To find out which was most preferred, 120 volunteers blind-tasted five brands of ketchup

How do you like your ketchup? Thick or runny? Tangy or mildly sweet? People have varying tastes, but tomato ketchup is the condiment of choice with fast food at restaurants and in homes around the world. People eat ketchup as an accompaniment to fries, burgers, samosas and even idlis.

To gauge consumers’ preferred ketchup brands and why they like them, we conducted a taste test using five ketchups from Kissan, Maggi, Heinz, Smith & Jones and Del Monte.

WHAT WE DID

At L S Raheja College in Santacruz, Mumbai, 120 students between the ages of 15 and 20 participated in a blind taste test led by our experts. Each participant was asked to taste two unmarked brands of ketchup with french fries and tell us which they preferred and why. We ensured that all the brands were tested against each other an equal number of times but in a different order.

WHAT WE FOUND

The results were close, but Kissan narrowly came out on top overall. It was the preferred brand in 58% of its head-to-head taste tests. One tester said, ‘It was sour and thick, exactly how I expect ketchup to be.’ Another liked its flavour: ‘It does not have the bland tomato taste, rather seems to have another flavour in it as well.’

Maggi comes a close second with 54% of people preferring it in its head-to-head tests, and it was widely praised as not being too sweet. ‘The taste of the tomato is prominent and it is thick’, said a tester.

Next is Heinz, with a 48% preference in its head-to-head tests. It elicited a mixed response, and while it contains the least amount of tomato pulp, many thought it had high amounts of the fruit. Some did not like its sour taste, and others felt it was too sweet. One of the tasters thought it was ‘tasteless’, and another said it was sweet and spicy.

Only 46% of the tasters preferred Smith & Jones over the other four brands they also tasted – many found it too sweet. Though some of our tasters preferred it because of its sweetness.

Del Monte was the least preferred ketchup at 44%. Some liked its sweet taste while others thought it tasted like ‘homemade sauce’. A taster who didn’t like it said: ‘It seemed average in taste.’

However, keeping in mind that while there are subtle percentage differences, there was no real statistical difference between the popularity of the different brands. Ultimately, your choice should be from personal preference.

EXPERT SPEAK

Dr Samir Chaukkar

Dr Samir Chaukkar, nutritionist at Health Total Clinic, Mumbai, talks about ketchup and its nutritional values.

He says, ‘Tomatoes contain several vitamins and minerals that are essential for the body to function and grow optimally. The high percentage of dietary fibre in tomatoes helps prevent cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer; it is also beneficial to those who want to lose weight.

‘According to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, people who consume large amounts of tomatoes are at a substantially decreased risk of numerous cancers.

‘Lycopene, a pigment that gives tomatoes their colour, has antioxidant properties (it counters the ill-effects of free radicals, which cause cell damage). It prevents premature aging and keeps skin soft and smooth. Lycopene is better absorbed when tomatoes are cooked with a little oil, rather than raw.

‘But though tomatoes are very nutritious, it doesn’t mean that ketchup is also good for you. You’d have to eat a huge quantity of ketchup to get a significant amount of lycopene.

‘Cooking methods and additives increase or decrease the calories and nutritive value of ketchup. Although ketchup contains lycopene , it also has additives such as salt, sugar and preservatives that reduce its overall nutritional value.’

In this report, we take a look at some of the latest smartphones available in India and give our first impressions of just-released phones that we will be testing soon

RIGHT CHOICES

89% APPLE iPHONE 4S

For overall performance

Rs. 44,134 (16GB), Rs. 50,900 (32GB), Rs. 57,500 (64GB)

Specifications:

Display size (inches) 3.5 Qwerty keyboard No Touchscreen Yes

Camera resolution (Mp) 8 Operating system iOS Internal memory (GB) 16

Read More

74% MOTOROLA RAZR XT910

For touchscreen and battery

Rs. 33,990

Specifications:

Display size (inches) 4.3 Qwerty keyboard No Touchscreen Yes

Camera resolution (Mp) 8 Operating system Android Internal memory (GB) 16

Read More

59% NOKIA LUMIA 800

Rs. 29,999

Specifications:

Display size (inches) 3.7 Qwerty keyboard No Touchscreen Yes
Camera resolution (Mp) 8 Operating system Windows Internal memory (GB) 16

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We haven’t yet put these smartphones to the test in our labs, but here are our views of the handsets based on their specifications

HTC RADAR

Rs. 23,990

Specifications:

Display size (inches) 3.8 Qwerty keyboard No Touchscreen Yes

Camera resolution (Mp) 5 Operating system Windows Internal memory (GB) 8

Read More

BLACKBERRY BOLD 9790

Rs. 26,450

Specifications:

Display size (inches) 2.4 Qwerty keyboard Yes Touchscreen Yes

Camera resolution (Mp) 5 Operating system BlackBerry Internal memory (GB) 8

Read More

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE

Rs. 32,250

Specifications:

Display size (inches) 5.3 Qwerty keyboard No Touchscreen Yes

Camera resolution (Mp) 8 Operating system Android Internal memory (GB) 16

Read More

HTC SENSATION XE

Rs. 32,350

Specifications:

Display size (inches) 4.3 Qwerty keyboard No Touchscreen Yes

Camera resolution (Mp) 8 Operating system Android Internal memory (GB) 4

Read More

Your online interactions are constantly tracked. Find out how you can protect your data

The next time you hit the ‘like’ button on Facebook or on a website or blog you’re visiting, think of the information you are wilfully surrendering.

