Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls
Published
Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls are a corn-and-rice puff snack made with palmolein and flavoured with chilli, garlic and cumin. It scores EB4: nutrition is low because protein is modest and no fibre is declared, ingredients are fairly clean apart from one flavour enhancer, and risk is high on saturated fat, salt and energy. Best as a small handful now and then, not a bowl.
Ingredients, decoded
14 listed- Corn Grit
- Refined Vegetable Oil (Palmolein)
- Rice Grit
- Red Chilli Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Malto Dextrin
- Coriander Powder
- Cumin Powder
- Sugar Powder
- Iodized Salt
- Paprika Oleoresin
- Flavour Enhancer (E635)
- Acidity Regulator (E330, E334)
2½ teaspoons of sugar in every 100 g · 12 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon
| Energy | 495 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7.8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 62 g |
| Total sugars | 12 g |
| Added sugars | 4.9 g |
| Total fat | 23.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 10.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
Think this score is wrong?
What to know about Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls
Corn puffs with a quarter of the weight in oil
Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls are a namkeen puff built from corn grit (60%), refined palmolein oil (24%) and rice grit (6%), then seasoned with red chilli, garlic, onion, coriander and cumin. It is bought as a light, crunchy, spicy snack for tea time, travel or sharing.
A 15 g serve, the one the pack prints, gives 74 kcal, 1.2 g protein, 1.6 g saturated fat and 98 mg sodium. Per 100 g the figures are 495 kcal, 7.8 g protein, 23.5 g fat, 10.6 g saturated fat and 650 mg sodium. Added sugar is 4.9 g per 100 g, and no fibre is declared.
The front promises 30% less oil, no artificial colours, no added preservatives and gluten free. These are consistent with the ingredient list, but less oil is not the same as low oil: the list still shows 24% palmolein. CleanPlate scores it EB4.
Why Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls scores EB4
Nutrition is an E on 7.8 g protein per 100 g and no declared fibre. Ingredients are a B with few additives, and risk is a 4 on 10.6 g saturated fat and 650 mg sodium per 100 g.
Very low nutrient density
- Protein
- 7.8 g
- Fibre
- Not declared
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 495 kcal
01 Nutrition density: why E
Protein is 7.8 g per 100 g, and the largest part comes from corn grit, which is a lower-quality protein source, so the protein factor is only 0.5. Fibre is not declared, and no vitamins or minerals are listed.
With nothing else to add credit, and 495 kcal per 100 g, the nutrition grade has no room to rise.
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.
Good, few concerning additives
- Base
- Corn Grit
- Main fat
- Refined Vegetable Oil
- Sweeteners
- Sugar Powder
- Additives
- 2
- Flagged
- Palmolein
02 Ingredient integrity: why B
The list is short and mostly recognisable: corn grit, palmolein, rice grit and whole spice powders. No hydrogenated fat is listed and no artificial colour is used, which keeps the grade up.
The flavour enhancer E635 costs ingredient points, and paprika oleoresin, a natural colour, costs one small point. Citric and tartaric acid cost nothing. Spices, salt and additives have no percentages declared.
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
High risk
- Added sugar
- 4.9 g
- Sodium
- 650 mg
- Saturated fat
- 10.6 g
- Trans fat
- 0 g
03 Load risk: why 4
Saturated fat is the biggest driver: 10.6 g per 100 g, more than twice the 5 g high line. Sodium comes next at 650 mg per 100 g, then energy at 495 kcal.
Added sugar is 4.9 g per 100 g and moves the number very little. Trans fat is declared as 0 g. One 15 g serve is far lighter than the per-100 g figures, but the grade follows the food as sold.
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
Red flags
- −Red flag: High sodium (650mg per 100g)
- −Red flag: High saturated fat (10.6g)
- −Red flag: Palm oil listed
Green flags
Nothing stands out in its favour.
Does Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls live up to its claims?
The colour, preservative and gluten claims hold against the ingredient list. The 30% less oil claim has no stated comparison, and the snack still carries 24% palmolein.
- On the packBe careful
“30% Less Oil”
The pack gives no comparison point. Palmolein is 24% of the list and total fat is 23.5 g per 100 g, so it is still an oil-rich snack.
- On the packHolds
“No Artificial Colours”
The only colour is paprika oleoresin, a natural colour, and the back of the pack says it contains permitted natural colours.
- On the packHolds
“No Added Preservatives”
No preservative is listed. The acidity regulators are citric acid (E330) and tartaric acid (E334).
- On the packHolds
“Gluten Free”
The base is corn grit and rice grit, and no wheat or other gluten-containing ingredient is listed.
- Product nameHolds
“Punjabi Tadka”
Chilli, garlic, onion, coriander and cumin powders are all in the list, though no percentage is given for any of them.
What's in Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls?
Corn grit, palmolein and rice grit lead the list, followed by spices. The oil, the salt and the one flavour enhancer, E635, are what to watch.
