Britain has wholeheartedly embraced houmous, with annual spending on the dip now reaching a staggering £170 million. This surge in popularity has led to its inclusion in the official 'basket' of goods used to measure UK inflation, offering a revealing glimpse into the nation's evolving shopping habits. Statisticians note that this trend reflects a growing emphasis on healthier lifestyles, alongside items like non-alcoholic beer.
The Nutritional Power of Authentic Houmous
Traditionally made by blending cooked chickpeas with olive oil, tahini (sesame seed paste), garlic, cumin, lemon, and salt, houmous boasts significant health benefits. Chickpeas are a protein-rich legume high in fibre, which supports digestive health, helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and provides a good source of iron and other essential minerals.
Not All Houmous is Created Equal
However, a recent investigation by the Daily Mail has uncovered that not all supermarket houmous is equal nutritionally. Analysing 13 versions from major retailers like Morrisons, ASDA, and Tesco, the study found that only two—from Waitrose and M&S—adhered to a more authentic recipe. The others were often bulked out with cheaper oils and preservatives, even when marketed with claims of containing extra virgin olive oil.
Nutritionist Resource member Paul Evans explained, 'Many supermarket hummus products have moved away from the traditional recipe. In more processed versions, extra virgin olive oil is often replaced with cheaper oils such as sunflower or rapeseed oil, primarily to reduce costs and extend shelf life.'
He added, 'While these oils are not harmful, they are more refined and lack the beneficial compounds found in extra virgin olive oil, such as polyphenols. You may also notice added preservatives or acidity regulators in some products. Again, these are considered safe, but they indicate a more processed product designed for longevity rather than simplicity.'
What to Look For in Houmous
For consumers, a good rule of thumb is to seek out shorter ingredient lists with recognisable, whole-food ingredients, and ideally extra virgin olive oil. Products that stay closer to the traditional recipe are generally a better reflection of both the original food and its nutritional quality.
Supermarket Houmous Under the Microscope
Below, we assess some of the most popular versions from British supermarkets and the high street, with results that may surprise shoppers.
Not the 'Real Deal'
The houmous listed below has been dubbed 'not the real deal' because it contains either sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, or preservatives, which nutritionists argue deviate from the simple list of ingredients traditionally used in the dip.
Registered nutritionist Alexa Mullane said, 'Not all houmous is created equal. Most of the ones found in supermarkets use cheaper ingredients like rapeseed oil or sunflower oil, whereas traditional hummus is made with olive oil which not only tastes better but it also has a better nutritional profile. Many supermarkets also use preservatives like potassium sorbate in their products. They are generally recognised as safe but emerging evidence points to a link with allergic reactions and reduced bacterial diversity in the gut.'
- ASDA Classic Houmous 200g - PRICE: £1.40 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked Chickpeas (49%) [Chickpeas, Water], Water, Rapeseed Oil, Sesame Seed Paste (13%), Concentrated Lemon Juice (3%), Garlic Purée, Salt, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)
- Exceptional by ASDA Velvet Houmous 175g - PRICE: £2.72 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked Chickpeas (45%) [Chickpeas, Water], Water, Sesame Seed Paste (17%), Extra Virgin Olive Oil (4.8%), Concentrated Lemon Juice, Rapeseed Oil, Roast Garlic Purée, Salt, Onion Powder, Cumin Powder, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)
- Tesco Houmous 200g - PRICE: £1.30 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked Chickpeas (41%) [Water, Chickpeas], Rapeseed Oil, Water, Tahini Sesame Seed Paste (12%), Concentrated Lemon Juice, Garlic, Salt
- Waitrose Extra Virgin Olive Oil Houmous 200g - PRICE: £1.85 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked chickpeas (42%) (water, chickpeas), water, tahini (13%) (sesame seed paste), extra virgin olive oil (12%), rapeseed oil, concentrated lemon juice, salt, garlic
- Waitrose Essential Houmous 300g - PRICE: £1.85 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked chickpeas (47%) (water, chickpeas), water, rapeseed oil, tahini (12%) (sesame seed paste), concentrated lemon juice, garlic, salt
- Sainsbury's Houmous 200g - PRICE: 99p - INGREDIENTS: Cooked Chickpeas (52%) (Water, Chickpeas), Water, Tahini Sesame Seed Paste (13%), Rapeseed Oil, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Salt, Garlic, Preservative: Potassium Sorbate
- Morrisons Savers Houmous - PRICE: 95p - INGREDIENTS: Cooked Chickpeas (Water, Chickpeas), Water, Rapeseed Oil, Tahini Sesame Seed Paste, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Garlic, Salt, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)
- Sainsbury's Extra Smooth Houmous, Taste the Difference 170g - PRICE: £3.25 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked Chickpeas (45%) (Water, Chickpeas), Rapeseed Oil, Tahini Sesame Seed Paste (13%), Whole Chickpeas, Water, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (7%), Concentrated Lemon Juice, Garlic, Salt
- Ocado Houmous - PRICE: £1.40 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked Chickpeas (68%) [Water, Chickpeas], Rapeseed Oil, Tahini (7%) [Sesame Seed Paste], Water, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Garlic Purée, Salt, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)
- Morrisons Classic Houmous 200g - PRICE: £1.35 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked Chickpeas (Water, Chickpeas), Tahini Sesame Seed Paste, Rapeseed Oil, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Water, Garlic, Salt, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)
- Iceland Houmous 200g - PRICE: £1.85 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked Chickpeas (47%) (Chickpeas, Water), Rapeseed Oil, Sesame Seed Paste (13%), Water, Concentrated Lemon Juice (3%), Garlic Purée, Salt, Preservative: Potassium Sorbate
A Waitrose spokesperson commented, 'We aim to offer great quality and value - and these products are among our customers' favourites. Food lovers wanting a pure Olive Oil based product can choose our Waitrose No 1 Houmous.'
The 'Real Deal'
Nutritionist Alexa highlighted, 'The two healthiest houmous options in my opinion are Waitrose own made with extra virgin olive oil and M&S Extra Smooth. These both contain extra virgin olive but also contain no preservatives or acidity regulators. However, these are also two of the most expensive out of all the supermarket houmous offerings (because they’re using better quality ingredients).'
She added, 'If you want to choose a cheaper alternative then choose one with rapeseed oil as it has a better omega 3:6 ratio. If you’re eating moderate amounts of houmous and also including lots of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet (for example from oily fish), as part of a varied diet rich in fruit and vegetables, then eating houmous with seed oils and preservatives won’t do you any harm. Good health isn’t about one specific food it’s about the culmination of all your food and lifestyle choices.'
- Waitrose No.1 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Houmous 170g - PRICE: £2.95 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked chickpeas (42%) (water, chickpeas), extra virgin olive oil (24%), water, tahini (13%) (sesame seed paste), concentrated lemon juice, salt, garlic
- M&S Collection Extra Smooth Houmous 170g - PRICE: £3.15 - INGREDIENTS: Cooked Chickpeas (46%) (Water, Chickpeas), Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Tahini (Sesame Seed Paste) (11%), Water, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Garlic, Salt
