Classic Malt by Horlicks — product pack

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Horlicks

Classic Malt

Veg Jain beverage
1.5 Concerning

Decode Label Safety Score

Nutrition · 40% 0.0/10
Ingredient safety · 30% 10.0/10
Processing · 20% 2.0/10
Marketing · 10% 8.0/10
How we got 1.5 Show
Weighted score 4.2/10
Score limited by a dominant nutrition concern. 1.5
Also flagged
Highly processed (NOVA) and high total sugar
Final score 1.5/10 · Concerning

Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed

This malt beverage is primarily composed of malt and barley, providing a base of grains. However, it contains a notable amount of added sugar, which is a significant concern for a product marketed towards children. While it offers some fortification with vitamins and minerals, the high sugar content, combined with the presence of an emulsifier and acidity regulators, positions it as an ultra-processed food.

Declared allergens: Milk, Soy and Gluten

Milk· Milk Solids Soy· Soy protein isolate Gluten· Barley, Wheat Flour

Relevant if you have any of these allergies or intolerances.

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.

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Just checking whether the product is safe? The analysis above is yours, no account needed. To know if it is safe for you, your father or your child, add a profile and we check this label against them. This one declares Milk, Soy and Gluten, so it matters if anyone in your family reacts to that.

  • Allergies. Peanut, milk, gluten, egg and more, checked against the ingredient list.
  • Diet. Vegetarian, vegan, Jain, no egg, no dairy.
  • Health and goals. Sugar, salt, protein, steady blood sugar, heart-friendly, weight.
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High in added sugar; contains common food additives

The score is held down by this product's nutrition profile, which dominates the assessment regardless of the rest of the formulation. This malt drink, primarily made from malt and barley, contains a significant amount of added sugar, which is a key nutritional concern for children. It also includes an emulsifier (INS 471) and acidity regulators (potassium and sodium carbonates), which are common food additives. While fortified with vitamins and minerals, its overall formulation is ultra-processed.

Consider this product carefully if you are

  • Looking for a lower-sugar option — Added sugar is 13.5 g and total sugar is 46 g per 100 g.
Concern breakdown What drives the score, concern by concern · score out of 10, higher = fewer concerns
Key risks: Nutrition profile Sugar Wheat Flour

Concern breakdown

Score out of 10 · higher = fewer concerns

How this product performs on each concern we check for beverage. This is a breakdown of the same evidence behind the score above — not a separate verdict.

Hydration & Nutritional Value Major concern · 0.0/10
Added & Hidden Sugar Significant concern · 2.5/10
Empty Calories & Caloric Load Significant concern · 3.0/10
Preservatives & Additives Minor concern · 7.0/10
Artificial Sweeteners No concern identified · 8.0/10
Caffeine & Stimulant Load No concern identified · 8.0/10
Acidity & Dental Erosion No concern identified · 8.0/10
Artificial Colours & Dyes No concern identified · 8.0/10
Artificial Flavours No concern identified · 8.0/10

Infants under 1

Avoid

Contains added sugar, which is not recommended for infants under 1 year of age.

Toddlers & young children (1–5)

Limit

Contains added sugar; high intake of free sugars is associated with dental caries and can contribute to unhealthy dietary patterns in young children. Parents should monitor overall sugar consumption.

Why the score is capped

Highly processed (NOVA) and high total sugar

Rule F-CAP-07

What's good

Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals

Contains a blend of grains including millet

Watch out for

High added sugar content, especially for a product marketed to children

Contains common food additives (emulsifier, acidity regulators)

Contains multiple common allergens (wheat, gluten, milk, soy)

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.

Added Sugars

Sugars added to food, and the sugars in honey, syrups and fruit juice concentrates, are "free sugars". The WHO guideline recommends that they stay below 10% of total energy intake and suggests below 5% for additional benefit. Where the sugar sits in the ingredient list and how many grams the panel declares is what matters; this is information, because the nutrition score already prices the grams.

