As the temperature rises, many people turn to cold drinks, ice-creams, and frozen desserts to cool down. However, there is often confusion between ice-cream and frozen desserts, with many assuming they are the same. In reality, frozen desserts can be hazardous to health due to their use of vegetable oils, particularly palm oil. Many nutritionists and dieticians warn against the consumption of vegetable oils, which have been linked to increased blood cholesterol levels and a higher risk of cardiac diseases and cancers.
Ice-cream is made from dairy products such as milk or cream, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and other flavors. The mixture is churned into soft, creamy solids called ice-cream. On the other hand, frozen desserts are made from vegetable oil, flour, and sugar. They are often served cold and eaten straight out of the freezer.
According to nutritionists, four types of oils – palm, palm kernel, coconut, and sunflower – are used in frozen desserts to replace 50-100% of the milk fat found in vanilla ice-cream mixes. These oils increase the melting capacity, texture, and viscosity of the dessert but can be a health hazard if consumed in excess.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) states that products made from a mix of milk fat and vegetable oils must be labeled as ‘frozen dessert’ rather than ice-cream. Compared to frozen desserts, ice-creams have less fat and carbs. Ice-cream contains 5.6 grams of fat per 100 grams, while frozen dessert contains 10.56 grams of fat.
The GHMC Food Safety wing carries out inspections at ice-cream manufacturers and outlets, ice-gola stores, lassi and milkshake makers each summer. Officers inspect the products’ labels, ingredients, and declarations on the label. If a product is found to be using frozen dessert ingredients and claiming to be ice-cream, it will be sent for lab testing, and appropriate action will be taken. The wing intensifies inspections in cases of adulteration of milk products, like ice-creams, softy ice-cream, lassi, buttermilk, and desserts.
In conclusion, it is essential to understand the difference between ice-cream and frozen desserts and their potential health hazards. Consumers should check product labels and choose ice-cream made from dairy products instead of frozen desserts made from vegetable oils to ensure a healthier option.
