Why is ORIGINAL hot malty goodness classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The product is made from refined wheat flour, malted barley, dried whey and skimmed milk, plus added sugar, palm oil and calcium carbonate; it also includes an anti‑caking agent (E551) and a fortified vitamin mix. These industrially processed components and added substances place it in the NOVA 4 ultra‑processed category.

How does the sugar and salt content in this product affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 9.6 g of sugar per 100 g, the drink can raise blood‑glucose levels quickly, making it unsuitable for strict diabetic control, while its 0.25 g of salt per 100 g contributes to sodium intake and may aggravate hypertension, so consumers with these conditions should limit or avoid it.

Based on the ingredients, is this product suitable for vegan, gluten‑free, or dairy‑free diets?

No. The formulation contains wheat (which provides gluten) and several dairy derivatives such as dried whey milk and skimmed milk, so it is neither vegan, nor gluten‑free, nor dairy‑free.

Horlicks • 400 g

ORIGINAL hot malty goodness

Beverages And Beverages Preparations

Product Insights

ORIGINAL hot malty goodness is a powdered instant beverage from Horlicks intended to be mixed with hot water or milk. It falls in the beverage group, carries a Nutri‑Score of E and is classified as NOVA 4, indicating an ultra‑processed product with added sugar, palm oil, an anti‑caking agent (E551) and a fortified vitamin mix. Nutritionally it provides relatively high protein (≈4.6 g per 100 g) and carbohydrates, but also contains moderate fat, saturated fat, low fiber, and a high sugar amount (9.6 g per 100 g), while allergens include gluten and milk.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal368 kcal

Fat2.3 g

Saturated Fat1.1 g

Carbohydrates77.3 g

Sugars39.3 g

Comparative Analysis

Per 100 g, the drink contains about 9.6 g of sugar (slightly below the category average of 9.66 g), 2 g of fat and 1.2 g of saturated fat (both above the averages of 1.91 g and 0.78 g), 0.25 g of salt (near the 0.26 g average), 4.65 g of protein (well above the 1.37 g average), but only 0.25 g of fiber (far below the 1.58 g average).

Ingredients

Wheat 41% (Wheat Flour and Malted Wheat), Malted Barley 31%, Dried Whey Milk), Calcium Carbonate, Dried Skimmed Milk, Sugar, Palm Oil, Salt, Anti-Caking agent (E551), Vitamin Mix (Vitamin C, Niacin, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, Riboflavin, Thiamin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12), Ferric Pyrophosphate, Zinc Oxide.

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