Kinder Joy is a popular confectionary product made by the Italian company Ferrero. It comes in unique egg-shaped packaging consisting of creamy filling on one side and toys on the other.
It has been available in Europe and other parts of the world since 2001 and was introduced to the Indian market in 2007.
Since its launch in India, Kinder Joy has become popular among young children.
And while it is enjoyed by many children and tastes delicious, is Kinder joy good for health?
Short answer: Kinder joy is not good for health as it is high in sugar and is packed with highly processed ingredients such as refined wheat flour(maida) and oils.
Let’s deep dive into more about Kinder joy, including its nutritional value and ingredients.
Also read: Is Kissan Jam Really Healthy? Find Out The Truth!
Nutritional value of Kinder joy
Each serving(20g) of Kinder Joy has 110 calories, with a high amount of sugar and fat and small amounts of protein, sodium, and vitamin B12. It also contains some amount of trans fat and cholesterol.
The nutritional value of kinder joy is similar for both girl and boy editions.
Here is the table showing the nutritional value of Kinder joy per 20g serving.
| Nutrition | Amount per serving(20g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 110 |
| Carbohydrates | 11.2g |
| Sugar | 10.2g |
| Fat | 6.4g |
| Cholesterol | 0.8mg |
| Protein | 1.6g |
| Sodium | 25mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.18ug |
What are the ingredients in Kinder joy?
The ingredients that you will find in Kinder joy include Sugar, palmolein, skimmed cow milk powder(19.5%), palm oil, low-fat cocoa powder(4%), refined wheat flour(maida), refined salseed fat, wheat starch, powdered barley malt extract, emulsifier(lecithin), whey protein concentrate, sunflower seed oil, raising agents(INS 503ii, 500ii), artificial flavors and iodized salt.
That’s a lot of stuffs in a small confectionery item.
Let’s know a little about some of the ingredients.
- Palmolein: It is an oil derived from palm fruit and is high in palmitic acid and low in unsaturated fatty acids.
- Skimmed cow milk powder: It is a dried form of milk with all the fat removed. It is a good source of protein and calcium. Kinder joy contains around 20% of this milk powder.
- Palm oil: It is the most widely used oil in the food industry, especially in processed foods.
- Low-fat cocoa powder: It is a type of cocoa powder that has most of its fat content removed. It gives chocolate flavor to the Kinder joy.
- Refined wheat flour: Kinder joy uses refined wheat flour or maida as one of the ingredients. But it’s not stated how much of it is used.
- Refined salseed fat: It is a type of fat made from the seed kernels of a sal tree. It improves the flavor and texture of the product.
- Powdered barley: It is flour made from grinding barley into a fine powder. It provides a chewy texture and a nutty flavor to the Kinder joy.
- Emulsifier: It is a compound that helps mix Kinder joy’s ingredients and improve stability. Kinder joy uses lecithin as an emulsifier.
- Whey protein concentrate: It is a protein derived from milk that increases the protein content in kinder joy.
- Artificial flavors: Kinder joy uses artificial flavors to provide a unique taste. But it’s not stated what those flavors are.
5 Reasons Kinder joy is not good for health
1. Extreme sugar content
Kinder joy is high in sugar containing 10.2g per serving(20g), the majority of which is added sugar. This is equivalent to eating 2.5 teaspoons of sugar.
In fact, sugar is the primary ingredient in Kinder joy.
According to American Heart Association, children should consume less than 25g of sugar daily. However, eating just 2 Kinder joy eggs a day exceeds 80% of this daily sugar limit.
Additionally, children often consume sugar from other sources, which easily pushes them over the daily limit.
While a little bit of sugar can be okay, too much-added sugar in children’s diet can put them at an increased risk of various side effects such as:
- Childhood obesity
- Weight gain
- Diabetes
- Inflammation
- Heart disease
2. Use of refined wheat flour (maida)
Kinder joy has refined wheat flour or maida as one of the ingredients, which is not good for your child’s health.
Refined wheat flour, or maida, is a highly processed wheat stripped of its nutrients. It is often used in processed or junk foods due to its cheap cost and desirable texture.
However, consuming excessive amounts of food products made with refined flour pose various health risks, such as digestive problems, weight gain, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Although, how much refined wheat flour is used is not stated. But it’s likely possible that it’s one of the main ingredients.
3. Not good for the heart
Kinder Joy is not a heart-healthy option for children as it contains highly processed oils such as palmolein and palm oil, which are high in saturated fats.
Both palmolein and palm oil come from the same fruit of the palm tree and are significant sources of saturated fats.
Studies and research have shown that high consumption of saturated fats increases the risk of heart disease, particularly when these fats come from processed foods.
While Kinder joy also contains sunflower seed oil, which is considered good for the heart, it is also highly processed and adds extra calories to the treat.
In addition to saturated fats, kinder joy contains trans fat. However, the levels are low, but ideally, food should never have trans fat as they increase the highest risk of heart disease[1].
4. Increased risk of tooth decay and cavities
One of the major possible side effects of Kinder joy is the increased risk of tooth decay and cavities.
Children are particularly vulnerable to tooth decay as their teeth are still developing, and their enamel is softer than adults.
Eating sugary foods like Kinder joy attacks the enamel of the children’s teeth leading to the formation of cavities which causes pain and sensitivity.
In fact, it is estimated that 8 out of 10 children in India suffer from oral health problems, and food products like Kinder joy are the reason behind it.
5. Increased risk of weight gain
Consuming Kinder joy frequently can increase children’s risk of unhealthy weight gain.
This is due to its high sugar and calorie content and use of ingredients like refined wheat flour, which mainly contains starch.
Does Kinder joy cause cancer?
The idea that Kinder Joy causes cancer arose when someone shared a message on Facebook claiming that it contains wax coating, which is used in Styrofoam containers.
However, the research found that Kinder joy does not cause cancer, and no scientific evidence supports it.
Final words
While it may be tempting to let your children indulge in Kinder joy and bring smiles to their faces, it’s not good for their health.
From being high in sugar to being packed with highly processed ingredients, frequently consuming Kinder joy can increase the risk of various health issues.
Don’t make kinder joy a part of your child’s joy.
Found this information helpful? Share it.
Here are a few other posts that might also be helpful for you.
