KEY FINDINGS

March-April 1999

• We tested seven brands of packed chilli powder - Madhur, Anupam, Everest, MTR, Orkay, Ramdev, and Shree Ganesh. Except for Orkay and Everest, all were Agmarked.
  
• The average net weight of Everest (97.5 gms) and Madhur (99.7 gms) was less than the claimed weight, though they were within the limits of the maximum permissible error.
  
• MTR (Rs. 10.50), which ranked fourth, was the most expensive brand. Ramdev which performed the best, was priced at Rs. 7.50. Shree Ganesh (Rs. 7.00) was the cheapest among the brands tested.
  
• MTR (14.9%) and Orkay could not meet the international standard for non-volatile ether extract which requires it to be not less than 15%. This test is done to check the quality of capsicum used.
  
• Only MTR and Orkay did not have any oil in their product. As per the BIS, the product should be free from added oil.
  
  However, the Agmark (recent amendment) and the PFA Act allow the presence of 2 per cent oil with label declaration. Only Madhur and Everest carried this declaration. In the rest, though the presence of oil was detected, there was no label declaration which is required by the law.
  
• The Scoville index indicates the pungency of chilli powder. While the BIS requires it to be not less than 24,000, the US standards provides a range of 25,000-40,000. Everest (24,000) and Anupam (24,000) were on the border line. While all the brands met BIS specifications, none of the brands complied with the US standards.

Details of the test report can be had in INSIGHT

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