Facebook’s ‘like’ button is a widget (a small app that can be installed and executed within a page) that makes it easy to interact with friends online. However, it is also used to gather information on you. The same is true when a message is posted on Twitter. Even if you delete an embarrassing tweet before too many people see it, you can’t be sure that the evidence is gone. It is easy for people to take screen-shots and repost images of entire conversations you assumed had been safely erased.

Chat clients, email service providers and search engines store and retain a range of data on you. But what really makes you vulnerable to surveillance, third parties and hacking and phishing attacks is that a lot of this data is often indexed and linked to your email and social network accounts.

Therefore, the questions to consider are: One, how much of your personal information do you really want out there? And, two, what can you do to protect it?

We look at how social networking giant Facebook, microblogging network Twitter and search engines track your online activities and the steps you can take to make sure your personal information is protected.

While FMGC (fast-moving consumer goods) manufacturers and retailers are not pleased, the standardisation across brands of package weights for similar products will be very beneficial to consumers. The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs passed a notification on October 24, 2011, making it mandatory for at least 20 common consumer goods to be sold in uniform sizes.

From July 2012, products like baby food, weaning food, biscuits, butter, cereals, bread, tea, coffee, edible oil, beverages, milk powder, rice, wheat flour (atta), salt, aerated drinks, mineral water, soap, detergents, cement and paint, will have to be sold in stipulated pack sizes of certain weights. For example, coffee can only be sold in packs of 25g, 50g, 100g, 500g, 1kg and then in multiples of 1kg. For certain categories such as detergents and milk powder, there is no restriction below 50g. Salt can be sold below 50g in multiples of 10g. Violations will attract fines between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 1 lakh.

MISLEADING SIZES

At present, discrepancies in packet sizes and weights between brands selling the same product make it difficult for consumers to compare prices. For example, coffee is sold in packs of 170g and 175g, while detergents have odd denominations such as 400g and even 713g. Companies are often known to reduce the weight of packages while keeping the price constant. The government is hoping to curb such practices as they mislead consumers.

Pune resident and freelance content writer Deepti Grover (27), welcomed the move saying, ‘This is a welcome move. When I go to the supermarket, I’m usually so rushed that I don’t have the time to calculate the best rates. But with standardised packet sizes, I think I will be able to do this easily.’

However, FMCG producers are not happy. Their grouse is that they will no longer be able to sell promotional offers with extra amounts in a pack. Besides, the smaller markets’ value chain, based entirely on Rs. 1, Rs. 2, Rs. 5 and Rs. 10 packs, will suffer. They have requested the government to reconsider this norm at least for these sensitive price brackets.

Last year was tough in terms of inflation and fuel prices. Therefore, the news that the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has set regulatory standards and star ratings for the car-manufacturing industry seems, at first, like a step in the right direction.

Formed in 2002 by the Union Ministry of Power, BEE plays a crucial role in testing and evaluating the energy efficiency of household electrical appliances including refrigerators, air conditioners and water geysers. These appliances are then labelled with star ratings to help you make informed choices and opt for energy-efficient devices that save money on electricity bills.

In November last year, BEE released a consultation paper that defines fuel-efficiency standards (based on fuel consumption in litres per 100km) and recommended a star rating (based on a five-star scale, with five being most efficient and one the least) to help you compare the fuel efficiency of different car models within the same weight class.

However, it is the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) that tests and evaluates cars sold in the Indian market on a range of parameters like vehicular safety features, automotive equipment and fuel efficiency. Therefore, the recent announcement has caused confusion. It is unclear if the BEE fuel efficiency ratings and labelling will work in conjunction with existing ARAI ratings or replace them.

Delhi-based automobile industry expert Bunny Punia (Gaadi.com) explains, ‘Cars in India are already certified by ARAI for fuel economy under a standard test cycle. These are standalone figures not linked to price, weight or engine capacity.’

‘However, the new BEE norms will measure and rate the fuel efficiency of cars in various segments based on weight. This isn’t practical as weight is not the best parameter to differentiate between cars or make new segments. For example, a diesel sedan, Tata Indigo TDI, will be considered in the same segment as a petrol hatchback like the Volkswagen Polo 1.6. These two cars differ in size, fuel efficiency and price.’

