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Popular chips brands contain harmful levels of sodium, fat
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Saturday, 14 January, 2006, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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P B Jayakumar, Mumbai
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A study done by the Ahmedabad based Consumer Education & Research Society (CERS) on ten popular brands of potato chips and seven banana chips revealed that almost all brands contain harmful levels of sodium and fat and many of the brands are underweight than its label claims.
The finding gains significance as at present the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, has not specified quality standards for chips as it is manufactured as a proprietary product. The in-house laboratory study done by CERS chose voluntary BIS standards - IS 12575: 1989 for fried potato chips and IS 12574: 1989 for fried banana chips. The study was done on potato chips brands - Balaji, Haldiram's Halke Fulke, Sushma, Samrat, Lays, Uncle Chipps, Kailash Parbat, O K, Camy and Induben Khakhrawala, a local brand. Banana chips manufactured by Samrat, Sushma, Sree Ram, Jalsa Foods, A-1 Kairali, Balaji and Induben Kela Wafer were considered for the study.
CERC, which published the findings in its January-February edition of its Insight consumer magazine, said the fat content in all the brands was substantially above the range of 15-35 per cent specified by BIS, except in the case of Lays potato chips. Sushma and Samrat brands were found to have 44 per cent fat content and among banana chips, Sushma contained the highest amount of fat at 40 per cent. Sodium content was very high in most brands of potato chips and some brands of banana chips. Among the potato brands, Uncle Chipps had the highest sodium content of 775 mg per 100 gm, followed by Lays with 773 mg. Among the banana chips, Sushma recorded the highest sodium content of 790 mg, followed by Samrat at 668 mg. As against this, the study on two samples of home made chips for fat and sodium content revealed that fat was marginally lower than ready to eat brands at 27.2 per cent and 25.8 per cent and sodium was only 240.7 mg and 298.8 mg per 100 gm.
Excess fat content would trigger health problems like obesity and excessive usage of sodium could cause hypertension.
The study noted while Haldiram claims its chips had low fat content, whereas the actual content was 37 per cent, 2 per cent more than the prescribed limit. Similarly, Balaji Potato, which claims "least oil for your healthy heart', actually has 38 per cent of fat. Further, five brands - Sushma, Samrat and O.K. potato chips and Jalsa and Induben banana chips, were found not complying with the Standards and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules 1977, with the net weight lower than the maximum permissible error limit. In addition, eight brands were found to have packets weighting less than the labelled weight. Interestingly, all the samples of Lays and Induben potato chips had more net weight than that marked in the labels.
The study said the moisture content, responsible for spoilage of ready to eat products, was found to be in the range of 4.5 percent in the case of Induben potato chip, more than the prescribed 3 per cent. Similarly, acid value of extracted fat was double than the stipulated limit of 2 in Induben Kela Wafer.
The study said Balaji and Lays potao chips have highest amount of protein at 7 per cent, Lays has the highest carbohydrate content at 55 per cent, and Samrat and Sushma had the maximum amount of energy at 590 Kcal per 100 gm. While the brands were tested for sensory parameters like appearance, texture, flavour, mouth feel, taste and after taste, Uncle Chipps had the highest score among potato chips and Sree Ram among banana chips.
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