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FEB. MAR. 2018
XIII
analysis perimeter) reported on the
label a reference to the concept of
rich-in. The sector is growing: the
range has increased by 7.8% in a year,
with a turnover exceeding 2.2 billion
euros, equal to 9.8% of mass market
sales monitored by the Osservatorio
Immagino. Among the rich-in products
most appreciated by Italians, the most
popular are “whole-grain” (+ 14.2%
of sales in a year) and those “rich in
calcium” (+ 10.1%), marking growth
trends among the most brightest of
all large scale consumption. Positive
results also for products rich in Omega
3 (+ 9.2%) and fibre (+ 5.3%). The only
negative data is that relating to foods
rich in or enriched with iron, whose
turnover fell by 3.9% (Figure 2).
AT PAGE 46
IN THE KITCHEN
The mystery
of palm oil
Found in many food products
and was first pilloried and then
exonerated. But what is the truth?
By Maria Elena Dipace
On December 13, 2016, or, moreover,
since the European law imposed the
explicit declaration of the ingredients
on labels, millions of Italian and
European consumers have discovered
that behind the words “vegetable
oils and fats”, hiding an ingredient
which doesn’t seem healthy: palm
oil. Particularly disconcerting was the
spread of its use, which embraced not
only the food industry, but also the
world of cosmetics, being considered
a very versatile oil, as well as its
availability available on the market at
low prices compared to other, more
valued vegetable oils.
With the entry into force of the new
European legislation, producers have
begun to limit its use and hundreds
of products with the words ‘palm
oil-free’ have been put on the market
(replacing palm oil with other
vegetable oils) or with palm oil refined
at low temperature).
Then the turning point, last January
(2018), EFSA published an update
of its 3-MCPD assessment (the
monochloropropandiol contained
in palm oil accused of being highly
carcinogenic), raising its tolerable
threshold from 0.8 micrograms per
kilo per day at 2 micrograms per kilo
per day.
WHAT IS 3-MCDP?
The chemical 3-monochloropro
pandiolo (3-MCPD) and its derivatives
called 3-MCPD esters are contaminants
from alimentary processes, present in
some processed foods and vegetable
oils, mainly in palm oil.
The EFSA expert group first assessed
the potential risks of 3-MCPD in 2016,
concluding that fatty acids are a public
health problem because they are
carcinogenic.
PALM OIL:
WHY AVOID IT
The wide use of palm oil in the
commercial food industry is explained
by its low cost, which makes it one
of the cheapest vegetable or food
oils on the market. Its high content
of saturated fats makes it semi-solid
at room temperature. This happens
both in the case of palm oil and palm
kernel oil.
Under accusation is a saturated
fatty acid called palmitic acid and
characterised by the presence of 16
carbon atoms. This type of fat is able
to act by increasing cholesterol levels
and raising the risks of coronary
disease, as reported by scientific
studies related to palm oil.
The WHO statements have supported
the opposition of the Malaysian Palm
Oil Promotion Council, aimed at
defending the economic interests of
their country, in relation to the rich
production sector linked to palm oil.
The saturated fat content of palm oil
THE NUMBERS OF THE WORLD OF FREE-FROM:
THE SEGMENTATION OF CHARACTERISTICS
%
PRODUCTS
% SALES
IN VALUE
TREND %
SALES
IN VALUE
PROFESSION
PROMO
Preservative-free
7,7
12,1
-1,0
39,5
Low-fat
4,9
8,2
-0,1
35,8
Without artificial colouring
3,8
5,1
-3,3
34,6
Low sugar
2,5
2,4
3,3
24,8
Without palm oil
2,3
6,4
17,6
35,4
Without additives
1,9
1,7
3,4
32,7
GMO-free
1,7
1,6
-6,6
24,0
Without
hydrogenated fats
1,7
1,9
-3,9
40,5
No added sugar
1,3
0,8
6,1
26,2
Glutamate-free
1,0
1,0
1,1
35,6
With reduced content /
without salt
0,8
0,7
7,2
30,8
Low-calorie
0,6
1,0
3,4
35,4
Without /reduced content
of saturated fats
0,
2,1
7,6
35,8
Aspartame-free
0,1
0,1
1,5
15,0
All values refer to the food sector, excluding water and alcohol, by the Osservatorio Immagino
(46.600 products)
Source: Osservatorio Immagino Nielsen GS1 Italy, ed. 2, 2017
THE NUMBERS OF THE RICH-IN WORLD:
THE SEGMENTATION OF CHARACTERISTICS
% PRODUCTS
% SALES IN
VALUE
TREND %
SALES IN
VALUE
PROFESSION
PROMO
Fibre
3,6
3,3
5,3
30,5
Vitamins
3,0
3,6
0,3
31,8
Whole-grain
2,0
2,1
14,2
31,5
Calcium
1,4
2,7
10,1
34,1
Omega 3
0,7
0,9
9,2
35,0
Iron
0,7
0,6
-3,9
25,3
All values refer to the food sector, excluding water and alcohol, by the Osservatorio Immagino
(46.600 products)
Source: Osservatorio Immagino Nielsen GS1 Italy, ed. 2, 2017