Germany - You can't spoil porridge with butter. And the label?

On the shelves of German supermarkets has long established its own table of ranks: expensive brands are held with dignity, budget modestly waiting for their buyer, and elegant labels promise almost culinary happiness. But once independent experts intervened in this idyll, the usual hierarchy cracked at the seams. And ordinary rapeseed oil suddenly became the hero of almost judicial proceedings.

- Defendant, what do you say in your defense?

- Excellent taste, solid packaging, the price is impressive!

- Is there any proof of quality?

At this point, the defense would probably be noticeably nervous. After all, it is one thing to show off on the shelf of a supermarket with a proud price tag, and quite another to answer to the strict experts of Stiftung Warentest. 24 rapeseed oils went to the dock. And then it turned out that the cost of the alibi is weak: a modest product from Aldi shared the first place with the opponent more than twice as expensive. And a bottle with an appetizing creamy aroma failed not the taste, but its own label. However, most of the participants in the process got off with good estimates. So who has the expertise really exposed, the manufacturers or our consumer biases?

Evidence in a test tube

Experts studied 11 refined oils, the same amount of cold pressed and two products with a creamy taste. The smell, taste, appearance, composition of fatty acids, resistance to heating, packaging and reliability of marking were checked. They were looking for pesticides, plasticizers, mineral oil impurities. There were no critical concentrations of these substances. However, a high overall score is not a universal pass to any kitchen. Some varieties are good for refueling, others are better able to tolerate severe heat. And in the quality dispute, the price tag, as it turned out, is far from the main witness.

Price without alibi

Two winners. Aldi’s Bellasan Nativ cold pressed oil and refined Rapso received 1.6 each – “good” on the German scale, where the smaller the number, the higher the result. But a liter of the first cost 2.58 euros, the second — 5.53. The difference is more than double and the score is the same.

Another successful budget find is Kaufland’s refined K-Classic: 1.59 euros per liter, an estimate of 1.8. Does this mean that expensive brands are bad? Not at all. It is not necessary to pay for a well-known name. It is much more important what you are going to cook.

The pan will judge

Cold pressed oil is obtained by mechanical pressing without preliminary heating of the seeds. It is usually golden, with nut and seed notes. It opens well in salads, sauces, ready-made dishes; it is also suitable for gentle heating. The refined version undergoes additional cleaning. Its taste is more neutral, but its resistance to high temperature is higher. It is more convenient to fry meat, potatoes and vegetables, it is also used in baking. But if smoke appeared over the pan, it is time to reduce the fire: overheating does not benefit any dietary fat.

Omega without halo

The strength of rapeseed oil is the fatty acid composition. In 100 grams of tested samples were from 7 to 10 grams of alpha-linolenic acid. This is an essential plant omega-3, which the body does not produce on its own. The average content of vitamin E is about 28 mg per the same 100 g. Due to unsaturated fatty acids, such a product can replace part of butter and other sources of saturated fat. But it should not be confused with a drug or a low-calorie supplement: the energy value remains high. And horror stories from social networks about “poisonous seed oils” are not supported by scientific data in such a categorical form.

Yes, the former varieties of rapeseed had a high content of erucic acid. For food purposes, plants with reduced levels of this substance were bred. In the tested samples, its content was much below the permissible limit.

"Natural"? Prove it!

The failure of the tests was Rapsgold Rapsöl mit Buttergeschmack: 5.65 euros per liter and the final 4.0 – “enough” (ausreichend). Interestingly, there were no complaints to the taste. Both products with a creamy flavor were liked by tasters. Everything rested on the words “natural flavoring”. The results of the analysis did not allow to unequivocally confirm the declared nature of the additive, and the manufacturer's explanations did not dispel doubts. The marking was put “unsatisfactory”, which reduced the final mark. Important: it is about the reliability of the information, not about the proven danger of the content. The second product that fell short of the overall “good” score is Lidl’s Vita D’or Natives Rapskernöl. The result is "satisfactory" (befriedigend).

Children - special admission

Rapese oil is added to homemade vegetable purees for infants as a source of essential fatty acids. But the requirements for baby food are stricter. Of the 24 samples, 17 met the more cautious recommendations of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Parents should take a look at the detailed test results: the word “natural” on the package does not guarantee anything.

The heat spoils things

Even the winner of the rating is easily spoiled by improper storage. Light, heat and oxygen accelerate the oxidation of fats. Therefore, the bottle place in a cool dark cabinet, away from the stove and window; the lid should be tightly closed. Especially sensitive varieties of cold pressing. There was a rancid smell - it's time to throw out the contents, not save with seasonings. So, this case is over. Buyers are given a pleasant verdict: pay more is not necessary. Choose a product for a specific dish, read the composition and do not judge the quality of the price. The price tag has no presumption of quality. The label is responsible for every word.

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