Hellmann'sMayonnaise & Dips#12 of 12 in categoryRating 2/5

Hellmann's Smoky Tandoori Veg Mayonnaise

Red flags

  • Red flag: High sodium (735mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (5.1g)
  • Red flag: Contains trans fat (0.3g)
  • Red flag: Contains Maltodextrin

Green flags

Nothing stands out in its favour.

Ingredients, decoded

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

High saltHigh saturated fatNutrition per 100 g
ENutritionCIngredients4Risk
Energy332 kcal
Protein0.7 g
Carbohydrates16 g
Total sugars6.1 g
Added sugars5.5 g
Dietary fibre0.2 g
Total fat31.9 g
Saturated fat5.1 g
Trans fat0.31 g
Cholesterol0.01 mg
Sodium735 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Oil-based tandoori mayo with moderate sodium

Hellmann's Smoky Tandoori Veg Mayonnaise is a mayonnaise of refined soybean oil and water with a tandoori seasoning (8%), vinegar, sugar and thickeners. The pouch is 85 g and the panel is printed per 100 g with a 15 g serve.

CleanPlate scores it EC4. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g. The C for ingredients reflects mostly refined or industrial ingredients (led by refined soybean oil, maltodextrin and spices & herbs), with additives that cost points: flavouring, hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate, starch sodium octenyl succinate and guar gum. The 4 for risk comes mainly from sodium (735 mg per 100 g) and saturated fat (5.1 g per 100 g).

Claims vs reality

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

  • On the pack

    “World's No.1 Mayonnaise Brand”

    Be careful

    The pack cites a market-research ranking by retail value that cannot be checked from the label.

  • Product name

    “Smoky Tandoori”

    Partly true

    The smoky flavour comes from spices, vegetables and flavouring substances.

How EC4 breaks down

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

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
E

Very low nutrient density

Protein
0.7 g
Fibre
0.2 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
332 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
Water
Main fat
Refined Soybean Oil
Sweeteners
Tandoori Seasonin..., Sugar
Additives
8
Flagged
Maltodextrin, Potassium Sorbate

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
5.5 g
Sodium
735 mg
Saturated fat
5.1 g
Trans fat
0.31 g

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

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Water, refined soybean oil, tandoori seasoning (8%) of maltodextrin, spices and herbs, dehydrated vegetables, dextrose and flavouring, then vinegar, sugar, starches, thickener and preservatives.

Per 100 g: 332 kcal, 31.9 g fat of which 5.1 g saturated, 6.1 g sugar of which 5.5 g added, 0.2 g fibre, 0.7 g protein, 735 mg sodium. Energy 332 kcal is within the Atwater sum. Trans fat prints as 0.31 g, which is counted. The panel is read from small print on the back, so the values are the best reading. Net 85 g.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    735 mg per 100 g, about 110 mg in a 15 g serve.

  • Saturated fatWorth watching

    5.1 g per 100 g.

  • AdditivesWorth watching

    Modified starches, flavouring, guar gum, silicon dioxide and a flavour enhancer cost points.

  • SpicesFine

    Tandoori seasoning is 8% of the mayo.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Veg mayo is lighter than egg mayo"

It is 332 kcal per 100 g and mostly soybean oil.

Myth: "World's No. 1 means a better recipe"

The claim is about sales, not nutrition.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Spread it thin in sandwiches

A 15 g serve is about 50 kcal.

Mix with curd for a dip

Half curd and half mayo halves the oil.

Common questions

Is Hellmann's Smoky Tandoori Veg Mayonnaise healthy?

Hellmann's Smoky Tandoori Veg Mayonnaise scores EC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: High sodium (735mg per 100g); High saturated fat (5.1g); Contains trans fat (0.3g); Contains Maltodextrin.

What does the EC4 score mean?

The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very 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 Hellmann's Smoky Tandoori Veg Mayonnaise should I watch?

Tandoori Seasoning (8%) (Maltodextrin, Spices & Herbs (Kasuri Methi, Chilli, Coriander, Cumin, Pepper, Cardamom, Ginger, Bayleaf, Cinnamon), Dehydrated Vegetables (Garlic, Onion), Dextrose, Natural and Nature Identical Flavouring Substances, Corn Starch, Anticaking Agent (551), Beetroot Juice Powder, Flavour Enhancers (627, 631)) (Maltodextrin), Preservative (202) (Potassium Sorbate).

Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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