Samosa in a Soup

We can't get enough of snacks, but hold that thought before reaching out for fried foods, or so the government advises. A calorie and nutrition check is in order

- Shreya Deb

India's favourite snack might come with a warning soon. With the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) planning to roll out oil and sugar advisories along with street foods high in fat and sugar content, especially in schools, a dissection of our Indian street snacks and their contents is in order. From samosas, jalebis, and misal pav, to kebabs, pani puri, and momos—foods are now expected to be aware of the calorie contents and health benefits or lack thereof, of our timeless roadside delicacies as well. Whether it will take the fun out of roadside snacking, or make it a more conscious affair, remains to be seen.

India has one of the largest snack markets of the world and people consume more than 400,000 tonnes of snacks every year. Three-fourths of this is made of more than 1,300 ethnic snacks, savouries and sweets, according to a paper titled High Trans Fatty Acid Content in Common Indian Fast Foods published on ResearchGate. According to the FSSAI, this is reportedly not to shame the eater or the food or issue alerts on these items, rather to inform them of the ingredients and pros and cons of food items regularly consumed by the average Indian—specifically in school and college canteens, office lobbies, and cafeterias.

The snack that has been exemplified repeatedly in this conversation is the samosa—which contains roughly 200–350 calories a piece.