Summary Feedback
Knorr Premium International Thai Vegetable Soup consists of maize starch, dehydrated vegetables (carrot flakes 8%, cabbage flakes 4%, onion powder 3%, garlic powder, mushroom flakes 1%, leeks 0.4%, ginger bits), sugar, refined wheat flour, hydrolysed vegetable protein, edible vegetable fat, acidity regulator IN 330, spices and condiments, flavour enhancer IN 627, IN 631.
This soup contains a very high amount of salt at 11 gm (5 gm sodium) per 100 gm pack, so if one consumes just one serving of 150 gm of the soup then the person consumes 1 g of salt which is almost the WHO recommendation of daily salt intake which is between 1-3 grams. This is high and not recommended for individuals with high BP, kidney problems etc.
It also contains a lot of sugar and high glycaemic index starches like refined wheat flour and maize starch. High glycemic index foods are not recommended for people who are trying to avoid obesity, heart disease, hypertension etc.
It contains edible vegetable fat which usually means hydrogenated 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, stroke, cancer and many other ailments.
The foodnetindia rating for this product:-
foodnetindia safety rating: 3 (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unsafe to very safe)
The high salt, sugar and high glycaemic index starches in this packaged soup pose a safety concern in a population at high risk for metabolic syndrome and heart disease and even more so because people in India consume soups as a . “health food” and believe that soups help to avoid these very same health conditions.
Also, a soup which is being widely advertised on TV as being ‘healthy’ for us should not contain hydrogenated fats.
foodnetindia wholesomeness rating: 3 (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unbalanced nutrition profile to excellent nutrition profile)
Soup products in India are often eaten as health products by people who are already at risk of lifestyle diseases.
The high salt, sugar and refined starches content make this a food that we can not call wholesome.
Ingredients of concern in Knorr Thai Vegetable Soup
- Sugar
- Salt
- Edible Vegetable Fat
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.
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.
Edible Vegetable Fat
Often brands tend to obscure the fact that they have used hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils by using the term “edible vegetable fat”. 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.
This food product does not specify which edible vegetable fat has been used. We believe that it is not responsible behaviour for a brand to avoid clearly stating what ingredients have been used.
A vegetable oil is a triglyceride extracted from a plant. Such oils have been part of human culture for millennia. The term “vegetable oil” can be narrowly defined as referring only to plant oils that are liquid at room temperature, or broadly defined without regard to a substance’s state of matter at a given temperature. For this reason, vegetable oils that are solid at room temperature are sometimes called vegetable fats.
Other ingredients that are in the product but not a major source of concern in our opinion are:
- Refined Wheat Flour
- Maize Starch
- Dehydrated Vegetable: Carrot Flakes (8%)Cabbage Flakes (4%) Onion powder 3%, Leeks (0.4%), Garlic Powder, Mushroom Flakes 1%, Ginger Bits,
- Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
- Acidity regulator IN 330,
- Spices & condiments,
- Flavour Enhancer-627 & 631
- Added Flavours- Natural Lemongrass, Thai chilli
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 product may have changed since this page was published. Consumers are encouraged to read warnings, labels, ingredient lists, etc.
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