VadilalFrozen Desserts#44 of 77 in categoryRating 2.3/5

Vadilal Natural Badam Pista Kesar Ice Cream Kulfi Stick

Red flags

  • Red flag: High added sugar (15.1g per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (9.5g)

Green flags

  • Green flag: Low sodium

Ingredients, decoded

11 listed
  • Water
  • Milk Solids
  • Sugar
  • Cashew (3.7%)
  • Almond (1.2%)
  • Pistachio (1.2%)
  • Saffron (0.014%)
  • Emulsifier (471)
  • Stabilisers (412,466,407)
  • Natural Colour (160c)
  • Natural (Saffron) Flavour
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

LPack claim not backed upHigh sugarHigh saturated fatNutrition per 100 g
ENutritionCIngredients3Risk
Energy243 kcal
Protein5.2 g
Carbohydrates22.5 g
Total sugars19.6 g
Added sugars15.1 g
Total fat14.7 g
Saturated fat9.5 g
Trans fat0 g
Cholesterol47 mg
Sodium83 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Real nuts, but saffron is 0.014%

Vadilal Natural Badam Pista Kesar Kulfi Stick is a 70 ml stick of water, milk solids and sugar with cashew (3.7%), almond (1.2%), pistachio (1.2%) and saffron (0.014%), an emulsifier, three stabilisers, a natural colour and a natural saffron flavour. The panel is printed per 100 g.

CleanPlate scores it [L]EC3. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g. The C for ingredients reflects a mix of whole and refined ingredients (led by milk solids, sugar and cashew), with additives that cost points: carrageenan, carboxymethyl cellulose, guar gum and mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids. The [L] marks a hollow label promise: real ingredient below 2% (saffron 0.014%). The 3 for risk comes mainly from saturated fat (9.5 g per 100 g) and free sugar (15.1 g per 100 g).

Claims vs reality

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

  • On the pack

    “Badam Pista Kesar”

    Misleading

    Saffron is 0.014% of the stick and the list adds a saffron flavour; cashew (3.7%) is the largest nut, though the name leaves it out.

  • On the pack

    “NO ARTIFICIAL COLOURS & FLAVOURS ADDED”

    Holds

    The list has a natural colour (INS 160c) and a natural saffron flavour, and no synthetic colour or flavour.

How EC3 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
5.2 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
243 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
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
4
Flagged
None

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
15.1 g
Sodium
83 mg
Saturated fat
9.5 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.

[L] The name or pack claims promise more than the ingredient list delivers. See Claims vs reality.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Water, milk solids and sugar, then cashew (3.7%), almond (1.2%), pistachio (1.2%) and saffron (0.014%), with an emulsifier, stabilisers, paprika-extract colour and natural saffron flavour.

Per 100 g: 243 kcal, 14.7 g fat of which 9.5 g saturated, 19.6 g sugar of which 15.1 g added, 5.2 g protein, 83 mg sodium.

Ingredients to watch

  • Kesar shareConcern

    Saffron is 0.014%, and a saffron flavour is added; this sets [L].

  • Saturated fatConcern

    9.5 g per 100 g, nearly twice the 5 g high line.

  • Added sugarWorth watching

    15.1 g per 100 g.

  • ColoursFine

    Only a natural colour (INS 160c) is listed; there are no synthetic dyes.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Natural kulfi means nothing artificial"

The pack avoids artificial colours and flavours, but the list still has carrageenan, guar gum and cellulose gum.

Myth: "Nuts make it a healthy kulfi"

The nuts total 6.1% of the stick; the rest is milk solids, water and sugar, with 9.5 g saturated fat per 100 g.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Smaller portions

A smaller portion cuts the 15.1 g added sugar per 100 g.

Read the percentages

The nut percentages on this pack make it easy to compare nut content with other kulfis.

Common questions

Is Vadilal Natural Badam Pista Kesar Ice Cream Kulfi Stick healthy?

Vadilal Natural Badam Pista Kesar Ice Cream Kulfi Stick scores EC3 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: High added sugar (15.1g per 100g); High saturated fat (9.5g). On the plus side: Low sodium.

What does the EC3 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 (3) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): moderate risk.

Last reviewed October 16, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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