Only five products were completely free of palm oil. While palm oil is “only” contained in seven creams as a supplement to other oils, Ferrero’s Nutella is the only product that uses this ecologically questionable ingredient entirely, the VKI reported.
This and a less consumer-friendly labeling meant that the driving force among the nut nougat creams did not end up in one of the top places. Aside from the “palm oil problem”, the results of the study were largely positive: a total of eleven “good” and two “average” ratings were awarded.
“It is unfortunate that the use of palm oil in nut nougat creams is still so widespread,” criticized VKI nutritionist Nina Eichberger. “The environmentally harmful effects are now well known, and the test shows that creams without palm oil can also convince in terms of taste.” Whether a product contains palm oil must be stated in the list of ingredients.
The analysis for pollutants, on the other hand, delivered encouraging results. The laboratory examination for mineral oil residues, cadmium and mold toxins, among other things, showed that the creams are hardly contaminated with harmful substances.
As expected, the nutrient balance was poor. “Nut nougat creams are a highly industrially processed product with a high sugar and fat content,” says Eichberger. “For the sake of health, we should count chocolate spreads among those foods that we usually consume only rarely and in moderation.”
- The test results in detail
Source: Nachrichten
