Grilled sausages in the Öko-Test: Bitter result - Only organic meat is convincing, Aldi sausage falls through completely
Created: 2022-06-24 05:04
By: Stella Henrich
The consumer magazine Öko-Test wanted to know exactly: Is organic grilled sausage better than conventional pork sausage?
Munich – A total of 19 boiled pork sausages were tested.
Nine of them were organic.
The eco-testers examined the sausages for the quality of the sausage mass and for contamination with mineral oil stocks (issue 07/2022).
They also rated taste and smell.
The husbandry conditions of the animals, animal welfare and sustainability aspects were also decisive in the assessment.
Öko-Test examined 19 grilled sausages in the laboratory.
Only organic meat was able to convince the testers.
© Martin Wagner/imago
Of the nine organic products tested, two received the top mark of “very good”.
Four with the grade "good".
And at least two more received the grade "satisfactory" from the testers.
The ten conventional sausages, on the other hand, only achieved the grade "sufficient" or one even failed with the rating "poor".
The test winners at a glance:
Organic grilled sausages | Öko-Test rating |
Alnatura Rostbratwurst from Bioland | very good |
Edeka Bio Original Thuringian Rostbratwurst, boiled | very good |
Good organic Thuringian bratwurst from Aldi Nord | Well |
K-Bio pork sausage from Kaufland | Well |
Delicacy bratwurst from Ökoland | Well |
Weimar Thuringia Organic Thuringian Rostbratwurst | Well |
In the other cases, it is not only the deplorable housing conditions of the animals that upset the eco-testers.
The mineral oil components found in the laboratory test also spoil the consumer advocates' appetites.
The testers found saturated mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH) in twelve of the 19 bratwurst samples.
These MOSH can accumulate in the body and "what this means for human health is still completely unclear," warns Öko-Test in its July issue of the meat product.
A possible source of the mineral oil inputs are lubricants on machines that are used in sausage production.
However, they can also get into the grilled sausages via sausage casings, spices or herbs.
There shouldn't be any phosphates in the sausage either.
This additive is banned in organic foods because they are not good for people with kidney problems.
Another annoyance from the testers' point of view is the greatly increased salt levels.
Öko-Tester: Bratwurst from Aldi fails with "inadequate".
The "BBQ bratwurst hearty 10 pieces" from Aldi Nord/Aldi Süd is the test loser and receives the grade "poor".
In addition to too much salt and phosphorus, they were also found to have increased mineral oil components.
The best conventionally produced grilled sausage with the grade "satisfactory" was Wolf's "Original Thuringian Rostbratwurst".
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There is a green light as far as germ contamination is concerned.
Only one bratwurst in the test - from Penny - exceeds the guideline value for sulfite-reducing clostridia: in this quantity, the germs do not necessarily make you ill, but the find indicates a lack of hygiene.
Conventional grilled sausages | Öko-Test rating |
BBQ bratwurst hearty 10 pieces at Aldi North/South | inadequate |
Penny Rust Bratwurst | sufficient |
Meica Frying Maxe 5 pieces | sufficient |
Wolf Original Thuringian Rostbratwurst | satisfying |
The sausages may not have been sufficiently cooled.
"For the manufacturer, this should be an opportunity to review its production process," according to the eco-testers.
Apart from that, the laboratory found no pathogenic or antibiotic-resistant germs in the samples.
Öko-Test criticizes the housing conditions of the animals
When it comes to the housing conditions of the animals, conventionally produced grilled sausages were rated “satisfactory” at best.
Because the testers did not want to recommend a product that was produced without appropriate animal welfare to consumers.
In addition to deficiencies in the ingredients, the eco-testers reacted allergically to the following information from the manufacturer on questions of husbandry: docked tails, castrated piglets, no outlet, hardly any space and many antibiotics.
The Stiftung Warentest has also examined packaged grilled pork sausages from supermarkets and discounters.
When evaluating the sausages, the consumer advocates paid particular attention to the origin and composition of the meat quality.
Nuremberg and Thuringia in particular were convincing in the evaluation.
Do not refreeze these foods once they have been thawed
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