Regulatory & scientific authority Source: WHO, Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children (2015)

Added Sugars: regulation, sources and other products →

Wheat Flour

Wheat and wheat-derived ingredients contain gluten, which triggers an autoimmune response in people with celiac disease, causing intestinal damage. People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) or wheat allergy must also avoid this ingredient. Labelled as a major allergen by FSSAI.

Regulatory & scientific authority Source: FSSAI Food Labelling Regulations; Celiac Disease Foundation

Wheat Flour: regulation, sources and other products →

Decode Label Analysis

This product contains a significant amount of added sugar, which is a concern for children's health, particularly regarding dental health and overall sugar intake. WHO recommends limiting free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake, ideally less than 5%.

Contains wheat and wheat gluten, which are common allergens and unsuitable for individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Contains milk solids and soy protein isolate, which are common allergens (milk and soy).

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.

?
"GET CONTAINER WORTH ₹ 200/-" Can't verify

The value of the container is a promotional claim that cannot be verified from the ingredient or nutrition information provided.

GET CONTAINER WORTH ₹ 200/-
?
"CLINICALLY PROVEN" Can't verify

The claim 'Clinically Proven' is a scientific substantiation claim that cannot be verified from the ingredient or nutrition information provided.

CLINICALLY PROVEN
?
"TALLER" Can't verify

The claim 'Taller' is a health benefit that cannot be verified from the ingredient or nutrition information provided.

TALLER
?
"STRONGER" Can't verify

The claim 'Stronger' is a health benefit that cannot be verified from the ingredient or nutrition information provided.

STRONGER
?
"SHARPER" Can't verify

The claim 'Sharper' is a health benefit that cannot be verified from the ingredient or nutrition information provided.

SHARPER
✓
"2 kg PACK" Checks out

The product packaging clearly states '2 kg PACK', indicating its net weight.

2 kg PACK
✓
"MALT BASED FOOD" Checks out

The ingredient list shows Malt (65.6%) as the primary ingredient, supporting the claim of being a malt-based food.

Malt (65.6%)
✓
"PROTEIN 11g" Checks out

The nutrition information states 11g of protein per 100g, which matches the claim.

protein g 11 (per 100g)
✓
"CALCIUM 741mg" Checks out

The nutrition information states 741mg of Calcium per 100g, which matches the claim.

Calcium 741 mg (per 100g)
✓
"IRON 26mg" Checks out

The nutrition information states 26mg of Iron per 100g, which matches the claim.

Iron 26 mg (per 100g)
✓
"CLASSIC MALT" Checks out

The product name 'Classic Malt' is consistent with Malt being the primary ingredient (65.6%).

Malt (65.6%)

Read straight from the back-of-pack photo — quantities, sections and any disguised terms, so the small print can’t hide behind the marketing.

  • 1.
    Malt 65.6%
    Malt (65.6%)
  • Barley 31.3% within Malt
    Barley (31.3%)
  • 2.
    Wheat Flour
    Wheat Flour (Atta)
  • 3.
    Wheat
  • 4.
    Millet
  • 5.
    Milk Solids 14%
    Milk Solids (14%)
  • 6.
    Sugar
  • 7.
    Wheat Gluten
  • 8.
    Minerals
  • 9.
    Emulsifier
    Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (INS 471)
    Emulsifier (INS 471)
  • 10.
    Edible Iodized Salt
  • 11.
    Soy Protein Isolate
  • 12.
    Acidity Regulators
    Potassium carbonates (INS 501), Sodium carbonates (INS 500)
    Acidity Regulators [INS 501(ii), INS 500(ii)]
  • 13.
    Vitamins

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.

Milk Allergen on the label: Milk Solids
Allergen
Soy Allergen on the label: Soy protein isolate
Allergen
Gluten Allergen on the label: Barley, Wheat Flour, Wheat
Allergen

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.