The ingredient list, read for you
Corn grit (60%) is the base, followed by refined palmolein oil (24%) and rice grit (6%), so the puff is mostly cereal and oil. Red chilli, garlic, onion, coriander and cumin powders give the tadka flavour, with sugar powder and maltodextrin rounding it out.
Iodized salt, paprika oleoresin for colour, flavour enhancer E635 for savouriness, and citric and tartaric acid for tang come last. No percentages are declared for the spices, salt or additives.
Ingredients to watch
- Saturated fatConcern
10.6 g per 100 g, from palmolein. One 15 g serve has about 1.6 g.
- Flavour enhancer (E635)Concern
It costs ingredient points in the ingredient grade, the largest additive cost on this label.
- SodiumWorth watching
650 mg per 100 g, about 98 mg in a 15 g serve. It adds up quickly if you eat more than a handful.
- Oil and energyWorth watching
Palmolein is 24% of the list and energy is 495 kcal per 100 g, about 74 kcal per serve.
- Added sugarWorth watching
4.9 g per 100 g, from sugar powder and similar. About 0.7 g in a serve.
- Trans fat and coloursFine
Trans fat is declared as 0 g, no hydrogenated fat is listed and the only colour is natural paprika oleoresin.
What it doesn’t have
- No fibre is declared on the panel, and no vitamins or minerals.
- No percentages are given for the spices, salt or additives.
Who should eat Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls?
An occasional snack for most adults and children, and rarely for anyone watching blood pressure, since 100 g has 650 mg sodium and 10.6 g saturated fat.
- Most adultsOccasionally
10.6 g saturated fat per 100 g, more than twice the high line.
- ChildrenOccasionally
A 15 g serve has about 98 mg sodium and 1.6 g saturated fat, and it is easy to overeat.
- High blood pressureRarely
650 mg sodium per 100 g, so a larger handful adds up fast.
- Weight managementOccasionally
495 kcal per 100 g, about 74 kcal per 15 g serve, with little protein or fibre to fill you up.
Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls: common questions
What is the CleanPlate score of Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls?
Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls are a corn-and-rice puff snack made with palmolein and flavoured with chilli, garlic and cumin. It scores EB4: nutrition is low because protein is modest and no fibre is declared, ingredients are fairly clean apart from one flavour enhancer, and risk is high on saturated fat, salt and energy. Best as a small handful now and then, not a bowl. Nutrition E, ingredients B, load risk 4; nutrition and ingredients run A to E, risk runs 1 to 5, and A and 1 are best.
How many calories and how much protein are in Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls?
Per 100 g, Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls has 495 kcal, 7.8 g protein, 62 g carbohydrate, 23.5 g fat and 10.6 g saturated fat. One serve (15 g serve, as printed on the pack) has 74 kcal and 1.2 g protein.
What are the ingredients in Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls?
14 ingredients, in label order: Corn Grit, Refined Vegetable Oil (Palmolein), Rice Grit, Red Chilli Powder, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Malto Dextrin, Coriander Powder, Cumin Powder, Sugar Powder, Iodized Salt, Paprika Oleoresin, Flavour Enhancer (E635), Acidity Regulator (E330, E334). Flagged: Palmolein (low concern).
Does Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls live up to its claims?
5 claims checked: 4 hold, 1 needs care. "30% Less Oil" needs care: The pack gives no comparison point. Palmolein is 24% of the list and total fat is 23.5 g per 100 g, so it is still an oil-rich snack.
Who should limit Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls?
Most adults: occasionally. 10.6 g saturated fat per 100 g, more than twice the high line. Children: occasionally. A 15 g serve has about 98 mg sodium and 1.6 g saturated fat, and it is easy to overeat. High blood pressure: rarely. 650 mg sodium per 100 g, so a larger handful adds up fast.
How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls have?
Per 100 g, Peppy Punjabi Tadka Corn Balls has 4.9 g added sugar, 650 mg sodium (about 1.6 g salt) and 10.6 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 salt and saturated fat.
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .
Label read on 29 October 2026, from photos of the pack. If the pack has changed since, tell us.
Score history (1)
| Date | Score | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 October 2026 | EB4 | v5.0 | History starts here |
Every change to this score is logged. See corrections and the method changelog.
Better Namkeen
All Namkeen →- Veerabhadra Roasted Bhuna Chana
- −Red flag: High sodium (850mg per 100g)
- +Green flag: Source of protein (20g)
- Haldiram's Nagpur Moong Dal Namkeen
- −Red flag: High saturated fat (8.5g)
- −Red flag: Palm oil listed
- Haldiram's Bhujia
- −Red flag: High sodium (754mg per 100g)
- −Red flag: High saturated fat (6.7g)
- Haldiram's Boondi (210 g)
- −Red flag: High sodium (641.4mg per 100g)
- −Red flag: High saturated fat (13.7g)
