Haldiram'sDairy Beverages#15 of 16 in categoryRating 2.3/5

Haldiram's Badam Kesar Flavoured Milk

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains Sunset Yellow FCF
  • Red flag: High added sugar (12.2g per 100ml)
  • Red flag: Contains Carrageenan

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (3.3g)
  • Green flag: Low sodium

Ingredients, decoded

7 listed
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

High sugarNutrition per 100 ml
DNutritionCIngredients4Risk
Energy117.2 kcal
Protein3.3 g
Carbohydrates17.4 g
Total sugars12.2 g
Added sugars12.2 g
Dietary fibre0 g
Total fat3.8 g
Saturated fat1.9 g
Trans fat0.06 g
Cholesterol1.2 mg
Sodium49.2 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Kesar badam milk with almonds at 1.9%

Haldiram's Badam Kesar Flavoured Milk lists toned milk (81%), kesar badam syrup (refined sugar, water, almond 1.9%, liquid glucose, rose water, cardamom, acidity regulator, colours INS 102 and 110, saffron 0.0004%), water, emulsifiers, acidity regulator, stabiliser (INS 407) and flavouring. The pack is 180 ml and the panel is printed per 180 ml serve, converted here to per 100 ml.

CleanPlate scores it [R]DC4. The D for nutrition is low: only 3.3 g protein per 100 ml and little else credited. The C for ingredients reflects whole or lightly processed ingredients (led by toned milk, refined sugar and almond), with additives that cost points: carrageenan, flavouring, tartrazine and Sunset Yellow. A red flag (Southampton Six x2) cuts the score by 30%. The 4 for risk comes mainly from free sugar (12.2 g per 100 ml) and saturated fat (1.86 g per 100 ml).

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

  • On the pack

    “WITH REAL INGREDIENTS”

    Partly true

    Almond is 1.9% and saffron 0.0004% of the milk: real, but in small amounts.

  • Product name

    “Badam Kesar Milk”

    Holds

    The back calls it kesar badam flavoured toned milk.

How DC4 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 ml.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
D

Low nutrient density

Protein
3.3 g
Fibre
0 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
117 kcal

Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Toned Milk
Sweeteners
Kesar Badam Syrup...
Additives
5
Flagged
Sunset Yellow FCF, Carrageenan

Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
12.2 g
Sodium
49.2 mg
Saturated fat
1.9 g
Trans fat
0.06 g

Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.

[R] Contains an ingredient on our red-flag list (such as a partially hydrogenated oil or a flagged synthetic dye), which cuts the ingredient grade.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Toned milk (81%), kesar badam syrup (sugar, water, almond 1.9%, glucose, rose water, cardamom, acidity regulator, colours 102 and 110, saffron 0.0004%), water, emulsifiers, acidity regulator, stabiliser 407 and flavouring.

Per 100 ml: 117 kcal, 3.8 g fat of which 1.86 g saturated, 12.2 g sugar of which 12.2 g added, 0 g fibre, 3.3 g protein, 49.2 mg sodium. The panel is per 180 ml serve (one serve per pack) and is converted by x100/180; originals: 211 kcal, 21.9 g added sugar, 3.35 g saturated fat. The declared 0.06 g of trans fat per 100 ml is treated as natural dairy trans. Atwater energy matches.

Ingredients to watch

  • Free sugarConcern

    12.2 g per 100 ml, above the 8 g high line for drinks; 21.9 g in a carton.

  • Synthetic coloursConcern

    Tartrazine and sunset yellow FCF cut the ingredient score by 30%.

  • CarrageenanWorth watching

    Stabiliser INS 407 costs 6 additive points.

  • Saturated fatWorth watching

    1.9 g per 100 ml, 3.4 g per carton.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Saffron milk contains saffron"

Saffron is 0.0004%, a trace used for flavour.

Myth: "The colour comes from saffron"

Colours INS 102 and 110 are listed; saffron is 0.0004%.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Share the carton

Half a carton is about 105 kcal and 11 g of added sugar.

Make it at home

Warm toned milk with soaked almonds and a pinch of saffron gives the flavour with no added colour.

Common questions

Is Haldiram's Badam Kesar Flavoured Milk healthy?

Haldiram's Badam Kesar Flavoured Milk scores DC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: Contains Sunset Yellow FCF; High added sugar (12.2g per 100ml); Contains Carrageenan. On the plus side: Source of protein (3.3g); Low sodium.

What does the DC4 score mean?

The first letter (D) grades nutritional value: low nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Haldiram's Badam Kesar Flavoured Milk should I watch?

Kesar Badam Syrup (Refined Sugar, Water, Almond* (1.9%), Liquid Glucose, Rose Water, Cardamom, Acidity Regulator (INS 330), Colours (INS 102, INS 110), Saffron* (0.0004%)) (Sunset Yellow FCF), Stabilizer (INS 407) (Carrageenan).

Last reviewed October 13, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

Better Dairy Beverages

All 16 →