Vanaspati:Desi Vegetable Ghee
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Comparative Test Vanaspati: Desi Vegetable Ghee In the modern Indian markets vanaspati is being used to refer to vegetable oil that has been hydrogenated and hardened. Vanaspati ghee is a cheaper substitute for the clarified butter that is made from milk . Vanaspati means any refined edible vegetable oil or oils subjected to a process of hydrogenation in any form. Consumer VOICE tested 12 brands of hydrogenated vegetable oil or vanaspati, and found that all brands were made from palm/palmolein oil. Hydrogenation is performed using a catalyst known as "supported nickel catalyst", in reactors at low medium pressure. Vanaspati ghee contains trans fats. Good and Bad Fat Acid Found in vanaspati. found with the highest PUFA content in Vanaspati among all. Rath (49.80g/100g) was found with Unsaturated Fatty Acids: There the highest MUFA content followed are two types of good unsaturated by Shaktibhog (48.84g/100g) Brand Rank fatty acids, MUFA and PUFA. As per and Raag (48.26g/100g). Rasoi Dalda 1 the Heart Association of America, (35.86g/100g) was found with lowest Anchal 2 an individual should consume PUFA MUFA content among all followed by Gagan 3 upto 10% and MUFA upto 15% of Anchal (38.50g/100g) and Gagan Scooter 4 his/her total calories of the daily (38.73g/100g). Rath 5 intake. MUFAs lower the level of bad Raag 6 cholesterol (LDL) in the blood and Only Dalda, Gagan, Anchal and Gemini 7 Nature Fresh 8 DECEMBER 2011 Scooter were found with PUFA raise the good cholesterol (HDL). Panghat 9 PUFAs reduce both the good and content, rest all brands did not have Shaktibhog 10 the bad cholesterol. In our tests we PUFA hence got lower weightage in Super Jhoola 11 considered these as higher the better this test. Dalda (6.71g/100g) was Rasoi 12 CONSUMER VOICE 7 Comparative Test Key findings • Dalda was found with lesser amount of saturated fat followed by Rath and Shakti Bhog, however Rasoi had higher saturated fat. • Dalda had the lowest and Shakti Bhog the highest amount of Trans fat. • Rath was found rich in MUFA content followed by Shakti Bhog and Raag. None of the brands contained adulteration of Argemone oil, Castor oil, Mineral oil or any other adulterants or impurities. (64.13g/100g) was found with the found with the highest free fatty acids • Raag scored highest in highest saturated fat followed by percent. sensory properties like colour, Anchal (56.56g/100g) and Scooter appearance, flavor and Taste. Vanaspati Provides Energy too (56.46g/100g). • Only Scooter contained The Energy value is the amount of Vitamin D though other brands Trans Fat: Trans Fatty calories which our body obtains from had also claimed Vitamin D. acids are unsaturated fatty acids the foods. Anchal (899.91kcal/100g) • There was lesser than the produced when unsaturated oils are was found with higher energy value, minimum quantity of Vitamin converted to semi solid by a process A required in all the brands of however Rasoi (899.40kcal/100g) called hydrogenation. These are vanaspati. was found with the lowest. unsaturated Fats, but resemble • All the vanaspati brands were saturated fats in many ways. Just Sesame Oil found manufactured from PALM/ like saturated fats, they also raise the PALMOLEIN OILS, as declared The Baudouin test is specific for level of ‘bad’ cholesterol in our blood. by them. Seasame oil which is compulsorily It is expected to be as low as possible added to vanaspati. As per the Indian Saturated Fat: Saturated fats in vanaspati. Standard, sample should be found are inherent fats in ghee, butter and Dalda (5.14g/100g) was found positive in this test to pass the test. All vanaspati etc. An average person with the lowest trans fat followed the brands were found positive in should limit his saturated fat daily by Gagan (6.80g/100g) and this test, getting full score. intake to not more than 8-10 percent Anchal (8.27g/100g). Shaktibhog Vanaspati not adulterated as these are generally bad category (26.83g/100g) was found with with castor oil of fat for consumption. Eating a highest trans fat content followed This test is for the detection of lot of saturated fat increases the by Raag (16.64g/100g) and Scooter castor oil in vanaspati. If sample level of bad cholesterol (low density (13.18g/100g). found positive in this test that lipoproteins - LDL) in the blood. It Free Fatty Acids as Oleic indicates the adulteration of castor oil is generally acknowledged that high Acid: The edible oils permitted for in vanaspati. None of the brand of levels of LDL place you at a greater manufacturing Vanaspati contain vanaspati was found adulterated risk of heart disease. We considered certain percentage of free fatty acids with castor oil. it lower the better. (FFA). These free fatty