Summary Feedback
Instant noodles and pastas are not a healthy meal replacement because of their poor nutrient balance and diversity. Given the serious nutrition problems amongst many Indians, such meal replacements can also be deemed unsafe.
Maggi Pazzta cannot be considered as a healthy meal replacement, as the product is primarily a grain based product with hardly any macronutrient balance or micronutrient diversity. If consumed as a complete meal, it should be eaten along with good sources of protein and with abundant non starchy vegetables.
One of the ingredients of concern in it is the amount of salt. In a 100 gm pack, it contains a whopping 1347.8 mg sodium or 3.36 gm salt, which is the entire day’s amount of recommended dietary salt. High sodium diets are known to be the cause of high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. The recommended daily intake of salt is between 1-3 grams.
This product is more than 10 percent sugar. People generally do not associate a savory product like this to contain so much added sugar.
Palm oil is generally a safe oil as unlike most other vegetable oils, palm 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.
The foodnetindia rating for this product :-
foodnetindia safety rating: 3 – (On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unsafe to very safe)
In India, products such as these are are eaten by kids and young adults as a meal replacement without added vegetables and protein. This makes it unsafe due to the lack of balance and nutrition, becoming a possible cause for lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, non alcoholic fatty liver disease and hypertension.
The high salt content makes it unsafe for those who have hypertension, kidney problems and lifestyle diseases.
foodnetindia wholesomeness rating: 4 -(On a scale of 1 to 10 from very unbalanced nutrition profile to excellent nutrition profile)
Maggi Pazzta could be a grain replacement in a meal and little else. It’s wholesomeness and nutrition would be comparable to any grain and therefore while acceptable as a part of a meal, it does not constitute a wholesome meal by itself.
Ingredients in Maggi Cheese Macaroni Pazzta which are a concern
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- Salt
- Sugar
- Margarine
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.
Margarine
Margarine is usually made from hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, and may contain trans-fats which are toxic and which could cause lifestyle diseases.
Sugar
This food product contains 10.3 gm sugar. Sugar is a carbohydrate found naturally in a host of different foods from lactose in milk to the fructose in fruit and honey. 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.
Ingredients present which are not a concern
- Semolina- Wheat 100%
- Milk Solids
- Potato Flakes- Potato, Turmeric and Margarine
- Edible Starch
- Cheese Powder-5.8%
- Sweet corn 5.5%
- Maltodextrin
- Palm Oil
- Black Pepper 1%
- Flavour Enhancer IN 635
- Garlic
- Thickener 508
- Spring onions 0.4%
- Oregano 0.3%
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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