Hazelnuts, to be munched as they are when we need a snack but also the protagonists of numerous Christmas preparations, are among the most loved dried fruit, both for their flavor and versatility. And in addition to being good, they are also good for you, they are in fact rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc, as well as essential vitamins such as those of group B and vitamin E.
A new test, conducted by the German magazine Oeko-Test, examined precisely this type of dried fruit and analyzed it 20 samples of whole hazelnuts, with peel but without shellpurchased in supermarkets, discount stores and organic shops in Germany.
It’s mainly about references typical of the German market but the results of the survey still offer useful insights for Italian consumers toowithout guaranteeing that they reflect the same reality of our market. For this reason, we hope that some association in Italy will soon conduct a similar test.
In reality, the hazelnuts tested came from various countries, including Italy, but there is a clear prevalence of dried fruit of Turkish origin.
All samples were analyzed taking into account these parameters:
German experts also specify that:
For the evaluation we based ourselves on UNECE standard for hazelnuts . This is a quality assessment standard developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Dried fruit must therefore be free from parasites or other insects.
But precisely on this point, there was some problem…
The results
Let’s start with the good news: Most of the hazelnuts analyzed received positive evaluations and therefore proved to be good and hygienically safe products.
We emphasize that the three hazelnut samples from Italy were all of good quality.
However, in some samples, 2 in particular (one of hazelnuts from Turkey and the other from the USA), some problems were found, and not insignificant ones. A package presented traces of moldwhich led to the product being penalized with an “unsatisfactory” rating; even more worrying, in a live insect was found on another pack of hazelnuts.
What was discovered is unacceptable, as the presence of mold and insects can pose a risk to the health of consumers.
Among the two worst products are hazelnuts sold at Lidlwhich showed clear signs of mold and the presence of microscopic fungi.
As for the sensory testing, some brands showed only slight imperfections. Among the defects found, the laboratory reported the lack of peel in many seeds, broken seeds or even halves, and notable variations in size within the same package. However, if the hazelnuts are not used for decorative purposes, these cosmetic defects are generally acceptable.
A common criticism was a relatively bitter taste, which could be unpleasant to those who prefer a sweeter taste.
Attention to children
Hazelnuts are a tasty and healthy snack, but may pose a choking risk to young children, due to their round shape and hard texture.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has recommended, for 15 years now, including a warning on dried fruit packaging, but this indication is not mandatory and some producers, despite the fact that a lot of time has passed, have never included the notice.
