India: Reports reveal high sugar content in cream biscuits

Hyderabad: According to recent reports from Consumer Education and Research Centre the cream found in the biscuits manufactured in India has a sugar content ranging between 25-30 grams per 100 grams and fat content is nearly 20 gram per 100 grams.

As per the recommendation from the World Health Organization the normal level for consumption is less than 20 grams for both.

The recent report from Consumer Education and Research was forwarded to the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) suggesting the WHO recommended value should be made mandatory in India.

Samples of various branded biscuits were tested in the laboratory which showed results in these popular cream biscuits to be as high as 33.3gm per 100gms.

Pritee Shah from Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC) told the fat content in at least six leading Indian biscuit brands is as high as 20gm per 100 grams.

She said, “These are trans-fats such as ghee and butter. The recommended daily allowance for sugar according to the World Health Organisation is 25 g per day. Those who are eating biscuits are adding a lot of hidden sugars to their system, which is harming their health,”

Explaining about it Nutritionist Sunitha Premlatha says, “The evening snack is tea and biscuits for most people at home and also at the office. In corporate offices, we find that those who work in shifts munch on biscuits when they have worked for long hours. Biscuits are made of refined flour or maida. A single piece of biscuit contains 45 calories. If an individual has had 10 biscuits then it equates to a full thali meal of 450 or 500 calories. This is the extra weight a lot of people are adding to themselves”.