MaggiPasta#2 of 4 in categoryRating 3/5

Maggi Pazzta Masala Penne Instant Pasta

Red flags

  • Red flag: High sodium (803mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: Palm oil listed
  • Red flag: Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV)

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (8.9g)
  • Green flag: Source of fibre

Ingredients, decoded

13 listed
  • Semolina (Wheat) (100%)
  • MASALA TASTEMAKER: Mixed spices (21.7%) (Dehydrated onion, Toasted onion flakes, Coriander powder, Roasted garlic flakes, Aniseed powder, Turmeric powder, Dehydrated coriander leaves, Cumin powder, Garlic powder, Red chilli powder, Black pepper powder, Fenugreek powder, Ginger powder, Capsicum extract, Clove powder, Green cardamom powder, Nutmeg powder, Coriander extract and Cumin extract)
  • Milk solids
  • Sugar
  • Iodized salt
  • Starch
  • Dehydrated Green peas (6.7%)
  • Flavour enhancer (635)
  • Palm oil
  • Yeast extract powder
  • Thickener (508)
  • Colour (150d)
  • Acidity regulator (330)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

DB3

Nutrition per 100 g
DNutritionBIngredients3Risk
VerdictFAIR
Energy279 kcal
Protein8.9 g
Carbohydrates58 g
Total sugars6.9 g
Added sugars3.1 g
Dietary fibre3.5 g
Total fat2 g
Saturated fat1.5 g
Trans fat0 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Sodium803 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Semolina pasta with a salty masala sachet

Maggi Pazzta Masala Penne is semolina pasta with a tastemaker of mixed spices (21.7%), milk solids, sugar, salt, starch, dehydrated green peas (6.7%), palm oil, yeast extract, an enhancer, caramel colour and citric acid.

CleanPlate scores it DB3. The D for nutrition is low: only 8.9 g protein and 3.5 g fibre per 100 g and little else credited. The B for ingredients reflects a mix of whole and refined ingredients (led by semolina, mixed spices and milk solids), with additives that cost points: caramel colour and a flavour enhancer. The 3 for risk comes mainly from sodium (803 mg per 100 g) and saturated fat (1.5 g per 100 g).

Claims vs reality

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

  • Product name

    “Masala Penne”

    Holds

    Mixed spices are 21.7% and green peas 6.7%; "masala" describes the flavour.

  • Retail listing

    “Made with suji/rawa”

    Holds

    Semolina is the base.

  • Retail listing

    “Ready in just 5 minutes”

    Partly true

    Preparation time depends on the stove and quantity.

How DB3 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
D

Low nutrient density

Protein
8.9 g
Fibre
3.5 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
279 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
B

Good, few concerning additives

Base
Semolina
Main fat
Palm oil
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
2
Flagged
Palm oil, Caramel Colour (Class IV)

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
3

Moderate risk

Added sugar
3.1 g
Sodium
803 mg
Saturated fat
1.5 g
Trans fat
0 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?

Semolina (wheat); masala tastemaker of mixed spices 21.7% (onion, coriander, garlic, aniseed, turmeric, chilli, pepper and others), milk solids, sugar, iodised salt, starch, dehydrated green peas 6.7%, flavour enhancer INS 635, palm oil, yeast extract powder, thickener INS 508, caramel colour INS 150d and acidity regulator INS 330.

Per 100 g: 279 kcal, 2 g fat of which 1.5 g saturated, 6.9 g sugar of which 3.1 g added, 3.5 g fibre, 8.9 g protein, 803 mg sodium. Values are per 100 g as sold (the structured per-100 g fields, which match the energy calculation); the Blinkit images show other Pazzta flavours, so the pack was not read.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumWorth watching

    803 mg per 100 g, about 560 mg in a pack.

  • Caramel colour (INS 150d) and an enhancerWorth watching

    Caramel IV can contain 4-methylimidazole (IARC 2B); INS 635 is a flavour enhancer.

  • Low fibre and protein creditWorth watching

    Semolina protein is credited at half, and fibre is 3.5 g per 100 g.

  • Real spices and peasFine

    Spices are 21.7% and green peas 6.7%, both declared.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Pasta is always healthier than noodles"

This one has 803 mg sodium per 100 g, similar to many instant noodles.

Myth: "Instant means no nutrition"

It has 8.9 g protein and 3.5 g fibre per 100 g; the drawbacks are salt and the tastemaker.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsA few times a week
  • ChildrenOccasionally
  • Diabetes or prediabetesOccasionally

Smarter ways to eat it

Use half the masala

Add fresh tomato, onion and peas and use half the sachet to cut sodium.

Add protein

Stir in paneer, egg or sprouts to make it a meal.

Common questions

Is Maggi Pazzta Masala Penne Instant Pasta healthy?

Maggi Pazzta Masala Penne Instant Pasta scores DB3 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. The main concerns are: High sodium (803mg per 100g); Palm oil listed; Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV). On the plus side: Source of protein (8.9g); Source of fibre.

What does the DB3 score mean?

The first letter (D) grades nutritional value: low nutrient density. The second letter (B) grades ingredient and label integrity: good, few concerning additives. The number (3) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): moderate risk.

Which ingredients in Maggi Pazzta Masala Penne Instant Pasta should I watch?

Palm oil (Palm oil), Colour (150d) (Caramel Colour (Class IV)).

Last reviewed October 9, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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