Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink
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Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink is a malted milk powder for toddlers, mixed into a glass of milk. It scores [F][L]CA3: nutrition is middling and leans on added vitamins and minerals, ingredients are mostly sound but the vanilla in the name is not in the list, and risk is moderate once mixed with milk. Fine as an occasional fortified drink, not a daily need.
Ingredients, decoded
12 listed- Wheat Flour (Atta)
- Malted Barley (Extracted Solids)
- Milk Solids
- Cereal Extract
- Barley
- Malted Barley
- Millet
- Wheat
- Sugar
- Minerals
- Wheat Gluten
- Vitamins
- Edible Iodized Salt
- Acidity Regulator [INS 501 (ii)]
- Nature Identical Flavouring Substances
- Soy Protein Isolate
8 teaspoons of sugar in every 100 g of powder · 40 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon
| Energy | 376 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 12 g |
| Carbohydrates | 74 g |
| Total sugars | 40 g |
| Added sugars | 5 g |
| Dietary fibre | 2 g |
| Total fat | 4 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.2 g |
| Trans fat | 0.1 g |
| Cholesterol | 15 mg |
| Sodium | 400 mg |
| Calcium | 833 mg |
| Iron | 16.6 mg |
| Zinc | 6 mg |
| Magnesium | 70.7 mg |
| Potassium | 580 mg |
| Iodine | 97.8 µg |
| Selenium | 34.8 µg |
| Copper | 0.3 mg |
| Chloride | 500 mg |
| Vitamin A | 521.7 µg |
| Vitamin C | 65.2 mg |
| Vitamin D | 8.2 µg |
| Vitamin E | 5.4 mg |
| Vitamin K | 13 µg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.8 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 1 mg |
| Vitamin B3 | 8.7 mg |
| Vitamin B5 | 2.6 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.5 mg |
| Folic acid | 82 µg |
| Vitamin B7 | 8.7 µg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.6 µg |
Think this score is wrong?
What to know about Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink
A toddler malt drink with no vanilla in it
Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink is a 500 g tub of malted drink powder aimed at fussy toddlers aged 2 to 6. It is built from wheat flour (atta, 35%), malted barley extract (25%), milk solids (22%) and a cereal extract of barley, malted barley, millet and wheat (8%), with sugar, added minerals and vitamins, wheat gluten, iodised salt, an acidity regulator and soy protein isolate. Parents buy it to get a child who eats little to drink something with added nutrients.
Per 100 g of powder you get 376 kcal, 12 g protein, 74 g carbohydrate, 40 g total sugar, 2 g fibre, 4 g fat (3.2 g saturated) and 400 mg sodium. It is also fortified: 833 mg calcium, 16.6 mg iron and 8.2 mcg vitamin D per 100 g. The pack's serve is 3 spoons (23 g) in 200 ml of toned milk, which is 86 kcal from the powder and about 210 kcal for the glass.
The name promises vanilla, and the list has none, only nature-identical flavouring substances. That is what sets the [L] flag. The [F] flag marks that the nutrition grade leans on added vitamins and minerals. CleanPlate scores it [F][L]CA3.
Does Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink live up to its claims?
The vanilla in the name is not in the list, so that claim is misleading. The iron, folic acid and iodine claims hold, and the protein and brain claims are true but framed.
- Product nameMisleading
“Vanilla Drink”
No vanilla is in the ingredient list. The flavour comes from nature-identical flavouring substances.
- On the packBe careful
“Active brain: DHA and nutrients”
The pack prints 40 mg DHA and 110 mg choline, but DHA is not named in the ingredient list. The nutrients are added vitamins and minerals.
- On the packBe careful
“Protein: height gain”
The powder has 12 g protein per 100 g, or about 2.8 g per 23 g serve. That is a modest amount, so the drink cannot carry a growth claim alone.
- On the packHolds
“Helps improve immunity with Vitamin C, E, A, Zinc”
The nutrients are present per 100 g: vitamin C 65.2 mg, vitamin A 521.7 mcg, vitamin E 5.4 mg, zinc 6 mg, selenium 34.8 mcg and copper 0.3 mg.
- On the packHolds
“With Iron, Folic Acid and Iodine”
Per 100 g the panel shows 16.6 mg iron, 82 mcg folic acid and 97.8 mcg iodine, about 3.8 mg iron in a 23 g serve.
Why Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink scores [L][F]CA3
Nutrition is a C because 12 g protein per 100 g is helped by added vitamins and minerals. Ingredients are an A despite the missing vanilla, and risk is a 3, driven mostly by sugar and energy once mixed with milk.
Adequate nutrient density
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
- Vitamins and minerals
- 22 declared
- Energy
- 376 kcal
01 Nutrition density: why C
Protein is 12 g per 100 g and fibre is 2 g, which is modest. Wheat flour is the largest source of the protein, and the protein earns only half credit.
Most of the grade comes from added nutrients: calcium, iron, zinc, vitamins A, C, D, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 and folate. Without that fortification the grade would fall to an E, which is why the [F] flag is on the code.
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. Protein also has to supply at least 12.5% of the calories to count, and 25% for full credit.
Clean, minimally processed
- Base
- Wheat Flour
- Sweeteners
- Sugar
- Additives
- 1
- Flagged
- None
02 Ingredient integrity: why A
The list is mostly whole-food in origin: wheat flour, malted barley extract, milk solids and cereal extract, with declared shares of 35%, 25%, 22% and 8%. Sugar sits after them, and the only additives are a flavouring and an acidity regulator.
Nature-identical flavouring costs ingredient points. The acidity regulator (potassium carbonate, INS 501 (ii)) costs none.
The name says vanilla and the list has no vanilla. That hollow promise sets the [L] flag and takes points off the label.
