Customers and the general public have been sceptical of PepsiCo’s Kurkure for years, believing that they contain plastic.
There have been questions raised about the safety of Kurkure in the wake of a viral video showing a person eating the snack and then realizing that the leftovers were plastic after trying to burn them.
As a result, people worldwide, especially in Asia, lost faith in the brand, and many switched to other brands they felt were a better bet. But does Kurkure contain plastic?
Does Kurkure Contain Plastic?
No! Kurkure does not contain plastic because PepsiCo uses everyday kitchen stuff such as rice, cornmeal, vegetable oil, sugar milk solids, condiments, gram meal, salt, and E631 to make it. So, if these components contain plastic and are hazardous, then the food we eat at home is equally unhealthy.
Also, various nationally and internationally renowned food safety organisations conduct regular inspections of the Kurkure production facility, making the snack a safe meal for most Indians and Pakistanis.
From a recent opinion poll, it appears as if many people have accepted Kurkure as a safe snack after several individuals confirmed that the chips do not contain any plastic and after the manufacturer provided sufficient documentation.
But What Exactly Is Kurkure?
Kurkure is a brand of corn puffs manufactured and developed by PepsiCo India, the Indian part of the multinational corporation PepsiCo.
The food, named after the Hindustani term for “crunchy,” was fully invented in India in 1999 and has automated manufacturing facilities in Channo, Kolkata, and Pune, among other locations.
Kurkure is mostly produced and sold in India, although accessible in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Frito Lay also manufactures Kurkure in Canada.
What Makes Up Kurkure
- Black Salt
- Citric Acid
- Cornmeal
- Edible vegetable oil
- Gram meal
- Rice meal
- Salt
- Spices and Condiments such as Amchur, Black pepper powder, Chilli powder, Coriander seed powder, Fenugreek Leaf powder, Garlic powder, Ginger powder, Onion powder, Spices extracts, and Turmeric powder.
- Sugar
- Tartaric Acid
- Tomato Powder
Why Kurkure Does Not Contain Plastic
On the official website of the corporation PepsiCo, a caution notice has been posted stating that Kurkure is safe for consumption.
In the newsletter, the organisation claims that their chips are totally and entirely safe and vegan, and they use everyday kitchen ingredients to make Kurkure.
The production procedure abides by the applicable laws and regulations world health organisation and other numerous food safety organisations available in India, Canada, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
To cement their proof, PepsiCo has hosted a series of events where young women bloggers have been able to observe the production process and document any anomalies or suspicious events.
Scientifical evidence
PepsiCo has often accepted that Kurkure burns like plastic, not because it contains plastic but because it has starch from the input ingredients.
Per certain reports, a large amount of oil present in Kurkure is the cause for its tendency to burn when set alight on fire. This is often due to little water and a significant amount of fat and carbs, facilitating the burning process. They include papad, khakhra, mathri, and other snacks.
The Process of Manufacturing Kurkure
PepsiCo manufactures Kurkure using the extrusion process.
Kurkure corn meal is hydrated in the flour mixer with water before feeding into the rotary die extruder.
Screws in the extruder heat and pressurise the meal, resulting in lower moisture content.
The meal then passes through the die and is chopped into the desired lengths by the cutting knives.
Next, the Kurkure are deep-fried in cooking oil, chilled, and then doused with seasoning to enhance their flavors. The chilling draws the water away from the snack, leaving it with a significant amount of oil, crunchier and tastier.
The Machines Employed
Flour mixer with feeder
Prepares the flour for Kurkure by mixing cornmeal with water and then feeds the mixture through a mixer machine to a rotary head extruder.
Rotary head extruder
Extrudes the Kurkure from the die after cooking the maize meal. Before the extrusion, the rotary die folds and curls the meal.
Feeding Elevator
Acts as a medium between the rotary head extruder and the rotary sieve. It allows for an easy transfer of corn curls.
Rotary Sieve
It removes the fine or small particles created due to the collet operation.
Continuous Frying System with Heat Exchanger
The frying system fries Kurkure in heated cooking oil. The Kurkure gets its crunch from a consistent frying process.
The oil is heated in coils by hot air rather than a direct flame, and the heated oil exits from the other end, where it is put in the fryer.
Heat exchangers are available in coil and tube types made of mild steel. This technique saves you more than 50% on your fuel bill by using the entire burnt fuel.
De-oiling belt
It sieves off excess oil from the corn curls. This is widely used in snack and potato chip production lines to remove excess oil from the fried product.
Linear feeder
The linear feeder delivers the corn curls to the seasoning system for flavoring. The manufacturer uses a variable frequency drive (VFD) to manage the feeding speed of the flavoring drum, which receives fried pellets from the takeaway belt.
On the top of the feeder, a tray collects the dry flavor from the applicator.
Automatic seasoning system with Slurry System
The seasoning system provides the desired seasoning giving fried and cooled Kurkure diverse flavors.
The flavor of Friable snacks depends on the customer preferences and the pellets available. To ensure that the oil has absorbed into the surface, do the flavoring immediately after the frying process.
