Munch ado about fat-free snacks

While several commercial products that claim to be 'fat-free' contain quite a percentage of trans fats, Khoob Khao, a decade-old brand of health snacks, is plodding along

Ever been on a diet and tried to snack on low-fat foods? Sure, all of us do. Chances are you went across to the local supermarket and picked up packs of food that claims to be 'low fat' or 'fat-free'. But look a little closely at the back of the pack and you'll know it still contains between 20% to 30% trans fats. As per the law, every food packet must contain a breakdown of its nutritional value.



Which is what Khoob Khao seeks to change. Kishore Pasari, a 50-something former textiles man, slipped into the snack industry when he once picked up a low-fat chips pack. "The pack mentioned 'low-fat' but when I read the nutrition information, I realised it contained nearly 30 per cent trans fat. I felt cheated," says Pasari. He was moved enough to want to start his own range of low calorie snacks. Pasari says, in the west, claims of 'low fat' must correspond to a trans fat level of less than 3 per cent, something that Indian consumers are blissfully ignorant about.

Khoob Khao, which was launched a decade ago, is catching up and includes a range of 40 items. Wafers, bhel, sev and crackers that claim to maintain a 3 per cent to 5 per cent fat content ratio; all priced at Rs 28 onwards. Pasari loves experimenting with flavours, but not all of them have worked. He recalls a choco wheat puff, which didn't quite take off.

His range also includes Kanda Bhaji, Diet Samosa, Soya Sev, Onion Rings and Whole grain Crackers. Khoob Khao products are available at D-Mart, Big Bazaar and Star Bazaar outlets