Kolhapuri Thecha — OKAY

Munch or Dump rates Kolhapuri Thecha by Pravin OKAY — score 62/90.

A mostly clean chilli-garlic paste built on real garlic, chilli and lime, dragged down by a synthetic preservative and refined cottonseed oil.

Why this verdict

• Real garlic, red chilli, lime juice and cumin form the base
• No added sugar, sweeteners, emulsifiers or artificial colours
• Contains sodium benzoate (E211), a synthetic preservative
• Uses refined cottonseed oil rather than a whole-food oil
• Short 9-ingredient list, but two are industrial additives

Ingredients (9)

• Water (safe) — Used as a basic ingredient in bread.
• GARLIC (safe) — Real aromatic. Whole food.
• Red Chilli (18%) (safe) — Whole spice; capsaicin, no processing concerns.
• Iodised Salt (moderate) — Necessary for thyroid health, but overuse can contribute to hypertension.
• Cotton Seed Oil (moderate) — Refined seed oil used in large quantity to coat and preserve; calorie-dense.
• Lime Juice (safe) — Natural acid that preserves color and brightens flavor.
• cumin (safe) — Whole spice.
• Acidity Regulator - Acetic Acid (E260) (moderate) — Food-grade vinegar acid used to control pH; it does act as a preservative, which contradicts the 'no preservative' claim, but it's low-risk.
• Preservative - Sodium Benzoate (E211) (moderate) — Synthetic preservative; generally recognized as safe but it is an artificial additive that undercuts any 'natural' claim.