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Stiftung Warentest Cheap olive oils from the discounter score very well
One year ago, every second olive oil was classified as deficient in a study carried out by Stiftung Warentest. A new test was not much better. It is still difficult to find good products. Cheap olive oils cut off best from the discounter.
Not a single olive oil rated as "good"
One year ago, every second product failed in a test of 26 often high-priced "extra virgin" olive oils, so Stiftung Warentest had now decided on olive oil blends from the supermarket and the discounter. "Of 24 olive oils - including well-known suppliers such as Bertolli and Carapelli as well as own brands of Aldi, Lidl & Co - no one performs well, 10 are deficient," the testers write on their website.
It is difficult to find good olive oils in the supermarket. Many products are polluted and only taste mediocre. The Stiftung Warentest awarded in a recent investigation often only a "poor". (Image: Syda Productions / fotolia.com) Mediocre or even rancid taste
The supermarket is almost exclusively to find olive oil of the highest quality. It is called "extra virgin" - or "extra virgin", as the Italians say. In the current test only extra virgin olive oils were represented. The EU Olive Oil Regulation places many demands on oils of this category. Among other things, they must be sensory error-free.
But the "much-sold olive oils from discounters and supermarkets smell and taste mostly mediocre or even flawed. Ten oils even taste rancid, stingy or old, that is deficient. The oils should not be sold as "extra virgin", "the experts report in a press release.
Discounter products perform best
In addition to the ten products rated as "poor", nine were rated "satisfactory" and five "sufficient". "Good" was none of the oils. The tested mixed oils, which are blended from olive oils from different countries of origin, cost from 5.05 to 14.70 euros per liter.
"A delicacy is not one of the oils. For everyday use, but some are quite suitable. The best performers are three discounter products: "Gut Bio" from Aldi (North), "Primadonna" from Lidl and "Vegola" from Netto MarkenDiscount. They taste balanced overall and cost just five to six euros per liter, "test chief editor Anita Stocker said.
But no one should expect top sensory quality for small money. Among the deficient products were also several discounter products.
Contaminant levels in the oils are a problem
Dr. Holger Brackemann (Head of Investigations) said: "The good news is that many of the oils we have rated as satisfactory in sensory quality may well meet the expectations of many consumers. They taste balanced, medium fruity and only slightly bitter and spicy. "
The pollutant levels in the oils are still a problem according to the expert. Almost every second oil is clearly contaminated with saturated mineral oil hydrocarbons called Mosh. These can accumulate in the body.
Aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons, Moah, have also been identified. These are considered potentially carcinogenic. One olive oil was contaminated with DEHP, a plasticizer that may affect fertility and has been banned since 2007 for materials that come into contact with edible oil.
Change to rapeseed oil
Although none of the olive oils tested pose an acute health risk, the burdens can be avoided.
If you still want to switch to other varieties, healthy rape seed oil can be an alternative. This can improve the cholesterol and liver values more than olive oil, as shown in a study. (Ad)