The Truth Behind the Olive Oil Scam

How to Ensure You're Getting Genuine Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Olive oil, known for its health benefits, is unfortunately not immune to deceit within the food industry. The olive oil scam involves deceptive practices that mislead consumers into purchasing lower-quality or entirely different oils than what is advertised on the label.

According to some reports and industry experts, estimates range widely, suggesting that anywhere from 50% to 80% of the olive oil sold globally might be adulterated or mislabeled in some form.

Understanding the Olive Oil Scam:

The olive oil scam encompasses various fraudulent tactics, primarily:

• Adulteration with Cheaper Oils: Fraudulent producers dilute genuine olive oil with cheaper oils like sunflower, soybean, or canola oil.
• Misleading Labels: Deceptive labeling misrepresents the product's quality and authenticity. Terms such as "extra light", “light”, “pure” can mislead consumers into believing they're purchasing healthy olive oil when, in reality, it's been stripped of its nutritional value.

How Does This Happen?

The olive oil scam arises from several contributing factors:

• Rancid Olives: Some manufacturers use rancid or low-quality olives to produce oil, compromising its taste and quality.
• Cut with Seed Oils: Fraudulent producers cut genuine olive oil with cheaper seed oils to increase volume and profits, resulting in an adulterated product.
• Lack of Regulation: The olive oil industry lacks stringent regulations and oversight, enabling fraudulent practices to persist.
• Mixed Origins: Olive oils often contain blends from various regions, making it easier for producers to mask inferior quality oils within the mixture.

What to Look For?

To ensure the purchase of genuine extra virgin olive oil, consider the following steps:

• Single-Origin: Look for olive oil that comes from a single region or source, ensuring consistency and authenticity. 100% California VS Argentina, California, & Greece.
• Dark Glass Bottle: Opt for olive oil packaged in dark glass bottles or stainless steel to protect it from light exposure, preserving its quality. You want to store it in a dark, cool place aka not next to the hot stove. Avoid anything in plastic or see-through/clear bottles.
• Organic Certification: Choose organic extra virgin olive oil, as it's produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, maintaining its purity.
• Cold Pressed: Seek "cold-pressed" olive oil, as this extraction method retains the oil's natural flavors and nutritional benefits.
• Extra Virgin: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the highest grade and most superior quality of olive oil. It's extracted solely by mechanical means, without the use of heat or chemicals.
• Recently Harvested: Check for the harvest date on the bottle, aiming for recent harvests to ensure freshness and quality. Check if it has an expiration date at least one year out.

Taste / Smell Test:

To conduct a taste test and check the smell of olive oil for authenticity:

• Taste Test: Take a small sip of the olive oil. Genuine olive oil may have a slightly bitter or peppery taste at the back of your throat and slightly burn due to its polyphenol content. Adulterated or low-quality oil may taste flat or greasy.
• Smell Check: A genuine olive oil should have a fresh, fruity aroma. Put a small amount in a glass, warm it slightly by covering the glass with your hand, then uncover and smell it. High-quality olive oil might have hints of grass, herbs, or ripe fruit. Fake or old oil may have a musty or rancid smell.

Best Brands We Love:

• PJ Kabos Family Reserve Organic

• Kosterina Organic Everyday Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Flamingo Estate Heritage Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• La Tourangelle Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Jovial 100% Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Keros Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

• Lucini’s Everyday Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Masseria Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Terra Delyssa Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Other Options: 

• California Olive Ranch 100% California (checks all boxes but not organic)
• Brightland (checks all boxes but not organic)