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Brand founded in India, 1937 · about the brand
Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 1.5 ShowHide
Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
This snack product is primarily composed of refined corn and gram meals, along with a blend of edible vegetable oils, including palmolein, which contributes to a very high saturated fat content. While it offers a savory cheese flavor, the presence of flavor enhancers and nature-identical flavor, combined with the high saturated fat, makes it less ideal for regular consumption, particularly for individuals monitoring their cardiovascular health. The trace amounts of cheese powder and dextrose do not significantly contribute to its nutritional profile.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
What’s favorable
- Black Pepper
- Paprika
High Saturated Fat; Contains Flavor Enhancers and Nature-Identical Flavor
This snack is high in saturated fat due to its oil blend, which includes palmolein. It also contains flavor enhancers and a nature-identical cheese flavor, which may not be suitable for those preferring whole food ingredients or managing specific dietary concerns. The product's primary ingredients are refined corn and gram meals, offering limited nutritional benefits.
Consider this product carefully if you are
- Avoiding certain additives or colours — Palmolein and Flavour Enhancers are declared.
Declared allergens: Milk
Relevant if you have this allergy or intolerance.
Based on the declared ingredient list. This is a risk only to people with the allergy, not a general-population safety issue, so it does not lower the safety score.
Concern breakdown
Score out of 10 · higher = fewer concernsHow this product performs on each concern we check for food. This is a breakdown of the same evidence behind the score above — not a separate verdict.
Saturated fat 12.2 g · trans fat 0.1 g per 100 g/ml
Why the score is capped
Very high saturated fat
Rule F-CAP-08
What's good
Contains iodised salt, providing essential iodine
Includes natural spices like black pepper and paprika
Watch out for
Very high saturated fat content from the oil blend, including palmolein
Presence of flavor enhancers, which may be a concern for some consumers
Contains nature-identical cheese flavor, indicating a processed product
Contains milk solids and cheese powder, which are allergens for individuals with milk allergies or lactose intolerance
Ingredient Concerns safety database
Sources cited below may be Indian (FSSAI) or international (EU, US, WHO, IARC) — an international classification or law is evidence, not an Indian regulatory finding.
Palm Oil
Palm oil is very high in saturated fatty acids (~50%), which raise LDL cholesterol and increase cardiovascular risk with regular high consumption. Refined palm oil can also carry processing contaminants (glycidyl esters and 3-MCPD esters), which EFSA assessed in 2016.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: WHO; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; EFSA CONTAM opinion (2016)
Palm Oil: regulation, sources and other products →Disodium Ribonucleotides (E635)
E635 is a mixture of disodium inosinate (E631) and disodium guanylate (E627). Both are purine nucleotides, which the body breaks down to uric acid. People with gout or hyperuricaemia, or who have been advised to limit purines, may wish to limit foods containing it. The amounts used in foods are small, so the concern applies to people already managing uric acid rather than to the general population.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EFSA; WHO; Arthritis Foundation
Disodium Ribonucleotides: regulation, sources and other products →Decode Label Analysis
Palmolein is high in saturated fat, which is a cardiovascular concern with regular high intake. EFSA has also noted concerns regarding glycidyl esters contaminants from refining processes.
Flavour Enhancers, if they include Disodium Ribonucleotides, are a purine source and should be noted by individuals managing gout.
Claim check
Front-of-pack marketing claims checked against this product's actual ingredients and nutrition. "Can't verify" means the label does not provide enough information to check the claim — it is not the same as the claim being false.
The ingredient list confirms the presence of 'Cheese Powder (1.9%)' and 'Nature Identical Cheese Flavour', supporting the 'Cheese' aspect of the product name. 'Puffcorn' describes the product form, which is consistent with the image.
Read straight from the back-of-pack photo — quantities, sections and any disguised terms, so the small print can’t hide behind the marketing.
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1.
Edible Vegetable OilEdible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein, Cotton Seed, Rice Bran)
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Palmolein within Edible Vegetable Oil
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Cotton Seed Oil within Edible Vegetable OilCotton Seed
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Rice Bran Oil within Edible Vegetable OilRice Bran
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2.
Corn Meal 23%Corn Meal (23%)
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3.
Corn Starch
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4.
Gram Meal
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5.
Milk Solids
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6.
Cheese Powder 1.9% trace amountCheese Powder (1.9%)
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7.
Sugar
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8.
Iodised Salt
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9.
Dextrose trace amount
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10.
Black Pepper
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11.
Flavour EnhancersFlavour Enhancers (INS 627, INS 631)
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12.
Acidity RegulatorAcidity Regulator (INS 330)
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13.
