Thirty oils are found to be deficit, while one is reported as insufficient
Ready to Ditch Olive Oil? Oeko-Test's Shocking Revelations About Cooking Oils
Hey there, foodie! Ever thought about switching up your cooking oil game beyond olives? A plethora of options like walnut, sesame, pumpkin seed, or peanut oil awaits you, but hold on tight! Oeko-Test's recent investigation might change your mind.
In a scrutinizing examination of 50 cooking oils, ten each of walnut kernel oils, peanut oils, pumpkin seed oils, hemp oils, and sesame oils, Oeko-Test found that many of these often contain mineral oil. To shed light on the presence of mineral oil in lesser-known oils, they exclusively tested these cooking oils for their contamination with mineral oil components, ranging from 0.55 euros for the cheapest peanut oil to a whopping 6.49 euros for the priciest walnut kernel oil.
contaminants in your pantry: The harsh reality
It's no secret that common cooking oils like olive, rapeseed, and sunflower often harbor mineral oil components. With this in mind, Oeko-Test sought to determine if these contaminants are also an issue in less frequently bought oils.
Mineral oil components can be categorized into two groups: MOSH/MOSH-analogues, saturated hydrocarbons, known to accumulate in the body, and MOAH, including potentially carcinogenic substances.
the scores are in: who made it to the frying pan, and who got tossed out?
Sadly, the investigators' findings indicate that the majority of the 50 tested cooking oils fail due to detected mineral oil residues. Brands like Rewe's "Bio Pumpkin Seed Oil, Naturland" and several peanut, walnut, sesame, and hemp oils received problematic ratings. In fact, out of the 50 tested, 30 products were deemed "defective," with Mazola peanut oil even being "insufficient." On the flip side, at least one product from almost every category received a "very good" test result.
Interestingly, pumpkin seed oils were found to be the least contaminated with mineral oil components compared to the others. When it comes to hemp oils, none of the tested products received the green light. So, if you're looking for a healthier choice, consider pumpkin seed oil!
For the most accurate and up-to-date information on cooking oil test results by Oeko-Test, including contamination levels of mineral oil components and affected brands, head on over to their official reports or website. Stay tuned for more inspiring (and safe) kitchen adventures!
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- Food
- Tests
- Oeko-Test
- The community policy on health-and-wellness should consider the results of Oeko-Test's investigation into cooking oils, particularly the presence of mineral oil in small and medium-sized undertakings such as peanut, walnut, sesame, pumpkin seed, and hemp oil, to promote the use of healthier and safer cooking alternatives.
- Small and medium-sized undertakings in the science sector, focusing on health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition, could benefit from collaborating with Oeko-Test to develop a healthy-diets guide that steers consumers towards less contaminated cooking oils like pumpkin seed oil, while avoiding contaminated products such as Mazola peanut oil.
- In light of Oeko-Test's revelations about the contamination of cooking oils with mineral oil, small and medium-sized undertakings could take this opportunity to prioritize transparency in their product labeling, ensuring that consumers have access to accurate information about the quality and safety of their cooking oils, contributing to a healthier community.
