The Results of a Channel 10 Investigation of the Claimed Nutritional Values of Tahini on Israel’s supermarket shelves
Screened on 25th July, 2013: Kolbotek (Consumer Program) – Channel 10 – Israel TV
According to Israel food regulations, tahina paste (tahini) has to be one hundred percent sesame. Some salt and water is permitted. Food additives and food colorings are prohibited.
The recommended daily calcium requirement is as follows:
| Child | 800mg |
| Adult | 1300mg |
| Pregnant woman | 1500mg |
Israel imports most of its sesame seeds from Ethiopia, India, Canada and Singapore – a total of 50,000 tons per year.
Two types of tahini paste are available commercially in Israel;
- Tahina Golmi is tahini that is produced from the sesame seed alone and is rich creamy white in color.
- Tahina Maleh is tahini that is produced from the sesame seed as well as from the outer husk. This is much darker in color.
There are many brands of tahini (sesame paste) available in Israel most of them claim to be rich in calcium and iron. But, is the food labeling on the product telling us the truth?
The calcium content of sesame is as follows:
| Sesame Seeds Only | Sesame Seeds with Husk | Husk Only |
| 97mg/100gr | 775mg/100g | 5,500mg/100g |
Channel 10 reported the results of their investigation:
A sample of sesame seeds with and without the outer husk was sent to two Italian laboratories to test the calcium and iron content. A sample of 16 different types of tahini paste were sent.
| Brand | Tahini Golmi | Tahini Maleh |
| Barakeh | v | v |
| Achva | v | |
| Hanasich | v | v |
| Shufersal | v | v |
| El Arz | v | v |
| Elwadi | v | |
| Tehina Zahav | v | |
| Hamutag – Rami Levi | v | |
| Har Bracha | v | |
| Harduf | v | |
| Amara | v | |
| Hayona | v |
The Israeli standard allows for a variation of the stated nutritional value of tahini paste, as indicated on the label, of between 80 – 120 percent. These were a sample of the calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) content results:
| Tahini Golmi | |||
| Brand | Food Label Claim in mg | Laboratory 1 in mg | Laboratory 2 in mg |
|
Barake – Ca Barake – Fe |
120
6.6 |
110
4.6 |
77 |
|
Shufersal – Ca Shufersal – Fe |
120
no claim made |
124 | 123 |
|
El Arz – Ca El Arz – Fe |
120
9 |
110
9 |
190 |
| Hanasich – Ca
Hanasich – Fe |
190
6.3 |
193 6.5 |
220
|
| Hayona – no claims made
on the food label at all |
211 |
357 |
|
| The calcium levels of tahini maleh should be 775mg /100g | |||
|
Tehini Maleh |
|||
|
Brand |
Food Label Claim in mg | Laboratory 1 in mg | Laboratory 2 in mg |
|
Hanasich – Ca Hanasich – Fe |
400
10.5 |
506
6.2 |
601 |
| Barakeh – Ca
Barakeh – Fe |
600
6.5 |
329 6.0 |
290 |
| Shufersal – Ca
Shufersal – Fe |
600 no claim made |
300
|
230 |
| El Wadi – Ca
El Wadi – Fe |
849
7.8 |
225
4.1 |
110
|
The conclusion of the Italian laboratories is, on a whole, the nutritional value of the tahini products is lower than indicated on the label.
The Israeli food standard for tahini stipulates that no other ingredients which are not a derivative of sesame are to be added. This means starch, whiteners and colorants are forbidden.
Now the bad news…
Titanium dioxide is a chemical additive used as a whitener in the food, plastics and metal industries. It is carcinogenic (cancer forming). In Germany it has been banned for use as an additive in foodstuffs.
In Israel, however, titanium dioxide is permitted as an ingredient in the food industry.
Two of the brands were tested in Italy and the following results were found:
| Brand | Titanium Dioxide Content |
| Zahav | 32mg |
| Har Bracha | 175mg |
In conclusion, Kolbotek claims the best 3 brands that met all Israeli food standards and showed the best laboratory results are:
- El Arz
- Achva
- Hamutag
