BalajiChips & Snacks#17 of 49 in categoryRating 3/5

Balaji Crunchem Cream & Onion Wafers

Red flags

  • Red flag: High saturated fat (15.6g)
  • Red flag: Palm oil listed

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (7.6g)
  • Green flag: Source of fibre

Ingredients, decoded

14 listed
  • Potato (88%)
  • Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein)
  • Milk Solids (Whey) (0.7%)
  • Sugar
  • Edible Common Salt
  • Onion Powder (0.3%)
  • Cheese Powder (0.2%)
  • Herbs (Chives, Parsley)
  • Acidity Regulator (INS 330)
  • Yeast Extract Powder
  • Anticaking Agent (INS 551)
  • Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (Soya)
  • Flavour Enhancer (INS 627, INS 631)
  • Natural & Nature Identical Flavouring Substances (Cream, Onion)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

CC3

Nutrition per 100 g
CNutritionCIngredients3Risk
VerdictFAIR
Energy553 kcal
Protein7.6 g
Carbohydrates54 g
Total sugars4.6 g
Added sugars3.1 g
Dietary fibre5.7 g
Total fat32.8 g
Saturated fat15.6 g
Trans fat0.1 g
Sodium524 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Mostly potato, with enhancers doing the cream and onion.

Balaji Crunchem Cream & Onion wafers are 88% potato, fried in palmolein, with a seasoning of whey, onion powder, cheese powder, herbs and flavour enhancers.

CleanPlate scores it [L]CC3. The C for nutrition reflects potato protein and fibre. The C for ingredients and label reflects palmolein, flavour enhancers and a "cream" flavour with no cream in it. The 3 for risk comes from very high energy and saturated fat.

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

  • Product name

    “Cream & Onion”

    Misleading

    No cream is listed. Whey is 0.7%, cheese powder 0.2% and onion powder 0.3%; flavouring and enhancers do the rest.

How CC3 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
C

Adequate nutrient density

Protein
7.6 g
Fibre
5.7 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
553 kcal

Scored on eight nutrients (protein, fibre, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, D and zinc), per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Potato
Main fat
Edible Vegetable Oil
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
4
Flagged
Palmolein

Scored on six things: base processing, fat quality, sweeteners, additives, colours and flavours.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
3

Moderate risk

Added sugar
3.1 g
Sodium
524 mg
Saturated fat
15.6 g
Trans fat
0.1 g

Scored on added sugar, sodium and saturated fat, with a penalty for trans fat.

[L] The name or pack claims promise more than the ingredient list delivers. See Claims vs reality.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Potato is 88%. The seasoning includes whey (0.7%), sugar, salt, onion powder (0.3%), cheese powder (0.2%), chives, parsley, yeast extract, hydrolysed soya, and enhancers 627 and 631.

Per 100 g: 553 kcal, 7.6 g protein, 5.7 g fibre, 3.1 g added sugar, 32.8 g fat (15.6 g saturated) and 524 mg sodium.

Ingredients to watch

  • Energy densityConcern

    553 kcal per 100 g, which scores zero on energy.

  • Flavour enhancersWorth watching

    INS 627 and 631, plus yeast extract.

  • PalmoleinWorth watching

    15.6 g of saturated fat per 100 g.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Cream and onion chips contain cream"

Whey is 0.7%. The rest is flavouring.

Myth: "Herbs make it healthier"

They add flavour, not nutrition, in these amounts.

How often, and how

  • AdultsOccasional small portion
  • ChildrenOccasional
  • Watching weightVery energy-dense; limit

Smarter ways to eat it

Home dip

Hung curd with chives and onion, with carrot sticks, gives the same flavour.

Share the pack

Split between two or three people.

Common questions

Is Balaji Crunchem Cream & Onion Wafers healthy?

Balaji Crunchem Cream & Onion Wafers scores CC3 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. The main concerns are: High saturated fat (15.6g); Palm oil listed. On the plus side: Source of protein (7.6g); Source of fibre.

What does the CC3 score mean?

The first letter (C) grades nutritional value: adequate nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (3) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): moderate risk.

Which ingredients in Balaji Crunchem Cream & Onion Wafers should I watch?

Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein) (Palmolein).

Last reviewed September 26, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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