Every year, the French consume 110,000 tonnes of olive oil. Faced with this craze, 60 million consumers analyzed 24 oil references… and discovered that the majority of them are contaminated by plasticizers or hydrocarbons.
L’olive oil occupies a special place in our cupboards. Its benefits have been the subject of numerous studies and it is the star of the Mediterranean diet, designated as the best health diet by all nutrition experts. Health benefits which mean that the French consume nearly 110,000 tonnes of it each year.
Faced with this craze, the experts from the magazine 60 million consumers have chosen to test 24 olive oils among the best-selling on the market. Conventional oils and organic oils, oils from major brands (Carapelli, Puget, Tramier, Terra Delyssa, etc.) and private label oils (Lidl, Carrefour, E. Leclerc, Naturalia, etc.). Their conclusions, published in the June 2023 magazineshow that the majority of them are still polluted by plasticizers or hydrocarbons.
23 out of 24 oils contain plasticizers
“23 of the references we tested contain between one and three plasticizers. This is mainly di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), followed closely by diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), classified as a proven endocrine disruptor and reprotoxic (toxic for reproduction) by the European Chemicals Agency, then by dibutyl phthalate. (DBP). In addition to being an endocrine disruptor and reprotoxic, the latter is suspected of being persistent and bioaccumulative” underline the magazine’s experts.
60 million consumers specifically pinpoint 4 olive oils containing the two most problematic phthalates (DEHP and DBP):
- Naturalia Extra Virgin Like a Virgin
- La Vie Claire Extra Virgin
- Organic Cauvin Organic
- Terra Delyssa Virgin extra.
Hydrocarbons from mineral oils are also present in certain bottles of olive oil, “notably MOSH (saturated hydrocarbons in mineral oils) and MOAH (aromatic hydrocarbons in mineral oils), the most dangerous because of their carcinogenic and genotoxic properties”. These residues are present particularly in Simply Good and Organic (Aldi) “Extra Virgin”, Bio Village (E. Leclerc landmark) “Extra Virgin” and Organic Carapelli “Extra Classico Virgin” oils.
Olive oil: which are the best?
It is the conventional olive oil from Spain “Primadonna” from Lidl which obtains the best score in the ranking published in the magazine (16/20). In addition to its reasonable price (€6.99/L), it is the only one to contain no pollutants.
In second place in this ranking we find another distributor brand: oil Carrefour Reflet de France Provence AOP oil which gets a score of 15/20, but which is still almost 5 times more expensive (€31.30/L).
Is olive oil really good for your health?
Olive oil is excellent for our arteries because it lowers bad cholesterol. But that’s not all. It helps fight against cardiovascular disorders or thromboses. This oil is also full of polyphenols, antioxidants which slow down cellular aging, and vitamins K (blood coagulation and bone strength). Its vitamin E content helps maintain elastic skin. It also contains Omega 3, 6 and 9essential fatty acids which contain numerous virtues: protection of the heart, the brain, among others.
Faced with these numerous advantages, we may be tempted to award it the prize for the best oil. But it’s a bit of a quick shortcut.
“Yes, this oil is excellent for health because apart from Omega 3, 6 and 9, it contains vitamins A and B, as well as minerals such as calcium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron, manganese, confirms Adélaïde d’Abboville, dietitian nutritionist. However, you must alternate with other oils and not use it exclusively. The ideal is to supplement with rapeseed or walnut oil for example. Thus, we benefit from a range of different vitamins, minerals and fatty acids which will complement each other perfectly.“
>> Pay attention to your calories. “Olive oil is 100% fat, and one tablespoon represents 90 calories. So two tablespoons per day and another 2 tablespoons of other vegetable oils is a good quota for fill it up with interesting nutrients”, recommends the dietitian.
Finally, you should know that it can be eaten raw or cooked, provided it does not exceed 160°. And you have to opt for those with the words “first cold pressing” which guarantee the naturalness of the product, and therefore the preservation of nutrients of interest to health.
Sources:
60 million consumers, June 2023
Adélaïde d’Abboville, dietitian nutritionist