McCainFrozen Ready Meals & Snacks#80 of 120 in categoryRating 3/5

McCain Aloo Tikki

Red flags

  • Red flag: Palm oil listed

Green flags

  • Green flag: No added sugar

Ingredients, decoded

11 listed
  • Potato (77%)
  • Palmolein Oil
  • Maize Starch
  • Rice Flakes
  • Green Chilli Paste (Green Chilli, Water, Starch, Iodized Salt, Acidity Regulators [INS 260, INS 330])
  • Ginger Paste (Ginger, Water, Iodized Salt, Starch, Acidity Regulator [INS 260])
  • Garlic Paste (Water, Garlic, Iodized Salt, Starch, Acidity Regulator [INS 260])
  • Iodized Salt
  • Onion Powder
  • Red Chilli Flakes (0.23%)
  • Cumin Seeds
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

Nutrition per 100 g
ENutritionAIngredients3Risk
Energy164.5 kcal
Protein2.7 g
Carbohydrates23.8 g
Added sugars0 g
Total fat6.5 g
Saturated fat3.1 g
Sodium482 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Aloo tikki, 2.7 g protein, 482 mg sodium

McCain Aloo Tikki is a 400 g pack of frozen potato tikki marked veg (the listing says 430 g; the pack says 400 g). The back panel is per 100 g; total sugar and trans fat are printed as bounds and are not recorded as numbers.

CleanPlate scores it EA3. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g. The A for ingredients reflects whole or lightly processed ingredients (led by potato, palmolein oil and maize starch), and almost no additives. The 3 for risk comes mainly from sodium (482 mg per 100 g) and saturated fat (3.1 g per 100 g).

Claims vs reality

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

  • On the pack

    “No Added Preservatives”

    Be careful

    No preservative is listed, but acetic acid (INS 260) appears as an acidity regulator.

  • On the pack

    “Traditional Indian Masaledar Tikki”

    Holds

    The tikki is a spiced potato patty.

How EA3 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
2.7 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
165 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
A

Clean, minimally processed

Base
Potato
Main fat
Palmolein Oil
Sweeteners
None added
Additives
2
Flagged
Palmolein

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
0 g
Sodium
482 mg
Saturated fat
3.1 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?

Potato, palmolein oil, maize starch, spices and salt, with an acidity regulator (INS 260).

Per 100 g: 164 kcal, 6.5 g fat of which 3.1 g saturated, 2.7 g protein, 482 mg sodium. The listing says 430 g and the pack 400 g; the pack is used. Sugar and trans fat are printed as bounds and are not recorded as numbers.

Ingredients to watch

  • ProteinConcern

    About 2.7 g per 100 g.

  • SodiumWorth watching

    About 482 mg per 100 g.

  • Saturated fatWorth watching

    About 3.1 g per 100 g.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Aloo tikki is a vegetable snack"

It is a starchy potato patty with little protein or fibre.

Myth: "No added preservatives means a clean list"

The list is short, but the sodium is not low.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Shallow fry or air fry

Less oil than deep frying.

Add a chutney or salad

Fibre and freshness balance the snack.

Common questions

Is McCain Aloo Tikki healthy?

McCain Aloo Tikki scores EA3 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: Palm oil listed. On the plus side: No added sugar.

What does the EA3 score mean?

The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very low nutrient density. The second letter (A) grades ingredient and label integrity: clean, minimally processed. The number (3) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): moderate risk.

Which ingredients in McCain Aloo Tikki should I watch?

Palmolein Oil (Palmolein).

Last reviewed October 18, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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