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The Great Olive Oil Hoax – Have You Been Scammed?

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The bottle of extra virgin olive oil you have in your pantry that you purchased for health benefits is likely a fraudulent version of the real thing. It probably contains less olive oil that you would expect, as it has been mixed with colorants and inexpensive oils like sunflower seed oil. This is the dark side of the olive oil industry.

Fraud in the olive oil trade has been going on for centuries and is rampant, pervading a wide swatch of the industry due to lax government oversight and corrupt food inspection agencies. The hoax isn’t limited to companies in Europe but extends to those in the U.S. and Argentina as well. Consequently, consumers are being victims of fraud in not receiving the heart-healthy benefits that are only found in the real thing.

Labeling Fraud

Deceptive practices involve labeling in addition to the misrepresentation of the contents. While statements of geographic origin on the bottles may list countries such as Italy, Spain or Greece, you can’t depend on the accuracy of the labels. The oil was likely grown in another country with less expensive production costs but later shipped to one of these countries for bottling. This industry’s fraudulent system permits the country of bottling to be erroneously designated on the label as the country of origin.

Content Fraud – the Industry’s Dirty Secret

PRI reports one of the biggest scams in the industry is deodorized olive oil, which is oil made from rotten inedible olives. A refining process that leaves behind very few chemical tracks transforms the oil into one that is flavorless and colorless. Manufacturers commonly combine this vastly inferior product with a little of the real stuff and sell it as “extra virgin.”

How to Find the Real Thing

Taste: If possible, seek out specialty shops that permit you to taste the oil before purchasing. Unadulterated olive oil has a strong, peppery flavor and may elicit a cough or watery eyes when tasted straight from the bottle. If you get this response, it is an excellent sign the oil is authentic, full of flavor and health benefits.

Label: You may not have access to these shops and wonder how to purchase the real thing from the supermarket. Check the labels for a “best by” date. The farther out the date, the more likely it is fresh. You can also look for a label that says “produced and bottled” rather than the deceptive “produced bottled.”

Cost: Price is another indication of authenticity. Unfortunately, pure olive oil will be far more expensive than the diluted and adulterated versions, but like the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” Some smaller producers are attracting a customer base that doesn’t trust the mass-produced brands. An example of a quality product put out by such a company is Colonna’s Peranzana oil.

Look to the West: In 2012, Consumer Reports conducted a taste test of olive oils originating from around the globe. Out of the 23 samples tested, only 9 met the panel’s standards. The two that were rated excellent came from the U.S., one of which was from McEvoy Ranch in Petaluma, California. Of the six that were rated very good, three hailed from California. Although some Italian oils were rated highly, the findings show that it isn’t necessary to look for an Italian heritage to receive the best quality.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/24/opinion/100000002669859.app.html?_r=1

http://consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/09/how-to-find-the-best-extra-virgin-olive-oil/index.htm

http://www.forbes.com/sites/cathyhuyghe/2014/03/05/the-scam-of-olive-oil-and-its-antidote/

http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-01-31/italys-extra-virgin-olive-oil-isnt-always-so-virgin-or-so-italian

http://parade.condenast.com/272208/allieandmeluncorked/investigating-the-beautiful-production-and-occasional-dark-side-of-italian-olive-oil/

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/olive-oil-fraud-rampant-trade-agency-finds/story?id=20360276

image source: Crunchy Betty


Mary West is a natural health enthusiast, as she believes this area can profoundly enhance wellness. She is the creator of a natural healing website where she focuses on solutions to health problems that work without side effects. You can visit her site and learn more at http://www.alternativemedicinetruth.com. Ms. West is also the author of Fight Cancer Through Powerful Natural Strategies.



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