Paprika synthetic colourPaprika extract (INS 160C)Paprika (INS 160c)
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14.
Nature Identical Cheese Flavour
Trace amounts: some named ingredients appear in token quantities or low in the list. At these concentrations a meaningful benefit is unlikely, and their front-of-pack prominence may not reflect their level in the formulation.
In label order — normally largest quantity first. Select a row for the full write-up and sources.
These are major food allergens named on the ingredient list. They are a risk only to people allergic to them — not a general-population safety issue — so they do not lower the safety score. Anyone with the allergy should avoid this product, and check the pack’s own allergen statement.
The label declares each of these as a blend and then lists what is in it. The components appear in the groups above on their own merits, so the blend itself is shown here rather than counted a second time.
✓ Decode Label Assessment: Favorable ⚠ Decode Label Assessment: Concern Decode Label Assessment: Neutral
Who should take caution
About this ingredient
No detailed safety data in our database yet for this ingredient.
Learn More
| Energy | 536 kcal |
| Protein | 6.4 g |
| Carbohydrate | 66.5 g |
| Total Sugars | 5.2 g |
| Added Sugars | 4.2 g |
| Total Fat | 27.1 g |
| Saturated Fat | 12.2 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.1 g |
| Sodium | 790 mg |
Colour shows the per-100g level (green = low, amber = moderate, red = high), from the product's label.
Compare with other chips snacks products
Assessed using the same Decode Label methodology, sorted by score. Each score reflects the information available for that product at the time of assessment.
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What are the ingredients in Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn?
The label of Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn lists 17 ingredients, in label order: Edible Vegetable Oil, Palmolein, Cotton Seed Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Corn Meal, Corn Starch, Gram Meal, Milk Solids, Cheese Powder, Sugar, Iodised Salt, Dextrose, Black Pepper, Flavour Enhancers, Acidity Regulator, Paprika, Nature Identical Cheese Flavour. Flagged by the analysis: Palmolein, Flavour Enhancers, Nature Identical Cheese Flavour.
Is Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn safe to eat?
Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn scores 1.5/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). This snack is high in saturated fat due to its oil blend, which includes palmolein. It also contains flavor enhancers and a nature-identical cheese flavor, which may not be suitable for those preferring whole food ingredients or managing specific dietary concerns. The product's primary ingredients are refined corn and gram meals, offering limited nutritional benefits.
Why does Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn score 1.5/10?
Flagged in the score: Very high saturated fat content from the oil blend, including palmolein. Also noted: Presence of flavor enhancers, which may be a concern for some consumers. Contains nature-identical cheese flavor, indicating a processed product.
Who should avoid Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Managing gout (due to purine-rich flavor enhancers); Monitoring saturated fat intake; Avoiding processed food additives; Milk allergy / lactose intolerance.
Does Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn contain allergens?
Yes — the ingredient list contains milk (Milk Solids, Cheese Powder and Nature Identical Cheese Flavour). Check the allergen statement on the pack too if you have a diagnosed allergy.
Does Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn contain milk?
Yes — the ingredient list names Milk Solids, Cheese Powder and Nature Identical Cheese Flavour. People with milk allergy / lactose intolerance should treat it as containing milk, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.
How much sugar is in Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn?
5.2 g of total sugar per 100 g. The label declares 4.2 g of that as added sugar per 100 g.
Is Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn high in salt?
Yes — 790 mg of sodium per 100 g (about 1.98 g of salt), above the 1.5 g of salt per 100 g that UK front-of-pack labelling marks as high.
Are the claims on the Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn pack accurate?
Yes — all 1 claim on the pack checked out against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.
Is Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn vegetarian?
Light & Crispy Cheese Puffcorn is marked vegetarian.
Answers are generated from this product's own Decode Label analysis — the score, the ingredient list and the label claims shown above. Always check the pack itself for allergen and dietary information.
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About this analysis: Based on declared label information and available evidence. Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test products, and a score is not a regulatory determination or medical advice.
Disclaimer: Safety scores are Decode Label-generated assessments based on publicly available regulatory data (FSSAI, WHO, EFSA, IARC) and peer-reviewed research. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, and they are not a regulatory determination, a laboratory safety certification or a medical diagnosis. Ingredient safety can vary by individual health conditions, concentration, and usage context. Decode Label is an independent information service and scores every brand by the same rules. No brand pays for or influences its score. Our founder also founded the personal-care brand Botani Bestie (see our story); its products are scored exactly like everyone else's. Data limitations: This assessment is based on the information declared on the product label and the evidence sources above — Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test this product. Ingredient concentrations, sourcing and manufacturing can vary between batches and are not always disclosed. A finding that is not shown here means it was not identified from the available label information, not that it has been ruled out.
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