Comparative Test

Sunflower
Who is Oils
the first among the
equals?
Golden, light and healthy-sunflower oil is naturally extracted from sunflower
seeds and bears a subtle taste. The oils are refined through different processes
such as express and solvent refined to make them edible. The Indian Standard (IS
4277:2014) though prescribes different grades of the oil, however, both
expressed and refined grade of solvent extracted are recommended for edible
purposes. To make the buying decision simpler for consumers, our team had
tested 12 sunflower oils brands and ranked them as per the test results.
A Consumer Voice
Report

E
ach brand was evaluated on quality and laboratory and as per requirements specified in the
purity parameters including fatty acid Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Regulations and
composition, saturated fatty acids, MUFA, Indian Standard IS: 4277-2014 as well as nutritional
PUFA, trans fats, moisture and declarations. Following 12 refined sunflower oil
impurities, refractive index, acid value, brands packed in 1 litre poly pack were tested.
insoluble
saponification value, unsaponifiable matteramong Among the following brands, few brands are
others. regional and have sizable market share in the
Tested Brands region. The table below shows which sunflower oil
The tests were conducted at an NABL- scored highest and in what parameters:
accredited
CONSUMER VOICE OCTOBER • 9
2019
Comparative Test

Rank Total Score Brands Quantity MRP, Best Manufacture

Out of 100 Rs, Before, r/
(rounded off) Month marketer
s
1 93 Gemini 1L (910 gm) 140 9 Cargill India Pvt. Ltd.
1 93 Emami 1L (910 gm) 115 9 Emami Agrotech
Limited
2 91 Dhara 1L (910 gm) 115 9 Mother Dairy Fruit
& Vegetable Pvt.
Ltd.
2 91 Fortune 1L (910 gm) 125 9 Adani Wilmar Ltd.
2 91 Dalda 1L (910 gm) 115 9 Bunge India Pvt. Ltd.
3 90 Gold 1L (910 gm) 104 6 Kaleesuwari Refinery
Winner Private Limited
3 90 Fresh & Pure 1L (910 gm) 120 9 Future Consumer
Limited
3 90 Freedom 1L (910 gm) 105 6 Gemini Edible & Fats
India Pvt. Ltd.
3 90 Nature Fresh 1L (910 gm) 130 9 Cargill India Pvt. Ltd.
4 89 Patanjali 1L (910 gm) 105 9 Patanjali Ayurved
Limited
5 86 Sweeker 1L (910 gm) 132 9 Cargill India Pvt. Ltd.,
5 86 Sundrop 1L (910 gm) 195 9 Agro Tech Foods Ltd.
Note: All the brands claim to be fortified with Vitamin A , D and E. Brand Dalda is imported refined sunflower Oil.

CONSUMER VALUE
VOICE FOR
RECOMMENDATI M ONEY
ON Emami
Gemini and Emami

10 •
 Sunflower Oils

Key Findings
• Based on the overall test findings, brands
Gemini and Emami secured number one
position followed by Dhara, Fortune and
Dalda.
• Emami is value for money brand.
• Saturated fats was found lowest in Gemini
and Emami.
• In M U F A (healthy fats), Dhara and
Sweekar scored highest and Sundrop the
lowest.
• In PUFA, (that helps to reduce bad
cholesterol), Emami scored highest and
Sweekar the lowest.
• All the brands had met the standard
requirements and thus found safe for
consumption.
• Most of the brands had high difference in
their MRP and our purchased price.
• MRP of one litre sunflower oil was between
Rs.104 to 195.
• None of the tested brand was found
adulterated with cheap oil.

The oil extracted from the seeds of

sunflowers is known as sunflower oil. It has a
high quantity of vitamin E, in the form of
alpha-tocopherol, which makes it excellent for
being used in cooking. It has a high smoking
point, which means that sunflower oil holds on
to its nutritional content at higher
temperatures.
As a form of cooking and frying oil, the high
Test Results linoleic acid content in sunflower oil is
Fatty Acid Composition | Saturated Fatty considered to be a desirable constituent. Of
Acids| M U F A | PUFA | Trans Fat | Moisture course, the linoleic acid also leads to storage
and Insoluble Impurities | Refractive Index | Acid problems due to oxidation resulting in off-
Value| Saponification Value | Unsaponifiable flavours and rancidity.
Matter | Iodine Value | Flash Point | Specific Look for the high oleic variety of sunflower
Gravity | Per Oxide Value | Argemone Oil | oil for deep-frying. High oleic oil is high in
Mineral Oil | Hexane| Packing | Marking | monounsaturated fats (MUFA) and has no
Description | Net Quantity harmful trans-fat. • 11
CONSUMER VOICE OCTOBER 2019
Comparative Test
Comparative Performance Score

