vetiver distillate
- Chicory distillate
- Cows tongue plant distillate
- Stone flower distillate
- Wild mint distillate
- Sandalwood distillate
- Carrot seed distillate
- Raisin distillate
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.
Replies, if any, from the brand, will be published here ‘As is’