acids are Dalda (49.34g/100g) was found expected to be lower in vanaspati. Vanaspati free from nickel as with the lowest saturated fat content Nature Fresh (0.05%) was found catalyst followed by Rath (50.20g/100g) and with lowest percent of free fatty To convert vegetable edible Shaktibhog (51.16g/100g). Rasoi acids, whereas Scooter (0.25%) was oils into vanaspati, nickel is used DECEMBER 2011 8 CONSUMER VOICE Comparative Test the Indian Standard, It should not Difference between Palm Oil ad Palmolein be more than 2.0% in vanaspati. All Palm Oil: Palm oil is extracted from the flesh of the fruit of E. Guineesis the brands were found well within using pressure. In its unrefined form, the palm oil is bright orange in color the limit of unsaponifiable matter due to high amounts of carotene pigments. The oil is semi-solid at room and passed the test. Raag (0.56%) temperature and is highly resistant to oxidation and prolonged exposure to was found with higher unsaponifiable heat. Palm oil is widely used in margarine and vegetable shortenings. matter, and Rath (0.34%) had the Palmolein: When the semi-solid palm oil is refined, it separates into lowest. palm olein and palm stearine. The palm olein has different characteristics than the palm oil, most notably that it remains completely liquid at room Some Results at a Glance temperature. It is highly heat resistant, similar to palm oil, and it also resists Moisture within limits: the formation of breakdown products during frying and increases the shelf Moisture content of oils and fats is the life of many products. loss in mass of the sample on heating Although palm oil and palm olein are produced from the same plant at 105 ±1oC. It’s the moisture that and share many similar properties, the main difference between them is promotes decay. Virtually moisture- their chemical state at room temperature. Semi-solid palm oil is used more free, vanaspati has no such problem. frequently as a fat in bakery products, whereas liquid palm olein is considered It will retain its original freshness the "gold standard" and is the most widely used oil for frying in the world. and flavour for months. As per the Source: www.ehow.com Indian Standard, moisture should not as a catalyst in the hydrogenation In humans vitamin D is unique be more than 0.25% in vanaspati. process. Nickel should be absent in both because it functions as All the brands were found within the the finished product. Traces of nickel a prohormone and the body can limit for moisture content and pass ed might be found in vanaspati, as an synthesize it (as vitamin D3) when the test. Nature Fresh (0.08%) was impurity, which can be hazardous for sun exposure is adequate. Vitamin found with highest moisture content health. As per the Indian Standard, D prevents rickets . Except Scooter among all, however brand Anchal It should not be more than 1.5mg/ Vitamin D was not detected in any of (0.01%) was found with lowest. kg in vanaspati. All brands were the brands. Acid Value within required found free from the presence of Vanaspati free of limits: Acid value of vanaspati is Nickel. suspected foreign agents related to its shelf life. If acid value does not meet the requirement, it Vitamins in Vanaspati Argemone Oil Not Detected: causes contamination and reduces Argemone or yellow poppy, is a wild Vitamin A: Vitamin A is essential the shelf life of vanaspati. As per herb. The oil is reported to cause for good health—notably for eyes and the Indian Standard, It should not Glaucoma, Dropsy and sometimes skin, immune function, reproduction, be more than 0.5. Except Super total blindness due to the presence and bone growth. As per the Indian Jhoola (1.47) all the brands meet the of alkaloids namely, sangunarine and Standard, vitamin A should be requirement for acid value. dihydrosangunaire. All brands were minimum 25IU/g in vanaspati at found free from adulteration of manufacturing stage. argemone oil. Nature Fresh (20.55IU/g) No Unsaponifiable Matter: was found with highest vitamin Unsaponifiable matter includes A content followed by Gemini substances frequently found dissolved (20.52IU/g) and Dalda (20.09IU/g). in fatty acids and drying oils which Rasoi (11.43IU/g) was found cannot be saponified by caustic with lowest vitamin A content DECEMBER 2011 treatment, but which are soluble in among all. the normal fat solvents, that include Vitamin D: Vitamin D is a the higher aliphatic alcohols, sterols, group of fat-soluble secosteroids. pigments, and hydrocarbons. As per CONSUMER VOICE 9 Comparative Test occur in food articles, undesirable more than 10 out of 12 in the odours and flavours can take place. sensory test. Consumer Advice: None of the brand we tested were Best Choice! found rancid, hence got full weight- Packing It is advisable that consumers age.