European consumer testing of cooked ham quality

Consumer investigations in France and Germany have evaluated the nutritional quality and taste of various supermarket cooked ham products.

In France, an investigation by 60 Millions de consommateurs into 15 ham varieties and six plant-based alternatives found widespread issues with high salt content, posing cardiovascular risks. The study noted that while some manufacturers are reducing traditional nitrites, others use vegetable broths rich in natural nitrates to maintain color, potentially creating a “marketing illusion” regarding “nitrite-free” labels. Private label brands generally outperformed major industry names like Herta, Fleury Michon, and Madrange in price-quality ratios.

In Germany, an ARD consumer test involving five products compared budget, premium, and organic options. Experts identified Aldi’s ‘Gut Drei Eichen’ and Edeka’s ‘Gut & Günstig’ as top performers. Conversely, more expensive brands received criticism: Rewe Bio was compared to a “pressed chicken nugget,” Herta was described as “too salty and dry,” and Alnatura was noted to taste more like sausage than ham.