Delhi-based NGO Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has alleged that leading food manufacturers are guilty of “large scale misbranding and misinformation” by claiming that their food products contain zero trans fats even though tests show heavy doses of it. Most popular “junk foods contain very high levels of trans fats, salts and sugar — which inevitably lead to severe ill health and diseases like obesity and diabetes,” CSE said on Friday. It released the results of tests carried out on 16 major food brands that the young particularly like, such as Maggi and Top Ramen noodles, McDonald’s foods, KFC’s fried chicken and Haldiram’s Aloo Bhujia. These findings were disputed by the manufacturers. Trans fats clog arteries when they get deposited on arterial walls, making the passage narrower, while large amounts of salt lead to higher blood pressure, making the heart work overtime. CSE noted that the kind of food under test had enough trans fats, salt and sugar to lead to early onset of diseases in the young. It accused the companies of not disclosing their products’ real contents. CSE’s lab tested samples of popular foods and snacks. The results showed that having just one serving of these foods “completely overturned one’s daily diet chart.” FOOD FOR WORRY CSE report says Maggi Noodles | Single pack contains 3.5g of salt; daily recommended intake is 6g. Negligible fibres; 70% just carbohydrates Top Ramen Super Noodles (Masala) | 0.7g trans fats/100g though company claims zero trans fats PepsiCo’s Lays (Snack Smart) | 3.7g trans fats/ 100g. Earlier sold as zero trans fats chips but claim knocked off later KFC’s Chicken Zinger | 16.9% fats; McAloo | 8.3% fats. 35% calories in veg burger come from fats; 47% in non-veg WHO says an adult male can have 2.6g of trans fats a day, female 2.1g and a child 2.3g COMPANIES RESPOND As per our analysis for many years, trans fats level is well within international recommendation —Nestle We go to a lot of effort to ensure our food is safe for customers and have stringent quality checks — McDonald’s CSE: Trans fats, salt major worries New Delhi:Trans fats are the real worry in junk food, next to salt, Delhi NGO Centre for Science and Environment said on Friday, unveiling its study of 16 major food brands in the country. CSE found Top Ramen Super Noodles (Masala) which claims to have no trans fats contains 0.7g of it per 100g. Haldiram’s Aloo Bhujia says it has no trans fats, but the study found 2.5g/100g. Pepsi-Co’s Lays (Snack Smart) has 3.7g of trans fats every 100g. “The National Institute of Nutrition benchmark for maximum salt for one person is 6g, while WHO puts it at 5g. The 80g packet of Maggi noodles...has over 3.5g salt — over 60% of our (recommended) daily salt intake,” CSE said. The companies denied the allegations. Pepsico said, “All products manufactured by PepsiCo in India are fully compliant with all the regulations, including those on labelling...” It said products under the Lays, Uncle Chips, Kurkure and Cheetos brands are trans fat free. Nestle in its response said, “Maggi is intended as a light meal and can safely be consumed as part of diversified balanced diet.” McDonald’s said, “...We use RBD Palmolein oil which is naturally trans-fat free.” CSE says, “A child eating one McDonald’s Happy Meal finishes up 90% of all his daily requirement of trans fats. The packet makes absolutely no mention of this... ” As per FSSAI rules, a product can claim to be trans fats free if it contains less than 0.2g. TNN