Parameters Tested
Glucose (Dextrose Monohydrate) (% by mass)
Glucose (dextrose monohydrate) is the main ingredient in glucose powder. All tested brands claim to have 99.4 per cent of glucose. Since glucose is a good source of energy, higher is better.
Calcium
Calcium is a mineral important for strong bones and teeth. As per Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2011, issued by National Institute of Nutrition, the requirement of calcium for a young man/woman is 600 mg per day. So, a higher amount of calcium in glucose powder is better.
Vitamin D (IU/100 grams)
Vitamin D helps the body to use calcium from one’s diet and is therefore essential for strong bones. No recommended daily allowance (RDA) was fixed for vitamin D in Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2011, of National Institute of Nutrition.
For General Qualities
Packaging
Glucose powder shall be packed in clean, sound and dry containers. The material shall be processed and packed under good hygienic conditions. It shall be securely packed in clean high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene, or suitable cardboard.
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:
- Name of the product
- Trade name, if any
- Name and address of manufacturer
- Batch or code number
- Net quantity in gram or kg
- Month and year of manufacture
- The words ‘Best before’ (month and year to be indicated)
- Nutritional information
- FSSAI license number
- Logo indicating ‘vegetarian’ or ‘non-vegetarian’ status
- Storage information
- Maximum Retail Price (MRP)
- Customer-care details
- All brands had labelling as required.
- In some brands, the letters on the label were so small that they could be read only with a magnifying glass.
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.