How to read a candy label in India
Veg marks, INS numbers, per-100 g nutrition and caffeine warnings: a quick guide to the back of the pack.
01Why the back matters
The front of a pack sells; the back informs. Indian packaged foods follow FSSAI's labelling and display regulations, so most of what you need to know is printed in a predictable place. Here is how to read it, using an ENRJI stick pack as the example.
02The veg or non-veg mark
A green dot inside a green square means vegetarian. A brown triangle inside a brown square means non-vegetarian. All ENRJI flavours carry the green mark. Note that "vegetarian" in India can still include milk, so check the ingredients if you are vegan.
03Ingredients, in order
Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. On an ENRJI pack the list starts with sugar and glucose syrup, which tells you honestly that this is a confectionery product. Flavour sources are named (for example "natural flavours") and caffeine is declared.
04Those INS numbers
Additives are listed by function plus an International Numbering System code. ENRJI uses Emulsifier (INS 322), which is lecithin, a common ingredient usually made from soy or sunflower that helps fat and sugar blend smoothly. INS codes are the same system as the "E numbers" used in Europe (E322 is lecithin).
05Nutrition per 100 g
Labels give nutrition per 100 g so you can compare products of different sizes. For a small candy, convert to what you actually eat: a 4 g stick is 4% of the 100 g values. So if a label shows 390 kcal per 100 g, a 4 g stick is about 16 kcal.
06The caffeine warning
Products with added caffeine carry a warning that they are not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women and caffeine-sensitive people. Take it seriously, and keep caffeinated sweets out of children's reach.
07Everything else
- FSSAI licence number: identifies the licensed manufacturer or marketer.
- Best before / use by: best before is about quality; use by is about safety.
- Storage instructions: for chocolate products, usually "cool, dry place, away from sunlight". See storing candy in Indian heat.
- Net quantity and MRP: the price printed is the maximum retail price including taxes.
Fin.
Designer of ENRJI's product, packaging and website. Writes about caffeine, snacking and design. This article is general information, not medical advice; see the disclaimer.
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