Truth in advertising #1- Flora Cuisine

As some of you know, I watch quite a bit of TV, too much in fact; and I have a minor interest in adverts. Some ads make me laugh, some I just consider pure art, but some really get me irritated.

The one that is currently doing my head in is the one for Flora Cuisine, a emulsified cooking oil substitute. The advert shows celebrity Vernon Kay being cooked for by his mum (and it *is* his real mum). As mum starts a stir-fry with a good dash of what appears to be liquid margerine, Vernon turns his nose up, and asks “What’s that?”. His is told (as are we) that it is Flora Cuisine, which has “45% less saturated fat than olive oil”. Wow says Vernon (and all of us), it must really be good and healthy then.

But wait a cotton-frickin’ minute. The main benefit of olive oil is that it is approximately 75% mono-saturated fat, which is generally considered to be healthier than saturated or poly-saturated fat. So while Flora are boasting that Cuisine contains 45% less saturated fat than olive oil, it also contains 60% less “good” mono-saturated fat, and 280% *more* poly-unsaturated fat.

Olive oil also contains powerful natural anti-oxidents, such as oleocanthal, oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol. Flora Cuisine contains a blend of vegetable oils, with water, emulsifiers, potassium sorbate, guar and xanthan gums, and a good dose of salt.

Yum.

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