How to Read a Cooking Oil Label in India (And Spot the Fakes)

Walk into any supermarket in India and you'll find cooking oil bottles covered in claims: "100% Pure", "Natural", "Cold Pressed", "Kachi Ghani", "Extra Virgin", "Heart Healthy", "Zero Cholesterol". Most of these claims are either meaningless, misleading, or outright false.

India's food labelling regulations (FSSAI) require certain disclosures on cooking oil labels, but enforcement is inconsistent and the regulations leave significant room for creative marketing. Here's how to read past the marketing and understand what you're actually buying.

The FSSAI-Mandated Information

Every cooking oil sold in India must display the following on its label:

1. Product Name and Type

The label must state the type of oil (mustard oil, sunflower oil, etc.) and the processing method. Look for:

• "Kachi Ghani" — cold pressed, traditional wooden press extraction
• "Cold Pressed" — mechanically extracted at low temperature (below 60°C)
• "Filtered" — mechanically extracted but filtered, may involve some heat
• "Refined" — chemically extracted and/or heat-processed
• "Blended" — a mixture of two or more oils

If the label says "mustard oil" without specifying the processing method, it is almost certainly refined.

2. FSSAI License Number

Every food product sold in India must have an FSSAI license number on the label. This is a 14-digit number starting with the state code. If there's no FSSAI number, the product is either illegal or counterfeit.

Verify it: You can check any FSSAI license number at fssai.gov.in/check-fssai-license.

3. Nutritional Information (per 100g)

FSSAI requires a nutritional table showing energy, protein, carbohydrates, fat, and sodium per 100g. For cooking oils, the fat breakdown is the most important:

• Total fat
• Saturated fat
• Monounsaturated fat (MUFA)
• Polyunsaturated fat (PUFA)
• Trans fat

Red flag: If the trans fat content is listed as "0g" but the oil is partially hydrogenated (vanaspati), the label is misleading. FSSAI allows rounding to zero if trans fat is below 0.2g per serving — but multiple servings add up.

4. Batch Number and Manufacturing Date

Essential for traceability. Cold pressed oils have a shorter shelf life than refined oils (6–12 months vs 18–24 months). Check the manufacturing date — fresh cold pressed oil is always better.

5. Net Quantity

Straightforward, but check that the stated quantity matches the actual fill level. Underfilling is a common form of consumer fraud.

The Claims That Are Meaningless

"100% Pure"

This claim is almost entirely meaningless in Indian food labelling. It typically means the oil is not adulterated with a different type of oil — but it says nothing about the extraction method, processing, or quality. Refined mustard oil can legally be called "100% Pure Mustard Oil."

"Natural"

No regulatory definition in India. Any oil can claim to be "natural." Ignore this claim entirely.

"Zero Cholesterol"

All vegetable oils are naturally cholesterol-free. Cholesterol is only found in animal products. This claim is technically true but designed to mislead consumers who don't know this.

"Heart Healthy" / "Good for Heart"

FSSAI has guidelines restricting health claims, but enforcement is weak. This claim is often made without any scientific substantiation. The fatty acid profile on the nutritional label tells you far more about cardiovascular impact than this marketing phrase.

"Light" or "Lite"

In the context of cooking oil, "light" refers to colour and flavour, not calorie content. All oils have approximately the same calorie count (~884 calories per 100ml). "Light olive oil" is simply refined olive oil — it has fewer antioxidants and less flavour, not fewer calories.

The Claims That Actually Matter

"Kachi Ghani" (कच्ची घानी)

This is a meaningful and regulated term in India. Kachi ghani refers to cold pressing using a wooden or stone press (ghani) without heat. FSSAI has specific standards for kachi ghani mustard oil:

• Extracted at ambient temperature (no external heat applied)
• Free fatty acid content below 2%
• Moisture content below 0.2%

How to verify: Genuine kachi ghani mustard oil should be golden-yellow (not pale), have a distinct pungent smell, and may have slight natural sediment. If it's clear and odourless, it has been refined regardless of what the label says.

"Cold Pressed"

Similar to kachi ghani but used for oils other than mustard. Means mechanically extracted at low temperature (below 60°C for most standards, below 45°C for premium cold pressed). Preserves natural vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids.

"Expeller Pressed"

Mechanically extracted using an expeller press. The friction of the press generates some heat (typically 60–90°C), which is higher than true cold pressing but much lower than solvent extraction. Better than refined, not as good as cold pressed.

"First Press" or "Virgin"

The oil from the first pressing of the seed or fruit. Subsequent pressings require more heat and pressure and produce lower-quality oil. "First press" is a meaningful quality indicator.

How to Spot Adulterated Mustard Oil

Mustard oil adulteration is a serious problem in India. Common adulterants include argemone oil (from Mexican poppy seeds), which causes epidemic dropsy — a potentially fatal condition. The 1998 Delhi epidemic killed over 60 people and blinded hundreds.

Simple tests at home:

The refrigerator test: Place a small amount of mustard oil in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Pure cold pressed mustard oil will become slightly cloudy or semi-solid due to its natural wax content. Refined or adulterated oil remains clear.

The smell test: Genuine cold pressed mustard oil has a strong, pungent smell from allyl isothiocyanate. If the oil smells mild or neutral, it has been refined or diluted.

The colour test: Cold pressed mustard oil is golden-yellow to amber. Very pale yellow or clear "mustard oil" has been refined.

The paper test: Place a drop of oil on white paper. Genuine cold pressed mustard oil leaves a slightly yellow stain. Argemone-adulterated oil may leave a different coloured residue.

For definitive testing, FSSAI-accredited labs across India offer oil purity testing for ₹500–2,000 per sample.

What a Good Cold Pressed Oil Label Looks Like

A trustworthy cold pressed oil label should show:

• Clear statement of extraction method (cold pressed / kachi ghani)
• FSSAI license number (14 digits, verifiable)
• Manufacturing date within the past 3–6 months
• Nutritional table with fatty acid breakdown
• No vague health claims
• Contact information for the manufacturer
• Batch number for traceability

The absence of any of these elements is a warning sign.

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Dune Aura cold pressed mustard oil carries a full FSSAI license, batch traceability, and is extracted at below 45°C. Our label shows exactly what's in the bottle — nothing more, nothing less.

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Order in Gurugram and Delhi NCR

If you are looking for cold pressed mustard oil for your kitchen, Dune Aura offers local ordering options for readers in Gurugram and the wider Delhi NCR region. Explore cold pressed mustard oil in Gurugram and cold pressed mustard oil across Delhi NCR to compare availability and choose the right option for your household.