Brands Tested
Unit Price (Rs) of 100 grams
The unit price gives a fair idea about the cheapest and costliest brands.
General
Marking
The following information shall be clearly and indelibly marked on the label of each container/ packet as per Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations and Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules:
Nutrition Facts
Protein
The main function of protein is aiding in growth and repair of muscle and other body tissues. So, higher protein in diet is better to gain body weight.
Carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a good source of energy. A good reason to consume carbohydrates post-workout is to replenish the muscle glycogen that we burned during our workout. Our main fuel source is muscle glycogen. Glycogen is the storage form of glucose. So, a higher amount of carbohydrate is useful in gaining body weight.
Total Sugar
Carbohydrates are made up of three components: fibre, starch, and sugar. Fibre and starch are complex carbohydrates, while sugar is a simple carbohydrate. Sugar is easily digested by our body and is therefore a quick source of energy.
Energy
For all physical activity, the body requires energy – the amount depends on the duration and type of activity. Energy is measured in calories and is obtained from the body stores or the food we eat. Carbohydrate provides 4 kilocalories of energy per gram, protein 4 kilocalories per gram, and fat 9 kilocalories per gram.
Steroids
Steroids increase the appetite and aid in weight gain. At the same time, oral steroids are known to cause various side effects including:
We tested the five brands for presence of Betamethasone, Prednisolone and Dexamethasone steroids.
Bacterial Contamination
Bacterial contamination is a serious issue for all food products. We conducted tests for total plate count (TPC) and yeast and mould count.
Total Plate Count (TPC)
Total plate count is the amount of viable bacteria in a product and serves as a key indicator of the product’s overall quality and safety. As Endura Mass was proprietary food and the other brands were Ayurvedic products, no standards were available in the regulations. However, a lower total plate count is desirable. The unit of measurement for total plate count is colony-forming units (CFU) per gram.
Yeast and Mould Count
High yeast and mould count indicates poor hygienic conditions at the manufacturing plant.
Customer-Care Details
As per Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, every package shall bear the name, address, telephone number, and email address, if available, of the person who can be – or the office that can be – contacted in case of consumer complaints.