Bikaji Soya Sticks (Masala Munch) — DUMP

Name: Bikaji Soya Sticks (Masala Munch)
Brand: Bikaji

Munch or Dump rates Bikaji Soya Sticks (Masala Munch) by Bikaji DUMP — score 17/90.

Fried 'soya' sticks that are only 7% soya, built on hydrogenated oil, maltodextrin, and a stacked MSG-style flavour-enhancer trio. The protein halo hides a refined-starch, deep-fried snack.

Why this verdict

Hydrogenated vegetable oil = a source of artery-damaging trans fat
Flavour-enhancer stack (INS 627/631/635) engineers craving like MSG-plus
Maltodextrin and refined starches spike blood sugar
Deep-fried in palmolein + cottonseed oil; ~34g fat per 100g
Only 7% soya — the 'protein snack' image is mostly refined starch

Ingredients (16)

Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein, Cottonseed) (concerning) — Refined frying oils high in saturated/omega-6 fat; drive the snack to ~34g fat per 100g.
TAPIOCA STARCH (moderate) — Refined starch used for binding and chew, nutritionally empty.
Black Gram Flour (safe) — Legume flour, adds protein to the batter.
Soya Powder (7%) (safe) — The namesake ingredient but only 7%; modest protein contribution.
rice flour (moderate) — Refined starch that completes the fast-carb triad.
Whole Lentil Flour (safe) — Adds a little plant protein and fiber.
Iodised Salt (moderate) — Necessary for thyroid health, but overuse can contribute to hypertension.
Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
Maltodextrin (moderate) — Highly processed starch-derived carbohydrate used as a carrier and texturizer; spikes blood sugar readily.
Corn Starch (moderate) — Refined starch for texture; part of the hyper-palatable structure.
Acidity Regulator (INS 330, INS 296) (safe) — Citric and malic acid; common, low-risk.
Anticaking Agent (INS 551) (moderate) — Silicon dioxide keeps seasoning free-flowing; a processing aid, not food.
Flavour Enhancer (INS 627, 631, 635) (concerning) — Disodium guanylate/inosinate/5'-ribonucleotides — a stacked umami booster engineered to make you keep eating.
Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (Soya) (moderate) — Processed umami booster, often high in free glutamates.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm, Soybean, Sunflower, Sesame) (harmful) — Source of trans fat — directly raises bad (LDL) cholesterol and heart-disease risk. This alone is a dealbreaker.
Spices (Cumin, Fennel, Red Chilli, Ginger, Turmeric, Mustard, Garlic, Asafoetida, Dry Mango) (safe) — Genuine spices providing the masala flavor; the one clean part of the list.