Frozen desserts, which look and taste like ice cream but are made of vegetable fat, have silently grabbed a 40% share in India’s 1800 crore organized ice-cream market without most consumers realizing they are not ice-cream.

Led by Hindustan Unilever’s Kwality Walls, frozen desserts - served in identical cups, cones and sticks as ice-cream- have found a strong foothold in the country, misleading consumers by masquerading frozen dessert as ice-cream.

As per Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, major ingredients of ice-cream are a pasteurized mix prepared from milk and/or other products derived from milk whereas major ingredients of frozen dessert are a pasteurized mix prepared with milk fat and/or edible vegetable fat in combination with milk protein alone or in combination/or vegetable protein products singly or in combination.

In simple language, ice-cream is made of milk and milk products whereas in frozen dessert milk and milk products are replaced by vegetable oils/fats and protein, partially or fully.

As Desi Ghee (derived from milk) costs about  Rs 300/kg, while vegetable oil costs about Rs 80/kg, the retail price of frozen dessert should be much cheaper than ice cream.

Examples of ice-cream are Mother Dairy and Amul.

Examples of frozen dessert are Kwality Walls, Vadilal and Cream Bell.

         

           Effect of ice-cream or frozen desserts on the health of consumers
                                               EXPERT OPINION

According to Dr. Shikha Sharma, a leading dietician, we’ve long been eating ice cream and frozen desserts not realizing that continued consumption of the same actually has profound undesirable effects to the body.

THE CALORIE WOES
Vegetable oil or glycerin used in frozen desserts are subjected to high levels of heat as well as infused with metal catalysts so as to transform the oils into a solid state at room temperature to allow for easier handling and longer storage. Continued consumption may cause serious health problems like increased cholesterol levels in the blood, heart disease, increased weight, stroke, and certain cancers.

INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR 1
The non-organic dairy products like cream and milk are now harvested from feedlot-raised dairy cows which are routinely injected with hormones to ensure continued milk production. The hormone used is insulin-like growth factor 1 is linked to conditions ranging from acne, to serious diseases like prostate and breast cancers.

SUGAR
The most addictive drug in the world is sugar. Various forms of synthetic chemical sugars and sweeteners like saccharin, glucose, and high fructose corn syrup are found which are linked to diabetes, neurobehavioral disorders like ADHD in children, and decreased mental activity in adults.

CARMINE AND COCHINEAL EXTRACT
Ice creams with red, purple, or pink hues have most likely been colored with carmine or cochineal extractwhich may cause allergic reactions.

DIETHYL GLUCOL AND PIPERONAL
Commercial brands of ice cream contain ingredients like Piperonal which is used in place of vanilla but is also a chemical used to treat lice. Diethyl glucol, a paint remover is a cheap chemical used as an emulsifier instead of eggs.

CALCIUM
Milk-based desserts like chocolate ice-cream bar gives 15% calcium and a regular frozen dessert like Kwallity Walls chocolate pie has only 2% calcium.

PROTEIN
These modify the texture making it chewier, and giving it body. Proteins also help to emulsify the fats, keeping the fat globules suspended in the mix. Both ice-cream and frozen desserts have ample amount of protein. 

IMPACT ON TEETH

Sugar found in these desserts is bad for oral hygiene because the bacteria in the mouth feed off sugar. Acid is released by plaque as a by-product which decays the teeth and enamel which causes cavities and gum disease.

                                       

                                       HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES

There is nothing like ice cream, but with obesity becoming a growing epidemic, people around the world are looking for some healthy alternatives. Some of them are given here:

FROZEN YOGURT
Ice cream can be difficult to replace, but today's frozen yogurts have a taste that is similar to that of ice cream and is substantially lower in fat and calories. Toppings such as fresh fruit, granola and nuts are not only tasty but serve as antioxidants and fiber.
FRESH FRUITS
While fresh fruit won't provide you with the same taste or creaminess of ice cream, it can still mimic the sweetness and provide a great flavor. For a product that is more similar to ice cream, one can freeze the fruit.
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
If you like fruit but want something that is a little more similar to ice cream, you can choose a fruit smoothie. Fruit smoothies are often made by combining fruit with yogurt and crushed ice, which are relatively healthy and can be easily made at home.
ICE CREAM WITH ICE STRUCTURING PROTEIN (ISP):
‘Ice structuring protein’, a new ingredient discovered by Unilever allows formation of ice creams which are lower in fat, sugar and calories and at the same time include more fruit.
HERBAL ICE CREAMS (ALOE VERA) FOR DIABETIC PEOPLE

 In India as elsewhere in the world, incidence of diabetes and coronary diseases are on the rise, and hence people have become conscious about their diet. Indian scientists have produced herbal ice-cream containing natural colour with reduced sugar and major herbs like Aloe Vera as the main ingredient.