What is Ovomaltina?
Ovomaltine is a product that is part of breakfast foods, although its use appears to be aimed more generally at the formulation of a specific beverage.
D. Pimborough / Shutterstock.com
Ovomaltine is a lyophilized powder intended for instant solution in a liquid, generally consisting of water or milk. Today, the "ovomaltine" brand also produces many other foods (drinks, bars etc.), widespread in Europe and in the world.
The ovomaltine is based on malt extract (except for a US type, recognizable by its blue color), added sugar (except the one produced in Switzerland) and whey; some varieties also contain bitter cocoa. However, we invite you to check the ingredients on the label, as the ingredients and the consequent nutritional analysis may have changed compared to the last revision of the article.
"Ovomaltine" is a trademark registered by "Associated British Foods". It is produced by "Wander AG", a subsidiary of "Twinings" (in Neuenegg, in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland) which in 2003 acquired the trademark from "Novartis"; however, in the United States, the rights were acquired separately from "Nestlé".
Despite being of Swiss origin, the ovomaltine is quite widespread also in Italy, where its consumption is mainly associated with the feeding of the child (instead of soluble coffee).
In recent years, the general consumption of ovomaltine has been partially replaced by barley coffee (different food) and cocoa powder.
In Switzerland, the ovomaltine enjoys great popularity; its spread exploded in 1980, with the advertising slogan "Hesch Dini Ovo Hut scho gha?", a sort of password that soon became the commercial symbol of the product.
Ovomaltine: What is it made of?
The ovomaltine contains the ingredients: barley, skimmed milk powder, de-oiled cocoa powder, whey powder, glucose syrup, eggs (ONLY in Switzerland) and honey.
Not by chance, the name of the ovomaltine is the result of the union: ovum (egg in Latin) and malt (English malt).
The ovomaltine is ready for consumption after mixing with milk, but some prefer it dissolved in water. The high percentage of malt gives the ovomaltina a characteristic taste to say the least.
The ovomaltine Switzerland is marketed in almost 100 countries in the world, but with a recipe that is always different because it is adapted to the tastes and legislation of the consumer nations.
The international ovomaltine is sweetened with granulated white sucrose (sugar) but, as anticipated, it does NOT include the addition of eggs.
In Great Britain, America, Africa, South America and Asia, ovomaltine is available with a modified recipe called " Ovaltine ".
The ovomaltine provides about 365kcal per 100g of powder, therefore 66kcal per recommended portion (about 18g).
The drink was originally developed as a "remedy" intended for "undernourished or generally weak" people, although the catchment area was rapidly extended to the general population thanks to the "healthy and nutritious" food concept (Getränk für die ganze Familie or "To drink for the whole family").
The brand has also developed several alternatives, easier to transport and consume, as well as belonging to different categories. Among these: snacks ("ovo sport", "choc ovo" etc.), muesli, chocolate bars, drinks ("ovo drink"), ice creams ("Ovaltine Crunchy Cream" or "Ovomaltine Crunchy Ice) etc.
Nutritional Features
Ovomaltine is a sweet food, with a fairly high energy intake. Calories come mainly from carbohydrates, followed by some proteins and few lipids.
Carbohydrates should be predominantly simple (maltose) and / or semi-complex (maltodextrin). These give the food a high glycemic index, making it unsuitable for the diet for diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia and overweight; on the contrary, the ovomaltine could find an interesting application in the sportsman's nutrition before the performance.
The fibers are present but in small quantities.
Nutritional values | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nutritional Composition for 100g of "Ovomaltina" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The protein intake is difficult to assess, as there are various types of ovomaltine; specifically, some involve the use of eggs and others do not. In the presence of this ingredient, peptides should have a high biological value; on the contrary, they would be deficient in some essential amino acids. In all likelihood, the values quoted below refer to a type of ovomaltine without eggs.
There is little to specify on lipids. They are quantitatively insignificant and the prevalence of fatty acids is saturated; cholesterol appears to be absent.
With regard to mineral salts, ovomaltine is very rich in several elements, even those mentioned in the table: calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper and selenium. As for vitamins, ovomaltine is abundant in thiamine (vit B1), niacin (vit PP), riboflavin (vit B2), ascorbic acid (vit C) and retinol equivalent (pro vit A). These are nutrients likely added, but which make the ovomaltine a food with properties similar to a real food supplement.
The ovomaltine is suitable for every type of nutritional need, except for:
- Subjects suffering from some types of renal filtration disorders (due to the high concentration of some salts)
- Vegans (while it has no contraindication to vegetarian or vegetarian eggs)
- Lactose intolerant
- Celiacs
- Overweight, hypertriglyceridemic, hyperglycemic and type 2 diabetics.
The average portion of ovomaltine is about 5-10g (20-40kcal).
Criticisms
The first negative observation that experts in nutrition and health address to international ovomaltine concerns the amount of simple carbohydrates in the powder (disaccharide monosaccharides).
In a statement "from the Organization of German Consumers", it is stated that ovomaltine contains above all (and too many) carbohydrates (sugar, glucose syrup and honey). This also explains the high energy content of the food, which is also considered rather excessive.
The ovomaltine cannot therefore be used as a customary drink, much less as a thirst quencher instead of water.
