Once upon a time, during the Soviet era, sprats were considered a scarce product, almost a “bourgeois delicacy.”
Today, anyone can access them: go to any grocery store and buy some.
But the problem is different: is the product healthy? The fish seems to hint at the answer "yes", but the smoked product indicates a carcinogen.
Let's try to understand the key nuances of the issue together.
Benzopyrene
There is a claim circulating on the Internet that sprats contain a lot of benzopyrene, a combustion product.
Yes, it is indeed released during smoking, but other toxic compounds (scientists say there are about a dozen) also pose a potential danger.
Some of them are formed at high temperatures inside the product, others – during the decomposition of the fuel on which it is smoked.
Still others are present in raw or smoked fish in cases of microbial contamination.
The impact of all this “goodness” on a person usually manifests itself in the form of headaches, high blood pressure, and allergic reactions.
Scientists have conducted a special study, the results of which indicate that the risk of negative consequences from eating smoked fish and meat can be reduced to a minimum if you do not indulge in such food uncontrollably.
As for sprat oil, which some people eat separately (with bread, for example, or as an additive to salads), experts say that there is nothing wrong with it, but they still recommend not to overdo it.
What to look for when buying a product
Experts advise paying attention to the color of the sprats.
If the fish is heavily smoked and the filling is too dark, this may indicate an increased content of benzopyrene.
Ideally, you should see a jar of clear, transparent oil and golden fish laid out in neat rows.
The latter should be of the same size and not fall apart when placed on a fork.
Brief conclusion
So what do we get as a result? Sprats cannot be definitely called a harmful product, but at the same time it is not particularly healthy.
Although factors such as cooking method, place of production, smoking method, etc., can add a few minuses to the “healthiness” column.
Previously, we talked about what foods you shouldn’t eat in the afternoon if you have sleep problems.
