Look Twice: 5 Sneaky Words Hiding on Indian Food Labels

We believe in honest eating. That means knowing exactly what goes into your body, not trying to decipher marketing language written in font size 4.

Reading a food label shouldn't feel like taking a language exam, but manufacturers know that most people skip the ingredient list entirely. They use specific words to make heavily processed items sound appealing, healthy, or—most often—just vague enough to avoid scrutiny.

Next time you're holding a packet, scan the back for these five common culprits. If they show up, it’s a good sign that something has been added, hidden, or heavily processed.

The Vague and The Voluntary

1. Natural(s)

This is perhaps the most overused word in the packaged food industry. In reality, ‘natural’ often means very little once the ingredient leaves its original state. High-Fructose Corn Syrup, for example, is derived from corn—a natural ingredient. But the final product is chemically and structurally far from what nature intended.

If the ingredient list reads ‘Natural Flavours’ or ‘Natural Colours,’ ask yourself: is this essential, or is it there to cover up the taste lost during processing?

2. Added

This is the simplest word on the list, but arguably the most crucial to watch out for. When you see 'Added Sugar,' 'Added Colour,' or 'Added Preservatives,' it means the food item did not naturally contain this ingredient, and it has been put there specifically to improve shelf life, change texture, or increase palatability.

If you are eating something simple—like peanut butter or roasted nuts—the word ‘Added’ usually signals an unnecessary ingredient that your body could do without.

Sugars in Disguise

3. Syrup

Manufacturers know you are looking for ‘Sugar,’ so they use countless alternatives, and ‘Syrup’ is a popular disguise. Whether it’s Glucose Syrup, Corn Syrup, Malt Syrup, or Invert Sugar Syrup—it is concentrated sugar. If it ends in ‘-ose’ (like Dextrose or Maltose) or begins with ‘Syrup,’ assume it’s a non-essential sweetener.

4. Identical

Look for 'Nature Identical Flavouring Substances.' This is a highly technical way of saying: we made this flavour in a lab because it’s cheaper and more stable than the real thing. It tastes like the actual food, but it is chemically synthesised, not extracted from a plant or fruit.

For example, if you see ‘Nature Identical Mango Flavour’ on a beverage label, you can be confident that the actual mango content is negligible or non-existent.

The Mystery Mixer

5. Blend

‘Blend’ usually appears when describing oils, such as ‘Vegetable Oil Blend’ or ‘Edible Vegetable Fat Blend.’ This often indicates a mix of whatever cheap, refined oils are currently available. This might include palm, sunflower, or soybean oil mixed together, providing a cheap filler for the product. If they were using a high-quality, specific oil (like groundnut or mustard oil), they would absolutely name it clearly, not hide it behind a general term.

The Takeaway

If you want to eat cleaner, choose foods where the ingredient list is short and every single word is recognizable. Food should be straightforward, not a chemistry experiment. When you find yourself asking, “What is that word?”—it’s usually the answer to why the food isn’t as wholesome as you hoped.