Preliminary estimates by the BEE indicate that presently only 9-16% of car models sold in India can be described as energy-efficient. The government is hoping the star ratings will help push manufacturers to bring down the average fuel consumption of cars in India.

Until the government clarifies whether the ARAI ratings are being replaced or modified, the new star ratings will only serve to confuse car manufacturers  and consumers alike.

The Asus Zenbook UX31 E-RY012V is one of the first Ultrabooks – Intel’s new moniker for a breed of ultra-thin, ultra-light laptops that still deliver high-end performance.

The slimline form factor doesn’t leave a lot of room for sockets and, like this model, they don’t come with optical drives so you can’t directly play CDs and DVDs. The Asus has just one USB 2  and one USB 3 port, along with a mini-HDMI port, a headphone output, an SD Memory Card slot and a DisplayPort connector. Adaptors are provided to connect a VGA monitor to the DisplayPort or a 100Mb Ethernet connection to the USB 2 port, and with 802.11n wi-fi and Bluetooth built in you have all the basics covered. But if you have a lot of devices you want to hook up, you’ll either need a hub or another laptop.

SCREEN AND SOUND

The screen is slightly disappointing. The combination of the 13.3-inch size, the widescreen format and the 1600 x 900 resolution makes it sharper and more space-efficient than the screens you’d find on many 12-inch to 14-inch models. Sadly, while it’s certainly bright, colours look washed out and the shiny surface can make it hard to view in some lighting conditions. Sound, however, is exceptionally good, with the Bang & Olufsen speakers producing a louder, richer noise than you might expect from a unit this small. We like the touchpad. It is very large, with buttons built into the corners of the pad to maximise the usable area, and is also very responsive.

PERFORMANCE

Despite its diminutive form, it packs in an Intel Core i7-2677M processor running at 1.8GHz, which can boost up to 2.9 GHz when required. With 4GB of Ram and a 128GB solid-state hard drive installed, the UX31 has enough power to tear through even the most demanding applications. The one caveat is that the graphics processor built into the Core i7 isn’t particularly powerful, so 3D games and applications won’t run as fast as they might on a lesser processor accompanied by a dedicated graphics chip. The laptop is priced at Rs. 1.05 lakh.

Verdict The laptop delivers excellent performance and looks great. However, its washed-out screen and limited built-in connections could pose problems.

Now you can install security software on your mobile phone. We tested five at our lab, both for iOS and Android models. We tested for ease of use, exposed them to malware from various sources and looked carefully at their features and claims.

Most are free, but you may have to pay for extra features.

APPLE iPHONE

Trend Micro Smart Surfing is free from the App Store. Like most iPhone apps, it’s easy to install. Its main function is to prevent phishing attacks by blocking access to websites that claim to be genuine and ask for personal information. It works well and you can modify protection levels.

Also free, Webroot SecureWeb Browser’s main security element is also an anti-phishing feature. It didn’t prevent us entering one phishing website, but stopped us entering others.  With both apps, you have to browse the web from within the app for it to work. Neither will block you from entering a suspicious website if you’re using standard Safari.

ANDROID

Kaspersky Mobile Security 9 (costs Rs. 599 at retail stores but can be downloaded from the Android market as well) has a wide range of features. You can block calls and texts and remotely wipe data if your phone’s stolen. But it didn’t find all the malware we had loaded and it was hard to find which malware it had cleaned.

Norton Mobile Security is free for the Lite version. Like Kaspersky, it failed to detect all malware. If your phone is stolen, you can remotely block the phone with a text message. For Rs. 599 a year, the full version enables you to lock the phone, preventing a thief from replacing the SIM card. It also lets you block calls and texts.

Trend Micro Mobile Security claims to scan your phone’s apps. It’s free, but for Rs. 842 a year adds anti-phishing, parental controls and lost mobile security features.

Webroot Secure Anywhere Mobile is the best free software we tested, with anti-phishing, remote phone lock, locate device, scream, call and text-blocking, and anti-malware. Add remote-wipe and SIM-card lock for £12.99 (Rs. 1,062) a year.

SMARTPHONE MALWARE

Viruses and other web nasties aren’t confined to your desktop or laptop; any device that can access the internet is at risk, like a smartphone that runs apps. The majority run safely, but some apps may contain malware.

Apple, maker of the iPhone, vets apps before they’re available at its App Store. It’s why the iPhone is more secure than Android phones, as  Android apps aren’t checked as comprehensively. But malicious apps are rare.

We take a closer look at some of the ingredients in this high-protein supplement

1. PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE

It is a mixture of amino acids prepared by splitting a protein with acid, alkali, or enzyme. It is absorbed more rapidly than free-form amino acids and much more rapidly than intact proteins. This is because it is already partially broken down and can be quickly digested and absorbed.