Brand Parameter Wt. % Gemini Emami Dhara Fortune Dalda

MRP per litre, Rs. 140 115 115 125 115
Moisture & Insol. impurities 5 4.40 4.40 4.60 4.60 4.60
Saponification value 7 6.68 6.89 6.36 6.42 5.74
Acid value 6 6.00 5.10 5.70 5.70 5.70
Iodine value 7 6.89 6.95 6.10 6.42 6.60
Unsaponifiable matter 7 6.16 6.58 6.02 6.30 6.86
Refractive Index 7 6.38 6.33 6.44 6.28 6.44
Flash point 5 4.84 4.84 4.88 4.80 4.90
Specific gravity 5 4.20 4.28 4.44 4.92 3.40
Per oxide value 5 4.88 4.43 4.58 4.41 4.35
Saturated fatty acid 7 6.38 6.33 6.16 4.45 5.32
MUFA 10 9.72 9.64 10.0 9.47 9.82
PUFA 8 5.87 6.51 5.14 6.33 5.84

TEST PARAMETERS heart, digestion, and cell maintenance. Sunflower oil

contains as much as 85 per cent MUFA.MUFAs
 Fatty Acid Composition lower the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise
All edible oils have virtually the same fat the good cholesterol (HDL). In our test, we found
content but the proportion of different types of M U F A was highest in Dhara , Sweekar and the
fatty acids vary from one type of oil to another. lowest in Sundrop.
There are unsaturated and saturated fats.  PUFA (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids)

Unsaturated fats are of two kinds M U F A and PUFA helps reducing bad cholesterol levels
PUFA. MUFAs lower the bad cholesterol level thereby lowering heart disease and related diseases.
(LDL) in the blood and increase the good The sources of PUFA include walnuts, sunflower
cholesterol (HDL). All the brands were tested for seeds, sesame seeds, peanut butter and peanuts,
fatty acid composition as per requirement of FSSAI flaxseed, poppy seed and oil of avocado, olive and
and found within the specified limits. The results of sunflower. PUFA was highest in Emami and the
acids detected are given below: lowest we found in Sweekar.

 Saturated Fatty Acids  Trans Fat

Eating foods that contain saturated fats raises the Just like saturated fats, trans fat also raise the
cholesterol level. Saturated fats raise the HDL level of bad cholesterol. Trans fat was not detected
cholesterol and change LDL from small, dense (bad) in any brand of sunflower oil.
to large LDL. Saturated fat was highest in Sweekar
and lowest was in Gemini and Emami.  Moisture and insoluble impurities
Moisture and insoluble impurities of refined oil
 MUFA (Monounsaturated Fatty Acids) shall not be more than 0.1% as per BIS standard.
MUFAs are a healthy type of fat. M U F A and The sunflower oil should be free from any kind of
PUFA as per the dietary recommendation helps in impurities which are insoluble in oil. All the
biochemical processes associated with nerves, brains, evaluated sunflower oil brands had met the
12 • requirement.
 Sunflower Oils

Gold Winner Fresh & Pure Freedom Nature Fresh Patanjali Sundrop Sweekar
104 120 105 130/95 105 195 132
4.40 4.60 4.60 4.20 4.40 4.40 4.20
6.95 6.54 6.42 5.99 6.26 6.83 6.65
5.10 5.70 5.70 5.10 5.70 5.70 5.70
6.82 6.40 6.63 6.79 6.63 6.31 6.39
6.30 6.16 6.65 6.72 6.44 5.60 6.02
6.28 6.50 6.33 6.38 6.38 6.44 6.38
4.90 4.86 4.86 4.78 4.82 4.78 4.80
3.88 2.84 4.28 3.80 3.32 3.64 3.48
4.72 4.40 5.00 3.43 4.95 3.91 3.32
4.54 5.35 3.50 5.68 3.92 5.18 3.33
9.72 9.51 9.96 9.59 9.52 6.03 10.0
5.85 6.50 5.08 6.43 6.08 6.21 4.81

 Refractive Index  Unsaponifiable Matter

Refractive index of oil is used to detect rancidity Unsaponifiable matter includes those substances
in edible oil. It should be in range of 1.4640- which cannot be saponified by caustic treatment,
1.4691at 40°C, however for imported oil, it should but which are soluble in the normal fat solvents.
be between 1.461-1.468. All the brands were within Unsaponifiable matter should not be more than 1.5
the specified limit. However, brand Fresh & Pure per cent in sunflower oil. All the tested sunflower
scored highest in this parameter. oil brands were found within the limit. Dalda scored
highest in this parameter.
 Acid Value
According to BIS standard requirements, the  Iodine Value
acid value should be 0.5 maximum. However, FSS The iodine value for edible oils is a measure of
regulation says the acid value level should be at the un-saturation of fats and oils. Iodine value for
6.0 maximum. For imported products, the level sunflower oil should be between 100–145. For
should be at 4.0 maximum. Acid value indicates imported oil, iodine value should be in the range
the proportion of free fatty acid present in oil. High of118-141. All the tested brands were found within
acid value indicates stale oil stored under improper the specified limit in this parameter. Emami scored
condition. The acid value of all the brands was highest in this parameter.
found within the limit and Gemini scored highest
in this parameter.  Flash Point
The flash point of a volatile material is the
 Saponification Value lowest temperature at which it can vaporize to form
Saponification value helps to detect the presence an ignitable mixture in air. At the flash point, the
of other oils/fats. Saponification value of sunflower vapor may cease to burn when the source of
oil should be between188–194. All the brands were ignition is removed. It shall not be less than 250 o
found within the limit and Gold Winner scored C. Flash point of all the brands was found well
highest in this parameter. above the specified limit. Dalda scored highest in
this parameter.
CONSUMER VOICE OCTOBER 2019
• 13
Comparative Test