High in sugar High in added sugar Trace trans fat
Nutrition (per 100 g)
Energy 377 kcal
Protein 11 g
Carbohydrate 79 g
Total Sugars 46 g
Added Sugars 13.5 g
Total Fat 2 g
Saturated Fat 1.4 g
Trans Fat 0.1 g
Sodium 400 mg
Cholesterol 5 mg
Vitamin D 9.3 mcg
Calcium 741 mg
Magnesium 65 mg
Phosphorus 280 mg
Potassium 450 mg
Vitamin B9 370 mcg
Vitamin B12 1.9 mcg
Iron 26 mg
Iodine 139 mcg
Zinc 8.3 mg
Vitamin B1 1.3 mg
Vitamin B2 3 mg
Vitamin B3 17 mg
Vitamin B5 1.4 mg
Vitamin B6 3.7 mg
Vitamin B7 9 mcg
Chloride 565 mg
Vitamin A 741 mcg
Vitamin E 2.5 mg
Vitamin C 148 mg
Copper 0.65 mg
Selenium 74 mcg

Colour shows the per-100g level (green = low, amber = moderate, red = high), from the product's label.

Compare with other health malt drink 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.

View all →

What are the ingredients in Classic Malt?

The label of Classic Malt lists 14 ingredients, in label order: Malt, Barley, Wheat Flour, Wheat, Millet, Milk Solids, Sugar, Wheat gluten, Minerals, Emulsifier, Edible Iodised Salt, Soy protein isolate, Acidity Regulator, Vitamins. None of them is flagged by the analysis.

Is Classic Malt safe to eat?

Classic Malt scores 1.5/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). The score is held down by this product's nutrition profile, which dominates the assessment regardless of the rest of the formulation. This malt drink, primarily made from malt and barley, contains a significant amount of added sugar, which is a key nutritional concern for children. It also includes an emulsifier (INS 471) and acidity regulators (potassium and sodium carbonates), which are common food additives. While fortified with vitamins and minerals, its overall formulation is ultra-processed.

Why does Classic Malt score 1.5/10?

What the analysis notes: High added sugar content, especially for a product marketed to children. Contains common food additives (emulsifier, acidity regulators). Contains multiple common allergens (wheat, gluten, milk, soy).

Who should avoid Classic Malt?

The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Limiting added sugar intake; Sensitive to specific food additives (INS 471, INS 501(ii), INS 500(ii)); Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity; Milk allergy / lactose intolerance; Soy allergy.

Is Classic Malt suitable for babies or young children?

Infants under 1: Avoid. Toddlers & young children (1–5): Limit.

Does Classic Malt contain allergens?

Yes — the ingredient list contains milk (Milk Solids), soy (Soy protein isolate) and gluten (Barley, Wheat Flour, Wheat and Wheat gluten). Check the allergen statement on the pack too if you have a diagnosed allergy.

Does Classic Malt contain milk?

Yes — the ingredient list names Milk Solids. People with milk allergy / lactose intolerance should treat it as containing milk, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.

Does Classic Malt contain soy?

Yes — the ingredient list names Soy protein isolate. People with soy allergy should treat it as containing soy, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.

Does Classic Malt contain gluten?

Yes — the ingredient list names Barley, Wheat Flour, Wheat and Wheat gluten. People with gluten / wheat sensitivity (coeliac disease) should treat it as containing gluten, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.

Is Classic Malt high in sugar?

Yes — 46 g of total sugar per 100 g, above the 22.5 g per 100 g that UK front-of-pack labelling marks as high. The label declares 13.5 g of that as added sugar per 100 g.

Are the claims on the Classic Malt pack accurate?

Decode Label checked 11 claims against the ingredient list and nutrition panel. "GET CONTAINER WORTH ₹ 200/-" — can't be verified from the label. "CLINICALLY PROVEN" — can't be verified from the label. "TALLER" — can't be verified from the label.

Is Classic Malt vegetarian?

Classic Malt 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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