Key Development 

A LinkedIn post went viral after Vedant Khanduja, a former marketer at Ola Electric, raised concerns over ingredient differences in Kurkure, PepsiCo India’s popular snack, between Delhi and Bengaluru. Khanduja noted that the Delhi pack listed Palmolein (palm oil), one of the cheapest and most processed oils linked to health risks, while the Bengaluru pack did not. “Same Kurkure. Two cities. Two very different ingredients. Delhiites, you might be consuming something dangerous,” he warned. He explained that he purchased Kurkure in Bengaluru and found no Palmolein on the label. Later, he bought a pack in Delhi, where Palmolein appeared clearly. Questioning the inconsistency, he asked, “If Bengaluru gets a ‘better’ version of Kurkure, why not Delhi? Why not everywhere?”

Fairness, Transparency, and Accountability

Khanduja emphasised that the issue extended beyond a single snack, touching on fairness, transparency, and accountability in food brands. He praised influencer Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as Food Pharmer, and his campaign #LabelPadhegaIndia, saying his experience demonstrated that “the back of the pack tells the truth, while the front just sells instant gratification.”

PepsiCo Clarifies

Following Khanduja’s post, PepsiCo India reportedly contacted him to explain that Palmolein had been phased out from all Kurkure batches produced after August. The company added that the variation he observed was likely due to older stock still being sold in some markets.

Source: Livemint