For many, tofu is a synonym for vegan or vegetarian diet. But now the ingredient is also popular with meat eaters. Stiftung Warentest has tested a total of 15 types of tofu for critical substances, taste and co. Read more about this here.
A vegan burger? Or vegan grilled sausages? If you think of tofu first, you are not fundamentally wrong. But vegan cuisine today has a lot more to offer than squared soybean curd. Whether pure or smoked: tofu is often used as an addition to soup or as a side dish to salad.
When properly prepared, tofu is a popular meat alternative and is no longer only popular with vegetarians and vegans, but is also popular with meat eaters. But how good is the tofu in the store?
Stiftung Warentest: Germs in Lidl tofu
In a test (10/2021), Stiftung Warentest examined a total of 15 types of tofu, including eight natural tofu, five smoked tofu and two silken tofu. Ten of the products come off “good”, but no tofu can get the top grade. Four more are still “satisfactory”. None of the tested products fail. In the Kato Organic Tofu Natur, however, the laboratory finds the mold toxin ochratoxin A, which is considered to be potentially carcinogenic.
In the Bio Organic Vemondo Vegan Tofu Natur from Lidl, an increased total germ count is also detected. The Lidl tofu is the only product that also has a notice that it should be heated before consumption and a use-by date instead of a best-before date.
Difference between use-by date and best-before date:
The best-before date guarantees that the product will retain its typical properties up to this point in time if stored correctly. Even after this date has passed, many foods can still be safely consumed. The use-by date, on the other hand, is used for perishable foods and specifies until when the product should be consumed. When the use-by date has expired, consumption can pose a health risk – Lidl tofu, for example, should then no longer be eaten.
Good tofu: Aldi and Kaufland are at the forefront
Overall, however, the tofu test draws a good balance. The “Taifun Tofu natur” (tofu varieties) works best view at Amazon) with an overall grade of 1.6. At around 0.85 euros per 100 grams, the winner is also the most expensive tofu in the test. The own brands from Rewe, Aldi and Co., which also do “well”, are much cheaper:
- Rewe Organic tofu natural, mild
- Aldi My veggie day natural vegan organic tofu, cut-resistant
- Kaufland Take it veggie organic tofu natural
- Kaufland Take it veggie organic smoked tofu