The fish is healthy, but unfortunately the breading on fish fingers is often not at all. This is the result of the current fish stick test by Stiftung Warentest: More than half of the products examined were significantly contaminated with harmful substances. Of the 19 fish fingers tested, the product testers can only recommend two types.
The product testers examined eleven classic fish fingers, four baked fish fingers and four vegan alternatives. The biggest problem turned out to be the fat pollutant 3-MCPD, which can come from the oil used to fry the sticks. Of all things, the fried fish fingers from the premium brand Iglo were, along with the Rewe fish fingers, the most contaminated – they received a poor pollutant rating. Nine other products were so heavily contaminated that the partial pollutant rating was no better than sufficient.
To put it in perspective: This does not mean that a meal of fish fingers poses an immediate health risk. As with all pollutants, the amount makes the poison. Stiftung Warentest calculates that a four-year-old child could eat three Iglo fried fish fingers until the tolerable daily limit for 3-MCPD defined by the European Food Safety Authority is reached. Of course, no one eats fish fingers every day, write the product testers. However, the fatty pollutant is also absorbed from other sources, especially from cooking oils and fats and foods made with them.
Only the fish fingers from Frosta and Alnatura received a good overall rating. All other products were rated as satisfactory to sufficient. The Iglo fish fingers and the Iglo fried fish fingers were also “sufficient” overall. Iglo explained to Stiftung Warentest that they could not understand the high 3-MCPD content in the product. However, the product testers assert that the value is secured through a review. The testers also found increased levels of pollutants in the veggie sticks. Overall, the four vegan products were satisfactory to sufficient – the Iglo veggie product was satisfactory.
Since the harmful substances are in the breading, it is advisable to pay attention when buying to how much fish is in the often unhealthy casing. Here too, Iglo’s fried fish fingers perform comparatively poorly with a fish content of 49 percent. According to Warentest, the guidelines for fish products actually recommend a ratio of 65 percent fish to 35 percent breading.
At least: The product testers can report positive things about the fish itself: All manufacturers used fish fillets – and in all products taken together, the testers only found three larger bones.
You can find the complete fish stick test from Stiftung Warentest here
