WHAT MAKES FINNISH OATS SPECIAL?
"Finnish Oats grow in long and light summer days and the grains become light in colour. During the winter time the Finnish soil is frozen which helps to keep the soil pure and clean."
WHAT CAN OATS BE USED FOR?
"Oats have traditionally been used in simple foods such as porridges and mueslis. Lately, the use of oats has spread enormously to foods such as oat based drinks and spoonable products. In cosmetics, the use of oat oil is growing partly due to availability and also because of interest in clean natural ingredients. The fatty acid composition of the oil is excellent, containing tocopherols, which are antioxidants, and linoleic acid, all of of which are beneficial for the skin."
PLEASE SHARE A FEW WORDS ON FAZER´S OAT BUSINESS AND SUSTAINABILITY
"At Fazer Mills we use a lot of oats. We process the oats gently, take away the hull and stabilize the grains. Grains are then rolled to flakes or further worked to separate oil, brans, flours and beta-glucans using every small part of the grain. The hulls are currently used for energy but Fazer is now taking next steps and will be the first in the world to produce xylitol from oat hulls."
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF OATS?
"Oats are a natural superfood and the beta glucan they contain has cholesterol lowering properties and is beneficial for the heart. Oat beta glucan can also help to reduce the blood sugar rise after meal. Packed with nutrients like fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals including zinc and iron, oats are a brilliant all-round cereal."
HOW IS FAZER'S OAT OIL MADE?
"For cosmetic use we produce the oil using gentle and sustainable supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. This ensures that there are no traces of solvents in the oil. Our oat oil is very natural and it is not raffinated or chemically treated."
THE OAT OIL WE USE IS ALSO EDIBLE - HOW CAN OAT OIL BE USED IN FOOD?
"Oat oil is an excellent and versatile ingredient and we are studying new features and possibilities of using it. Features include a beautiful oat flavour and scent - a real food enthusiasts delight."
Did you know that Finns have been growing oats since the 13th century and today, 13 per cent of all oats produced in the EU are grown in Finland? Oats have become increasingly popular over the past few years due to their recognised health benefits and a trend towards more natural foods. Fazer started its oat mill business in Lahti, Finland in 2013. In 2017 Fazer opened a new oat mill in Lahti to meet the growing consumer demand. Now Fazer is investing 30 million euros in expanding their mills in Lahti and Lidköping, Sweden, doubling their oat mill business.
Read more about Fazer Mills and their oat products here.
