Whole wheat pasta, a beneficial source of fiber, may contain mycotoxins, pesticides and furosine. The consumer association Altroconsumo brought 15 packages of whole-wheat pens to the lab. In some cases, the result is bad.
Whole wheat pasta, the mycotoxin risk
In whole wheat pasta, as in many other foods, the mycotoxin risk is particularly insidious. These contaminants can develop during cultivation and in storage. They are not eliminated by cooking and in some cases are very dangerous, as we have reported.
Ochratoxin A and aflatoxin B1 are carcinogenic and genotoxic, i.e., capable of promoting cancer and altering DNA. On the other hand, Don (deoxynivalenol), responsible for gastrointestinal disorders, lurks in many baked goods: in addition to pasta, in sweet and savory breads and cookies.
Only two samples free of mycotoxins
Mycotoxins were found in almost all samples of whole wheat pasta tested. Exceptions are the pens of Libera Terra and Esselunga Equilibrio. The contamination detected is always within legal limits.
However, the serious risks associated with mycotoxin intake are independent of meeting the thresholds defined in European legislation, in cases of repeated exposure and accumulation of the toxins. And such thresholds overlook the peculiar vulnerability of children and adolescents, as Carlo Brera (ISS, Istituto Superiore di Sanità) teaches.
De Cecco is the worst of the sample
The worst whole wheat pasta, for presence of mycotoxins, is De Cecco (size no. 419, which has had an entire grain ship rejected in recent months precisely because of unacceptable levels of mycotoxins and decay in the grain, as we reported. Three Mills (Eurospin) follows.
Slightly better, but still bad, go Senatore Cappelli ‘Seasons of Italy’ and Conad brand pens. They are followed by Barilla-already found to be contaminated last year, as was Buitoni- Misura, Garofalo and La Molisana. One step below excellence are whole-grain pastas under the Carrefour, Coop Viviverde, Rummo and Sgambaro brands.
Pesticides, only organic is saved
The 400 pesticides sought, including glyphosate(a proven endocrine disruptor), were traced in all non-organic whole wheat pasta samples. The amounts are small, more than 100 times below the legal limit.
As with mycotoxins, however, toxicological risk should be assessed for repeated exposure through different foods contaminated with agrotoxin residues. Not to mention the cocktail effect, i.e., the co-presence of several molecules of agrotoxics in the same food, which causes measurable toxicity, as shown in a recent study.
Completely pesticide-free were found to be organic whole wheat pens from Libera Terra, Esselunga Equilibrio, Sgambaro, Rummo, Coop Viviverde and Garofalo.
Furosine, evidence of hasty drying
The label claim‘dried at low temperature’ deserves attention. In fact, the use of high temperatures benefits manufacturers’ accounts, which speed up production processes. But it is a sign of myopia. Consumers, in fact, have learned to make good choices, as evidenced by the 5.7 percent increase in sales for pasta presented with the claim that it is dried at low temperatures (source Immagino Observatory 1/21).
The sign of hasty drying at too high a temperature is the presence of furosin, a substance that forms with heat and indicates the presence of thermal damage to the food. The test reveals that most whole-wheat pasta samples are insufficient. The best result is from De Cecco, the worst from Tre Mulini (Eurospin) pens.
The origin of wheat
Finally, the origin of wheat is foreign in only 4 cases: De Cecco, Tre Mulini (Eurospin), Carrefour and Conad. All other pastas in the sample are made with semolina from grains that are always of Italian origin only.
Marta Strinati
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
