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Ökotester drugstore Rossmann still sells mineral oil-loaded spreads
The consumer magazine "Öko-Test" has found in a recent study that many vegan spreads are contaminated with harmful mineral oils. The drugstore chains dm and Müller have removed objectionable products from the sale. At Rossmann, however, they are still on offer.
Mineral oil round in food
For years has been repeatedly reported on finds of mineral oil in food. Last summer, for example, the news about mineral oil finds in Ferrero's "Kinder-Riegel" made the rounds. Despite the regular indications of the health hazards caused by these substances, the situation does not seem to improve: The consumer magazine "Öko-Test" has examined vegan spreads for the current issue and found in most products health-threatening mineral oils. The affected products still remain partially on sale.
"Öko-Test" found problematic mineral oils in 17 out of 22 examined vegan spreads. The drugstore chains dm and Müller have taken affected products from the sale then. Rossmann rejects a sales stop. (Image: Rangzen / fotolia.com) Weighted vegan spreads
"They are varied, available everywhere and do not just taste good on the casserole: Spreads can also be used to refine various dishes and sauces," writes the consumer magazine "Öko-Test" on its website.
"As far as the calories are concerned, many people can compete well with liver sausage or Gouda. Unfortunately, they are not always free of pollutants, "it continues.
The consumer protection organization Foodwatch also points to the latter.
In 17 of 22 tested products were problematic substances
"Ökotest" examined 22 vegan spreads in the current issue and found problematic mineral oils in 17 of them.
Four products contained the particularly hazardous aromatic mineral oils (MOAH), which are suspected of being carcinogenic and mutagenic.
According to Foodwatch, the drugstores dm and Müller have stopped the sale of two organic spreads after the finds. The "dm Organic Pate Tomato" and the "Bio Primo Gourmet Pate Herb" from Müller are affected.
The "Ener Organic Paprika Chili Pate" of the drugstore chain Rossmann and the "Tartex Snack Tomato" from manufacturer Allos, which were both burdened with MOAH, but are still on the shelves. The companies refuse a sales stop.
Carcinogenic and mutagenic
According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), aromatic mineral oils (MOAH) detected in spreads are suspected of being carcinogenic and mutagenic.
According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), there should be no demonstrable transition from MOAH to food.
Nevertheless, the drugstore chain Rossmann has not stopped the sale of their mineral oil-loaded spread. As the company told Foodwatch, it does not share the assessment of the health risks of mineral oil-contaminated foods.
The manufacturer Allos has also not taken his product from the sale. The supplier was changed to Foodwatch.
Consumer protection must not be left to the manufacturers
Mineral oils can reach foodstuffs in a variety of ways, such as machine oils used in production or industrial and transport exhaust gases. A common source is also used paper packaging.
In the case of spreads, used fats could be the cause of the stress. Dm writes in a response to Foodwatch, "We currently assume that the mineral oil ingredients have entered the product beyond the batch of bio-coconut fat used at the time of production."
Foodwatch urged companies to immediately withdraw the affected products. But that alone is not enough:
"The protection of consumers must not be left to the manufacturers and traders, the federal government and the EU must finally impose safe limits for mineral oils!" The consumer protection organization demands. (Ad)