Most Extra Virgin Olive Oil is actually fake or blended oil

[Melensdad]

No surprise that government is to blame for much of this as most of the EVOO is made in the European Union and they have a complex and easily circumvented 'compliance' process that has been compromised by criminal organizations. You would think that buying your Olive oil from a nation like Greece or Italy, which are known for olives, might be a guarantee, but that is simply false.

If you are a fan of olive oils, the purest oils are actually made in America.

Full story at the link:

https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2022/08/02/is_most_extra_virgin_olive_oil_fake_845606.html

Is Most Extra Virgin Olive Oil Fake?​

Ross Pomeroy​

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Twelve years ago, a study shook the faith of many foodies. Researchers with the University of California-Davis partnered with Australian scientists to determine whether extra virgin olive oils sold in California stores actually met the definition of "extra virgin". They found that "69% of imported oils sampled, compared with just 10 percent of the California-produced oils sampled, failed to meet internationally accepted standards for extra virgin olive oil."​

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A 2017 investigation of extra virgin olive oils sold in Danish markets confirmed the fraud as a global affair. Only six of the 35 products scrutinized were actually extra virgin.​

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Extra virgin olive oil is considered to be the top grade of olive oil, and thus commands a premium price on the market. According to the International Olive Oil Council, extra virgin olive oil can only be extracted from olives via physical means. . . ​

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By and large, the reason that most "extra virgin" olive oils don't live up to their labels is not due to snooty taste testers or overly stringent chemical requirements, but adulteration with cheaper, refined olive oils or even entirely different oils. Sunflower, corn, palm, rapeseed, hazelnut, soybean, and even peanut oils are often mixed in.​

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About 64% of the world's olive oil is produced within the European Union, featuring a lengthy, diffuse supply chain prone to fraud. Criminal organizations have been known to get in on the scam, adding green dye to sunflower oil then selling it to retailers and business-to-business suppliers. . .​

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To ensure that your extra virgin olive oil is authentic, the best action you can probably take is to buy products made in America, at least until the EU implements additional quality control measures.​

 

[XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq]

I think this happens in a lot of food industries these days. Kind of like these local wineries that sell their "house" brand of wine that might be 10% their own juice and most of it is just whatever they can get from some bulk supplier.

 

[chowderman]

Europe / EU has rafts of regulations and quality standards - but Europe, just like the US, has lots of crooks.
California has a big 'certification' program, and a "seal" - faked seals have been found since year 1 of the program....

 

[Melensdad]

Europe / EU has rafts of regulations and quality standards - but Europe, just like the US, has lots of crooks.
California has a big 'certification' program, and a "seal" - faked seals have been found since year 1 of the program....

Every program can be faked.

But various tests have shown that US product more likely to be 'as advertised' while EU based products are more likely to be 'fake' products.

 

[chowderman]

I did a lot of research into 'the problem' some years back when it initially blew up.
as I recall most of the dilution/adulteration problems remained in Europe, because if it was found in USA the importer would be required to do a recall.

that said, the definition of "extra virgin" has long been - let's see, how do politicians put it . . . . errr, "flexible"
the kick off:

https://olivecenter.ucdavis.edu/media/files/report041211finalreduced.pdf

Note 1: currently there are (at least) four different "standards" for chemical testing -
International Olive Council (IOC), a US / California standard, a German standard, an Australian standard.
Note 2: the various standards do not agree on what to test, nor how to test it, nor the "acceptable" results.

this was a follow up

Italian Olive Oil Scam: See the Olive Oil Brands That Failed the Tests

Be aware of deceptive labeling. Many olive oils are mixed with hydrogenated oils and GMO oils which are bad oils. Even if they come from Italy.

deeprootsathome.com

my take away was:
"The report details that while "top selling brands" pass "most" of the chemical testing, they fail in the sensory tests. This indicates to me "they really don't know what their doing" - in a nice kind of way."

 

[waybomb]

I wish I had an extra virgin.

 

[Umberto]

I wish I had an extra virgin.