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Mixed Pickles: Picking the Perfect One

Pickles, like ketchup, are a staple in many kitchens, adding a tangy and flavorful touch to meals. This guide provides a comprehensive review of mixed pickles, helping you choose the best option for your table.

Pickle Specifications

As per the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, pickles are preparations made from fruits, vegetables, or other edible plant materials preserved in salt, acid, sugar, or any combination of the three. They may contain various spices and additives but must be free from copper, mineral acid, alum, and synthetic colors. The pickles must also show no signs of fermentation.

Types of Pickles

1. Pickles in Oil: The most popular variety, where fruits or vegetables are submerged in edible oils.
2. Pickles in Citrus Juice or Brine: Preserved in salt solutions or citrus juice.
3. Pickles in Vinegar: Preserved in vinegar.

Brands Evaluated

The Consumer Voice team purchased nine brands of mixed pickle in oil from the Delhi and NCR market for testing:

1. Mother’s
2. Tops
3. Nilon’s Premium
4. Great Value
5. Pachranga’s Farm Fresh
6. Mum’s
7. Tasty Treat
8. Haldiram’s
9. Kanodia

Key Findings

• Best Overall: Mother’s received the highest overall acceptability.
• Packaging: Glass jars are recommended for pickles as they do not react with food. Brands like Mother’s, Tops, Nilon’s, Great Value, Pachranga’s, and Haldiram’s use glass jars, while Tasty Treat and Kanodia use plastic jars.
• Net Weight: Kanodia, Mum’s, and Tasty Treat had discrepancies in their net weight, falling short of the declared quantity.

Microbiological Quality

All tested brands showed no mould count, indicating they are microbiologically fit for consumption.

Sensory Evaluation

The pickles were evaluated by expert panellists on appearance, aroma, taste, texture, bite, aftertaste, and overall acceptability.

Brand	Appearance	Aroma	Taste	Texture/Bite	Aftertaste	Overall Acceptability
Mother’s	4.2	3.9	3.9	3.7	3.9	3.9
Nilon’s Premium	3.9	3.4	3.5	3.7	3.4	3.5
Kanodia	3.5	3.2	3.3	3.7	3.3	3.3
Mum’s	3.6	3.5	3.3	3.4	3.0	3.2
Tops	3.0	3.1	3.2	3.3	3.0	3.1
Haldiram’s	2.7	2.8	2.9	3.0	2.9	3.06
Tasty Treat	3.6	3.2	2.7	3.2	3.0	3.0
Great Value	3.1	3.2	2.8	2.8	2.7	2.9
Pachranga’s Farm Fresh	3.3	2.6	2.8	3.1	2.7	2.8

Packaging, Price, Net Weight, Shelf Life, and Mould Count

Brand	Packaging Material	MRP (Rs)	Net Weight Claimed (g)	Net Weight Found (g)	Unit Price per 100g (Rs)	Shelf Life (months)	Mould Count
Mother’s	Glass	70.00	400	415	17.50	18	Not detected
Tops	Glass	70.00	400	409	17.50	18	Not detected
Nilon’s Premium	Glass	75.00	400	420	18.75	18	Not detected
Great Value	Glass	65.00	500	540	13.00	24	Not detected
Pachranga’s Farm Fresh	Glass	65.00	400	424	16.25	18	Not detected
Mum’s	Plastic	95.00	500	446	19.00	18	Not detected
Tasty Treat	Plastic	85.00	300	270	14.17	12	Not detected
Haldiram’s	Glass	60.00	400	408	15.00	12	Not detected
Kanodia	Plastic	105.00	1000	935	10.50	12	Not detected

Conclusion

Mixed pickles are a popular condiment in many households. Based on the comprehensive evaluation, Mother’s emerged as the top brand, providing excellent taste, texture, and overall acceptability. Sunflame is noted for its value for money. Ensure to check the packaging, net weight, and shelf life when choosing a mixed pickle for your home.