 Specific Gravity oils on this parameter, we found all the brands were
Specific gravity of edible oils should be less than free from this substance. Additionally, no
1.00 as they are insoluble in water. In our test, we adulteration with cheap oils was detected in any
found, the specific gravity of all the tested sunflower brand.
oils was in the range of 0.9145-0.9182. Fortune  Hexane
scored highest in this parameter. Hexane is used to extract cooking oils from
seeds, for cleansing and degreasing a variety of
 Per Oxide Value items. It should not be more than 5 ppm. In our
Peroxide value is the most commonly used assay test, Hexane was not detected in any brands up to
for measuring the state of oxidation in fats and oils. the detection limit of 1.0 ppm.
As per the national standard, per oxide value can be
maximum at10 meq/kg. Here, all the brands were  Packing
found within the specified limit. Freedom scored As per the standard, the packing of the
highest in this parameter. sunflower oil should be done with food grade
packing material. Also, the packing should not
 Argemone Oil affect the oil properties and maintain the shelf life
Argemone oil is very toxic and may cause eye of the product. The tested sunflower oil brands
disease leading to blindness. Regular consumption were packed in 1 litter poly pack.
of it may also cause disease called epidemic dropsy,  Marking
resembling wet beriberi. Hence, Argemone needs to The labeling information should be clearly and
be absent in sunflower oil. In the evaluation process, indelibly marked in English or Hindi on the
we did not find Argemone oil present in any containers: a) name and trade-mark, type and grade
sunflower oil brand. of oil, b) batch number, month and year of
manufacturer,
 Mineral Oil c) free from argemone oil, d) nutritional
A mineral oil or paraffin oil is any of the various information,
colorless, odorless, light mixtures of higher alkanes e) best before, f) net quantity, g) standard mark
which should be absent in edible oils. As we tested if any
the h) green dot mark i) customer care details j)
FSSAI license number k)MRP. All the brands have
14 •
given necessary information on their labels.
 Sunflower Oils
 Description
All the brands were clear and free from rancidity,
suspended or other foreign matter, separated water,
added colouring or flavouring substances.

 Net quantity
According to legal metrology (packaged
commodity) rules for 1000-10000 ml tolerance
allowed is 1.5 per cent. All the brands were found
above the declared quantity.

 Conclusion
How To Best Match Your Oils To Foods
All the tested brands fulfilled the minimum
The only way to ensure that you consume
requirements and can be considered safe for human
healthy oil is by switching between two-three of
consumption. Keeping in view the evaluation of test
them – for instance, by using groundnut oil one
results and overall grading, it can be concluded that
month and then using sunflower oil/mustard oil
most of the brands qualify to be in very good
in another. Any single oil alone is not preferred.
category and can be considered as a safe cooking
medium. Blending oils is another option, whereby you
take equal proportions of different oils in one
container and then use it. This way you do not
Shelf Life get prolonged exposure to the side effects of one
The declared shelf life of all tested brands type of oil and also get the benefits of different
is in the range of 6 to 9 months. Where oils.
the shelf life is six months, there is all the
more need for the consumer to be aware, You could also have two or more different
particularly if they are buying the large kinds of oils in your kitchen which you could use
pack of five litres or higher capacity. They for different purposes. For example, you could
must ensure that the oil remains stable use olive oil for salads, groundnut/rice bran oil
within the consumption period. for frying, and mustard/soybean/sunflower oil for
other cooking purposes. This will let you avail of
the health benefits offered by each oil brand.
MUFA, PUFA, Saturated Fats and Trans fat
Monounsaturated Polyunsaturated Saturated Trans
Good Fat Good Fat Bad Fat Bad Fat
Reduces bad cholesterol Reduces bad Increases overall Increases the bad
(LDL) levels and cholesterol (LDL) cholesterol levels, especially cholesterol (LDL) level
increases levels bad cholesterol and decreases good
good cholesterol cholesterol (HDL) levels
(HDL) levels
Found in nuts and seeds, Found in fatty Found in animal-based foods Found in hydrogenated
avocados, olive oil and fish such as such as meat, poultry and eggs, fat products such as
canola oil salmon, mackerel, and also in butter, cream and margarines and vegetable
trout and other dairy products shortenings
sardines, Also found in plant-based Used in packaged snack
and also in products such as coconut, foods such as cookies,
corn, safflower, coconut oil, palm oil and palm crackers and chips, and
sunflower and kernel oil, and cocoa butter in fried foods
soybean oils
CONSUMER VOICE OCTOBER • 15
2019