Ice Creams and Frozen Desserts
Eight brands and the various degrees of protein and energy
What really is the difference between ice creams and frozen desserts? Isn't ice cream frozen dessert after all? Well, ice cream is made of milk and milk products, while in frozen desserts milk and milk products are replaced by vegetable oils/fats and protein, partially or fully. (If vegetable fat is added, its melting point should not be more than 37 degrees Centigrade.) Every package of frozen dessert should bear this detail on the label: ‘Frozen dessert contains milk fat*/edible vegetable oil*/ vegetable fat*'. (*Strike out whatever is not applicable.) Yet, how many of us consumers know about this small but not insignificant detail? These days, many of the products in the ice cream aisle at any given grocery store are ‘frozen desserts' that are often made with edible oil products and do not contain the nutrients naturally found in milk. Consumers must read the nutrition facts on the label to know which is which. After all, if it does not say ice cream on the package, it is not ice cream. Be that as it may, ice creams and frozen desserts can be a source of energy and protein, and the following report analyses the information pertaining to these nutrients given on the label of eight brands. We have also rated the sugar and fat quantities as per traffic light colours to enable consumers to make an informed choice.
Nutritional labelling of packaged food products refers to the disclosure of the main nutrients, such as energy, fat, protein, carbohydrate, sugar and salt content, on the label. As per India’s Food Safety and Standards (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011, mandatory nutritional information or nutritional facts per 100 grams or 100 millilitres or per serving of the product shall be given on the label. Such information shall contain the following: a) energy value in kilocalories (kcal) b) the amounts of protein, carbohydrate (specify quantity of sugar) and fat in gram (g) or ml c) the amount of any other nutrient for which a nutrition or health claim is made Note that declaration of calcium is not mandatory.