Horlicks Classic Malt — ENGINEERED

Munch or Dump rates Horlicks Classic Malt by Hindustan Unilever Ltd ENGINEERED — score 30/90.

A malted milk powder built around added sugar and wheat starch, then fortified with 27 vitamins so it can market itself as a kids' growth drink. The nutrients are bolted on; the base is sweetened processed carbs.

Why this verdict

• Added sugar sits high on the list, ahead of most of the actual nutrition
• NOVA 4 ultra-processed: emulsifier (INS 471) plus two acidity regulators
• Refined wheat flour and wheat gluten pad out the malt base
• 27-vitamin premix is fortification bolted onto sweetened processed carbs
• Marketed as a children's growth drink despite the sugar load

Ingredients (10)

• Malt (barley, wheat flour, wheat, millet) (moderate) — Malted grain base; provides carbs and some flavor but is refined and high-glycemic, not whole grain.
• Milk Solids (safe) — Concentrated dairy solids that add protein and calcium; standard for toned milk.
• Sugar (moderate) — Added sugar sitting ahead of cocoa; the main flavor driver here.
• wheat gluten (safe) — Added protein/structure; fine unless you're gluten sensitive.
• Minerals (premix) (safe) — Added calcium, iron, zinc etc.; the fortification that props up the health claims.
• Emulsifier (INS 471) (moderate) — Mono- and diglycerides; an industrial texturizer that marks this as a manufactured formula, not a simple chip.
• Iodized Salt (safe) — Standard salt; iodization is fine in small amounts.
• Soy Protein Isolate (moderate) — Highly refined isolated protein; common allergen.
• Acidity regulators (INS 501(ii), INS 500(ii)) (moderate) — Potassium/sodium carbonates to tune pH and processing — additive, not nutrition.
• Vitamins (premix) (safe) — Trace B-vitamins so the can can claim 'vitamins'; the amounts are too low to matter much.