Vegan Margarines Under Scrutiny: Which Ones Pass the Test? 🌿Move Over Butter, Margarine! Long touted as the healthier alternative for spreading on your bread, margarine has been a go-to choice for many due to its plant-based ingredients packed with unsaturated fatty acids. But when it comes to the real deal, the quality of the product is what matters most.
In the past, animal fats, including those from butter, were regarded as unhealthy and even disease-causing, leading many to opt for margarine instead. However, even that reputation took a hit, and now, saturated fatty acids from animal sources are considered moderately okay again. Thanks to its lower carbon footprint, margarine has also managed to rehabilitate its image.
For taste lovers, as long as the product is up to the mark, it's all about the flavor. This led Öko-Test to investigate 18 popular margarine brands, priced between 1.49 and 4.58 euros per 500 grams, to see if they delivered on both taste and quality.
The lab test included checking for harmful contaminants like 3-MCPD, glycidol, trans fatty acids, mineral oil components, plasticizers, pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. They also assessed if the products contained flavorings or vitamin additives other than vitamins A and D.
Result? The verdict was disappointing. Seven products were rated "unsatisfactory," two were "poor," and only one margarine managed to earn the "good" label.
What's the big deal about Mineral Oil Components?
Margarines typically have traces of mineral oil components. Some have relatively small amounts, while others are severely contaminated, earning them an "unsatisfactory" rating.
Mineral oil components can be divided into two categories: saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH/MOSH analogs) and aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH). The former is more worrying, as some components within this group can lead to cancer. Four of the tested margarines contained the particularly harmful MOAH. Three of them exceeded the guideline value set by the EU Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, which should have led to their removal from the market. However, it's not yet a legally binding rule.
Moreover, while the health effects of MOSH/MOSH analogs are still under investigation, it's known that these substances accumulate in the body and are likely the biggest contaminant. The "Alsan organic margarine" was found to contain the highest amounts.
Brand names and their ratings? Well, that's a different story. For that, you might want to refer to the specific Öko-Test results or other relevant food safety and testing sources.
So, which vegan margarine came out as the top-rated?
The "Alnatura margarine three-quarter fat with rapeseed and walnut oil" emerged as the only "good" product in the test, despite its high price of 4.58 euros per 500 grams.
Classic brands like "Rama" and "Becel" scored well on taste but received lower ratings due to lack of transparency in their supply chains.
Sources:
Enrichment Data: The input does not contain specific information about individual margarine brands that received an "unsatisfactory" rating due to the presence of dangerous contaminants like mineral oil components. To find out more, you will need to consult the complete Öko-Test results or other reliable sources focusing on food safety and testing.