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
Moderate risk
Per 100 g as made
- Free sugar
- 3.7 g
- Sodium
- 79.8 mg
- Saturated fat
- 2.1 g
- Trans fat
- 0.08 g
Scored on the drink as made: 23 g in 200 ml of toned milk, from the pack's directions. As sold, the powder has 400 mg sodium and 5 g added sugar per 100 g.
03 Load risk: why 3
Risk is scored as made, with the pack's 23 g in 200 ml of toned milk: 91.7 kcal, 3.66 g free sugar, 2.12 g saturated fat and 79.8 mg sodium per 100 g. Sugar is the largest part of the number, then energy, saturated fat and sodium, which lands on a 3.
The cereal extract's sugar is not in the declared 5 g of added sugar, so the powder's 40 g total sugar per 100 g behaves more like added sugar than the label suggests. Trans fat is 0.1 g per 100 g and no hydrogenated fat is listed.
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
[F] Added vitamins or minerals meaningfully lift this product's nutrition grade. Without them it would score lower.
[L] The name or pack claims promise more than the ingredient list delivers. See Claims vs reality.
Red flags
- −Red flag: High sugar (40g per 100g)
Green flags
- +Green flag: Source of protein (12g)
What's in Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink?
Wheat flour, malted barley extract and milk solids lead the list, with sugar and cereal extract further down. Watch the sugar from the malt and cereal extracts, and the flavouring standing in for vanilla.
The ingredient list, read for you
Wheat flour (atta) at 35%, malted barley extract at 25% and milk solids at 22% make up most of the powder, with cereal extract at 8% adding more malt sweetness. Sugar, wheat gluten and soy protein isolate follow, then the added minerals and vitamins and iodised salt. The acidity regulator is potassium carbonate, and the nature-identical flavouring stands in for the vanilla in the name.
Ingredients to watch
- Vanilla missing from the listConcern
The name says vanilla, but only nature-identical flavouring is listed. This hollow promise sets the [L] flag.
- Sugar from malt and cereal extractWorth watching
40 g total sugar per 100 g, about 9.2 g in a 23 g serve, though only 5 g per 100 g is declared as added. The cereal extract's sugar is not in that line.
- Nature-identical flavouringWorth watching
It costs ingredient points, and it is the only flavour source on the list.
- Grade rests on fortificationWorth watching
Without the added vitamins and minerals the nutrition grade would be an E. The nutrients are added, not from the base.
- Calcium and ironFine
833 mg calcium and 16.6 mg iron per 100 g, about 192 mg and 3.8 mg in a 23 g serve.
What it doesn’t have
- Vanilla is not in the ingredient list.
- Fibre is low at 2 g per 100 g.
Who should eat Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink?
An occasional drink for most adults and for people watching sugar or weight. For toddlers it suits a few times a week at most, at 86 kcal per 23 g serve before the milk.
- Most adultsOccasionally
A toddler formulation with 40 g total sugar per 100 g and little protein per serve.
- ChildrenA few times a week
86 kcal and 9.2 g total sugar per 23 g serve before the milk is added.
- Diabetes or prediabetesOccasionally
40 g total sugar per 100 g, mostly from malt and cereal extract, plus milk sugar.
- Weight managementOccasionally
About 210 kcal a glass with milk, with only 2 g fibre per 100 g.
Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink: common questions
What is the CleanPlate score of Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink?
Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink is a malted milk powder for toddlers, mixed into a glass of milk. It scores [F][L]CA3: nutrition is middling and leans on added vitamins and minerals, ingredients are mostly sound but the vanilla in the name is not in the list, and risk is moderate once mixed with milk. Fine as an occasional fortified drink, not a daily need. CleanPlate scores it [L][F]CA3: nutrition C, ingredients A, load risk 3 (A and 1 are best).
How many calories and how much protein are in Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink?
Per 100 g of powder, Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink has 376 kcal, 12 g protein, 74 g carbohydrate, 4 g fat and 3.2 g saturated fat. Load risk is scored on the product as made (23 g in 200 ml of toned milk), which gives 79.8 mg sodium, 2.1 g saturated fat and 3.7 g free sugar per 100 ml.
What are the ingredients in Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink?
12 ingredients, in label order: Wheat Flour (Atta), Malted Barley (Extracted Solids), Milk Solids, Cereal Extract (Barley, Malted Barley, Millet, Wheat), Sugar, Minerals, Wheat Gluten, Vitamins, Edible Iodized Salt, Acidity Regulator [INS 501 (ii)], Nature Identical Flavouring Substances, Soy Protein Isolate.
Does Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink live up to its claims?
5 claims checked: 2 hold, 2 need care, 1 is misleading. "Vanilla Drink" is misleading: No vanilla is in the ingredient list. The flavour comes from nature-identical flavouring substances. "Active brain: DHA and nutrients" needs care: The pack prints 40 mg DHA and 110 mg choline, but DHA is not named in the ingredient list. The nutrients are added vitamins and minerals.
Who should limit Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink?
Most adults: occasionally. A toddler formulation with 40 g total sugar per 100 g and little protein per serve. Children: a few times a week. 86 kcal and 9.2 g total sugar per 23 g serve before the milk is added. Diabetes or prediabetes: occasionally. 40 g total sugar per 100 g, mostly from malt and cereal extract, plus milk sugar.
How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink have?
Per 100 g of powder, Junior Horlicks Vanilla Drink has 5 g added sugar, 400 mg sodium (about 1 g salt) and 3.2 g saturated fat. The FSSAI and UK FSA "high" lines are 10 g added sugar, 600 mg sodium and 5 g saturated fat per 100 g. It is high in sugar.
Last reviewed October 23, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .
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