Is YOUR houmous the real deal?

Britain has taken houmous to its heart. Some £170million a year is now spent on the dip, leading to its addition in the 'basket' of goods used to measure UK inflation.

The annual update gives an insight into the shopping habits of Britons - with statisticians saying spending on healthier lifestyles is getting more emphasis, reflected by goods such as houmous and non-alcoholic beer.

Made by blending cooked chickpeas with olive oil, tahini (sesame seed paste), garlic, cumin, lemon and salt, houmous has much to recommend it for your health.

Chickpeas are a protein-rich legume high in fibre - important for digestive health, lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels - and a good source of iron and other minerals.

But not all houmous is equal nutritionally. The Daily Mail looked at 13 supermarket versions from the likes of Morrisons, ASDA and Tesco - and found that only two - from middle-class favourites Waitrose and M&S - followed a more authentic recipe.

The others were bulked out with cheap oils and preservatives - even some offerings that boasted of containing a 'drizzle' of extra virgin olive oil then included the likes of rapeseed oil.

Nutritionist Resource member Paul Evans said: 'Many supermarket hummus products have moved away from the traditional recipe.

'In more processed versions, extra virgin olive oil is often replaced with cheaper oils such as sunflower or rapeseed oil, primarily to reduce costs and extend shelf life.'

Not all houmous is equal nutritionally. The Daily Mail looked at 13 supermarket versions (pictured) from the likes of Morrisons, ASDA and Tesco - and found that only two - from middle-class favourites Waitrose and M&S - followed a more authentic recipe

The registered nutritionist added: 'While these oils are not harmful, they are more refined and lack the beneficial compounds found in extra virgin olive oil, such as polyphenols.

'You may also notice added preservatives or acidity regulators in some products. Again, these are considered safe, but they indicate a more processed product designed for longevity rather than simplicity.

'For consumers, a good rule of thumb is to look for shorter ingredient lists with recognisable, whole-food ingredients, and ideally extra virgin olive oil.

'Products that stay closer to the traditional recipe are generally a better reflection of both the original food and its nutritional quality.'

Below, we assess some of the most popular versions from British supermarkets and the high street - and the results will surprise you.

NOT THE 'REAL DEAL'

The houmous below has been dubbed 'not the real deal' because it contains either sunflower oil, rapeseed oil or preservatives, which nutritionists claim take it away from the simple list of ingredients traditionally used in the dip.

Registered nutritionist Alexa Mullane said: 'Not all houmous is created equal. Most of the ones found in supermarkets use cheaper ingredients like rapeseed oil or sunflower oil, whereas traditional hummus is made with olive oil which not only tastes better but it also has a better nutritional profile.

'Many supermarkets also use preservatives like potassium sorbate in their products. They are generally recognised as safe but emerging evidence points to a link with allergic reactions and reduced bacterial diversity in the gut.'

A Waitrose spokesperson said: 'We aim to offer great quality and value - and these products are among our customers' favourites. Food lovers wanting a pure Olive Oil based product can choose our Waitrose No 1 Houmous.'

THE 'REAL DEAL'

Nutritionist Alexa said: 'The two healthiest houmous options in my opinion are Waitrose own made with extra virgin olive oil and M&S Extra Smooth. These both contain extra virgin olive but also contain no preservatives or acidity regulators.

'However, these are also two of the most expensive out of all the supermarket houmous offerings (because they're using better quality ingredients).

'If you want to choose a cheaper alternative then choose one with rapeseed oil as it has a better omega 3:6 ratio.

'If you're eating moderate amounts of houmous and also including lots of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet (for example from oily fish), as part of a varied diet rich in fruit and vegetables, then eating houmous with seed oils and preservatives won't do you any harm.

'Good health isn't about one specific food it's about the culmination of all your food and lifestyle choices.'