Sofficini: too fatty and with unhealthy ingredients

Sofficini have two advantages: they're easy to cook and much loved by children, thanks in part to targeted marketing campaigns. But what's in them? And what are the questionable ingredients found in these products? Let's start with the average values: 100 grams of sofficini contain approximately 250 calories, 15 grams of fat, 20 grams of carbohydrates, and 10 grams of protein. They also contain a generous amount of salt, averaging 2 grams per piece. This means that sofficini are a high-calorie food, high in salt, and low in protein. Specifically, a standard serving of Findus sofficini, which generally corresponds to two pieces, can range from about 400 to 600 calories, depending on flavor and cooking method (the fried version obviously contains more calories).

And starting with the market leader, Findus, the monthly magazine Il Salvagente, through some tests and the information indicated on the labels, discovered a series of ingredients that are certainly unhealthy in various Italian-made soft cheeses.

• Findus Sofficini in the basic version. The two key ingredients, mozzarella and tomato, are combined with an above-average, and therefore excessive, amount of rapeseed oil. Ham versions, always paired with mozzarella, contain glucose syrup and polyphosphates, which have also been eliminated from the production of industrially produced cooked hams, as they are considered harmful to health.
• Panzerotti Bofrost and Conad. In both cases, an excessive presence of lard is detected, which is used for its ability to withstand cooking at high temperatures, and is a very rich source of saturated fats and cholesterol.
• Panciottini from Tre Mulini (Eurospin). They contain non-high oleic sunflower oil (the smoke point must necessarily be low) and corn starch, an additive that helps to preserve the shape and consistency of the product, but also leads to a rapid increase in the glycemia.
• Bonduelle Cuddles. Along with the vegetables, we also find cornstarch and yeast extract, a flavor enhancer that in turn contains monosodium glutamate.
• Coop and Conad Ascolana olives. Along with the olives, there are also minced beef and pork, processed with the preservative sodium nitrite.

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