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Health edible oils are again burdened only slightly
The authorities of the federal states examined rapeseed, sunflower and olive oil on undesirable substances or microorganisms. The result: The contamination of the oils with pesticides and mold toxins is low. But olive oil remains a lucrative market for counterfeiters.
Olive oil is very healthy. Picture: luigi giordano - fotolia For olive oil, detectable residues were found in about 25% of the 192 samples tested for pesticide residues. However, no residue was above the legally required maximum level. Even with 113 samples of rapeseed oil, no maximum levels were exceeded (determinable residues in approx. 10% of the samples). In the case of olive oil samples, food control authorities relatively frequently found multiple residues (12%). 0.5% of the samples had more than five residues in one sample.
Neither aflatoxin nor ochratoxin A were found in the samples of olive, rape and sunflower oil. These two poisons are formed by molds that infest vegetable products such as sunflower seeds.
Levels of harmful 3-MCPD fatty acid esters reduced
Recent data from 2016 shows a pleasing trend for 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD) fatty acid ester levels for olive, rapeseed and other edible oils: for olive oil a mean content of 0.4 mg / kg and for rapeseed oil a mean 3-MCPD content of only 0.17 mg / kg was found. 3-MCPD has triggered kidney cancer in the animal model. This is probably due to improved processing conditions.
Illegal tricks ensure high profit margins
Olive oil is one of the foods that are often the subject of fraudulent activity. Italian olive oil is in high demand worldwide and correspondingly more expensive than olive oils from other Mediterranean countries. Therefore, for example, cheaper oil from Spain, Greece or Turkey is bought up, mixed and marketed as olive oil of Italian origin. Even with the quality classes for olive oil is tricked illegally. Low-priced, low-quality oils are marketed as expensive "natively" or "extra virgin" olive oil.