In the test, the discount store products performed just as well as the organic ones
Getty Images / Zacali
In the tomato paste test, ÖKO-TEST examined discount and branded products. The result: every second product tested was contaminated with mold toxins.
Tomato paste is an important ingredient in preparing dishes such as tomato sauce or goulash. Concentrated tomato paste can be used in a number of ways and is primarily used as a flavor enhancer or natural flavor enhancer.
In the current test, the consumer portal ÖKO-TEST 20 products of tomato paste check up. These include products from well-known discount companies such as Aldi or Netto, and organic products from DM and Alnatura. The result shows, however, that almost all tomato paste is contaminated with mold toxins (alternative toxins). Including organic products. In addition to mold fungi, insecticides have also been discovered. If you make tomato paste yourself, then this is very simple. In addition to ripe tomatoes, all you need is salt. Why are there so many questionable substances in the purchased products? Good news: Discount products can keep up with organic and even get a “very good” score.
Organic Tomato Paste: Four Good Grade Products
After all: four out of eight organic brands are rated as “very good.” These include Basic Tomato Paste, Campo Verde Tomato Paste, Edeka’s Organic Tomato Paste, and Heirler’s Eden Tomato Paste from the health food store. In addition to harmless components, the products receive high marks in terms of transparency of working conditions. In addition, there are no traces of pesticides.
On the other hand, Alnatura’s tomato paste, dm organic tomato paste, and Rossmann’s Ener organic tomato paste, only get a “bad” score. The proportion of mold toxins is so high that the planned guideline values for processed tomato products are exceeded. Consumers should get their hands off this. After all, there is no pesticide contamination in these products either.
Tomato paste test winner: discount products with a score of “Very good”
In addition to tomato paste from controlled organic farming, there are 12 other products. This shows that cheap doesn’t have to be bad. as such Test winner with “Very Good” Out of Aldi’s Cucina Tomato Paste, yes! Tomato Paste from Rio and Mondo Italiano Tomato Paste from Netto. All three products are priced at 0.59 euros per 200 grams. For comparison: Campo Verde organic tomato paste test winner at 1.99 euros. All three products can be purchased without hesitation, because there are no traces of pesticides here either.
Things look completely different with the loser: the branded product from Cirio not only showed traces of the suspected methomomorph, but also significantly increased mold toxins and ergosterol. The latter is an indicator that tomatoes that are no longer completely fresh have been processed. Cirio tomato paste is rightly classified as “unsatisfactory”.
Alternative poisons: what are they and are there specific values for them?
An alternative toxin is the poison produced by the black fungus, a mold of the genus Alternaria. Alternative toxins are found in nuts, grains, and vegetables, among other things, and are therefore very common. In the tomato paste test, alterariol and tienoazonic acid (TA) were found in particular. Both are questionable toxins. Alternariol is considered “genotoxic” in the laboratory and has damaged genetic material in cell studies. In animal experiments, TeA impeded the production of endogenous proteins, which could lead to organ damage.
Since both toxins can pose a potential health hazard, there should be specific values or at least indicative values, especially in food production. However, this is not currently the case. The EU Commission is currently planning ‘standards’ that companies can use as evidence. But this is not necessary.