Sugar and salt in Indian cakes and bakery: What 166 labels say
From my study of Indian packaged-food labels on Open Food Facts. Every number comes from the back of the pack.
Quick answers
How many Indian cakes and bakery have added sugar?
86% of the 166 cakes and bakery labels I read list an added sugar. In 50% a sugar is one of the first 3 ingredients, so it is a big part of the food.
Do cakes and bakery hide sugar under other names?
11% list sugar under 2 or more names. After plain sugar, the most common is invert sugar, on 4% of labels.
How much sugar is in Indian cakes and bakery?
The median is 3.81 g of sugar in 100 g, about 1 teaspoon. That is from 38 products with a sugar value.
How much salt is in Indian cakes and bakery?
The median is 1.07 g of salt in 100 g. That is 21% of the 5 g a day WHO sets for adults. From 36 products with a salt or sodium value.
Other names for sugar on cakes and bakery labels
Share of the 166 labels that list each one. The guide explains each name.
| Sugar name | Share of labels |
|---|---|
| Invert sugar, invert syrup, golden syrup | 4.2% |
| Maltose, malt extract, malt syrup | 3.6% |
| Dextrose, glucose | 3% |
| Jaggery, gur, gud, shakkar | 1.2% |
| Sweetened condensed milk | 1.2% |
How to check a pack yourself
Turn the pack over. Read the list at the back from the top, and look for every name of sugar, not just the word sugar. Then check the sugar and salt for 100 g in the nutrition table. Paste any list into the Label Checker and it marks the sugar names for you.
Where this comes from
This is one category of the India Label Index 2026. The data is from Open Food Facts, filled in by volunteers, so it is not every pack in India. It covers categories, not brands, and rates no product. Full method and limits.
Narsinghani, D. (2026). Sugar and salt in Indian cakes and bakery: What 166 labels say. India Label Index 2026. https://devnarsinghani22.github.io/india-label-index/cakes-and-bakery/. Data from Open Food Facts (ODbL).