A standard flavoring system should offer; an even distribution of seasoning to minimize wastage and gentle handling of the snacks.
The slurry system combines seasoning and oil in a quantified ratio and supplies the resulting slurry to items transitioning through a flavor drum at an encoded pace.
So, from the simple company proof, scientifical evidence and the manufacturing process, you realise there is less plastic involvement, making Kurkure a safe product for consumption.
But is Kurkure Healthy?
No, without a doubt! Food additives such as citric acid and salt are also included in the list of ingredients on the label.
It’s heavy in fats and carbs and low in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, as you’ll see on the nutrition label. This implies that you are at risk of heart complications, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and many other ailments on the rise in the current world.
Let’s break down the nutritional value of various Kurkure packaging per gram.
Kurkure (30 gm)
168 calories
2.6 grams of protein
10.7 grams of fat
Remember that 10.7g of fat is approximately 70% of your regular fat consumption.
Green Chutney (28 gm)
170 calories
13 grams of carbs
12 grams of fat
3 grams of protein
Chutney Chaska Kurkure (42 gm)
220 calories
24 grams of carbs
13 grams of fat
2 grams of protein
Puffcorn (100 gm)
555 calories
56 grams of carbs
34 grams of fat
6 grams of proteins
Kurkure (100 gm)
559 calories
56 grams of carbs
35 grams of fats
6 grams of protein
So, from the breakdown, you add a lot of fats and calories to your body when you overconsume Kurkure. As a result, it adds to your daily caloric intake and contributes to weight gain.
Kurkure is safe for consumption, but it’s not healthy. Avoid high volume consumption, especially for people with underlying conditions like heart diseases or diabetes.
Also, shelve those weight loss ambitions if Kurkure is your favorite snack.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes Kurkure to burn like plastic?
High oil content due to deep frying. Because of its high oil content, some sources claim that when a blaze breaks out, Kurkure will ignite. In addition, almost all deep-fried or high-fat meals will cause fat storage in the body, such as papad, khakhra, mathri, and many other snacks.
Does Tak Tak contain plastic?
No! There is no evidence to support the claim that Kurkure is composed of plastic. Kurkure, like any other rice and papad-based snack, is prone to spontaneous combustion.
Can a pregnant lady eat Kurkure?
It’s OK to consume sometimes to alter the flavor of your tongue or satisfy a pang of hunger. Still, it’s best avoided during pregnancy since it includes preservatives and isn’t useful.
How is Kurkure made?
Are you craving that homemade Kurkure? Here we go.
You will need;
¼ cup besan/gram flour
¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp chilli powder
½ tsp garam masala
½ tsp chaat masala
¼ tsp salt
1 cup rice flour
1 tsp butter
1 tbsp cornflour
1 tsp powdered sugar
2 tbsp wheat flour
2 cups of water
Oil
Two large bowls
The Steps
Step 1: Mix 1 cup rice flour, ¼ cup besan, 2 tbsp wheat flour, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp baking soda and 2 cups of water in a large bowl. Add the mixture to a large Kadai, then stir.
Step 2: Cook the mixture using low heat until the mixture begins to set. Continue cooking until you observe the mixture assuming shape.
Step 3: Add 1 tsp of butter and combine well before covering and letting it rest for five minutes. Then transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
Step 5: Add 1 tbsp cornflour, then knead the dough until it becomes smooth and non-sticky.
Step 6: Lubricate your hands with oil, then pinch a small-sized ball of dough. Press over the ball for a random shape.
Step 7: Fry the dough using low to medium heat. Deep fry until the Kurkure becomes crispy and golden.
Step 8: Season the Kurkure. Add ½ tsp garam masala, ½ tsp chaat masala, ¼ tsp salt, 1 tsp powdered sugar and ½ tsp chilli powder to a large bowl of Kurkure and mix thoroughly.
You can now consume your homemade Kurkure.
The Nutritional Value of The Homemade Kurkure
Calcium: 9mg
Calories: 168kcal
Carbohydrates: 34g
Cholesterol: 2mg
Fat: 2g
Fiber: 2g
Iron: 1mg
Potassium: 75mg
Protein: 4g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Sodium: 432mg
Sugar: 1g
Vitamin A: 105IU
Why should I avoid eating Kurkure?
Kurkure has a negative effect on the digestive system because it contains a lot of oil, which clings to the stomach lining and causes indigestion.
Tamasic foods such as Kurkure lower your energy levels. Consuming Kurkure will not have a beneficial effect on your health. It will deplete your stamina rather than give you a sense of fulfilment.
Kurkure, like other junkie foods, impairs the brain’s functions. It prevents rational thinking, leading to poor judgments, frustration, and sadness.
The Bottom Line
Kurkure does not contain plastic. When you look at the list of ingredients, you’ll notice artificial flavors, maize, preservatives, rice, and spices, typical of snacks. It is the puffed product’s characteristic that makes it burn like plastic. So, it is safe for consumption.
However, Kurkure and other prepackaged foods are not good for your health and are pale compared to home-cooked meals’ flavor and nutritional value. You can take it once in a while, but it’s better if you can avoid it.