A new report by the nutritionist platform Nutfirst has revealed that most packaged foods sold in India contain excessive artificial flavors and colors. The study examined over 23,000 products nationwide, including biscuits, cereals, soft drinks, and instant foods, using AI to scan product labels.

The findings are alarming: over 80% of biscuits and cookies contain excessive artificial ingredients. Sweet cereal products are loaded with artificial additives, and 80% of chocolates and confectionery items have high sugar and saturated fat levels. Nearly 98% of carbonated beverages contain artificial components.

Ultra-processed foods — including breakfast cereals, artificial sweetened drinks, energy drinks, tetra pack juices, instant soups, snacks, chicken nuggets, processed meat, and ready-to-eat meals — are particularly concerning. These products are manufactured with high levels of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives, and emulsifiers that strip away the natural food characteristics.

Research has linked regular consumption of ultra-processed foods to significantly increased risks of heart disease, metabolic disorders, digestive issues, overeating, inflammation, and premature death. The report urges consumers to look beyond front-of-package calorie counts and carefully examine ingredient lists when purchasing packaged foods.