Thirty oils are found lacking, a single one is insufficiently provided.
Dive into the world of cooking oils beyond the conventional olive, rapeseed, and sunflower oils. Walnut, sesame, pumpkin seed, and peanut oils, among others, might tickle your taste buds. But Oeko-Test's recent investigation reveals a hidden, disturbing truth lurking in these oils.
Oeko-Test analyzed a whopping 50 cooking oil varieties, ranging from 10 walnut to 10 peanut, 10 pumpkin seed, 10 hemp, and 10 sesame oils. The study covered both refined and cold-pressed oils, with 20 conventional and 30 organic products.
The objective? To shed light on the questionably common contamination of cooking oils with mineral oil residues, extending from the popular to the less common oil choices. With prices ranging from a budget-friendly 0.55 euros for the cheapest peanut oil to a pricier 6.49 euros for a walnut oil, the market presents an array of options.
Mineral Oil Contamination: A Silent Threat
Mineral oil contaminants can be categorized into two types: MOSH/MOSH-analogues, primarily saturated hydrocarbons that accumulate in the body, and MOAH, which include carcinogenic substances. Despite being a cause for concern, there remains a paucity of knowledge regarding the potential health effects of these components.
So, which oils passed the test, and which were defective? Unfortunately, the results weren't the best: a staggering majority of the 50 tested cooking oils failed the Oeko-Test due to the presence of mineral oil residues. Rewe pulled a contaminated batch of its "Bio Pumpkin Seed Oil, Naturland" from the shelves. The "International Collection Roasted Walnut Oil", "Bamboo Garden Roasted Bio Sesame Oil", and "Dennree Hemp Oil" were also given second-worst evaluation results for significantly increased mineral oil content.
The Silver Lining: Decent Choices Remain
Despite the bleak picture, there were at least one "very good" recommended oil from almost every category, except for hemp oils. Pumpkin seed oils, on average, appeared to be the least contaminated with mineral oil components compared to the other oils.
Remember, before reaching for that cooking oil bottle, do your homework and opt for Oeko-Test-certified products that have low or no mineral oil contamination.
Sources: ntv.de, awi
- Consumer Corner
- Foodies Unite
- Eat Clean
- Watchdog
- Kitchen
- Community policy should include stricter regulations on cooking oil production to minimize mineral oil contamination, ensuring the health and wellness of small and medium-sized undertakings and their consumers.
- Nutritionists and health-conscious individuals should promote the consumption of mineral oil-free cooking oils, such as those with lower contamination rates like pumpkin seed oils, in support of healthy diets and small and medium-sized undertakings.
