Also organic rice and corn cakes for children often contaminated with pollutants
Rice and corn cakes are often considered healthy snacks, especially for children. The Association for Consumer Information (VKI) examined a total of 22 products, including eight rice cakes, seven children's rice cakes, and seven corn cakes, most of which are organic. The test results were sobering: "Two children's products, three rice cakes, and one corn cake received the rating 'good'." Two organic rice cakes were even rated as "less satisfactory" due to their pollutant content.
Purchases were made in organic stores, discounters, as well as in drugstores and supermarkets. The majority of rice and corn cakes on the market are labeled as organic. The main focus of the test was on acrylamide, heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium, as well as mold toxins.
All products labeled as children's products in the test contained additives such as juices, fruits, spices, or flavors, all bearing names like yogurt, whole milk, chocolate, cinnamon and honey, or fruit notes like mango, raspberry, or strawberry. "It is anything but sensitive to get young children used to sweet tastes," criticized the VKI. "Due to the high sugar content, not a single product was awarded the Nutri-Score top rating A."
Parents who want to give their offspring a neutral, unsweetened cake must therefore resort to products that are not explicitly labeled for children. Conventional rice cakes, on the other hand, contain significantly less sugar, but much more often and more pollutants.
According to consumer advocates, the situation is similar to corn cakes: less sugar, more pollutants, and almost all salted. For corn cakes, the Nutri-Score according to the VKI test ranges between B and C. The reason for this is partly the salt content and partly the lower protein and fiber content compared to rice cakes.
In terms of nutrient value assessment, rice cakes not marketed for children perform the best. Four of these were rated with Nutri-Score A and Nutri-Score B. "With a lot of protein and fiber, they are also suitable as a sports snack," say the testers. The Nutri-Score is a system for labeling the nutritional profile of a food product on the packaging with letters A to E and traffic light colors. This allows the nutritional value of products within a product group to be compared with each other.
The children's cakes are also smaller but significantly more expensive than regular rice cakes. The average price per kilo is 30 euros. Conventional cakes cost around ten euros.
Test results from February 27 in the March issue of the magazine "Konsument" and here
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here .
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