14 BRANDS OF FAKE OLIVE OIL YOU NEED TO AVOID!

Olive oil is a Mediterranean delight with a long list of health benefits. It is rich in vitamin E and K as well as numerous healthy fatty acids such as omega-4 and omega-6. It also contains a high level of antioxidants that can fight numerous diseases and have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. According to recent studies, olive oil can regulate your blood pressure and prevent blood clots, while also keeping you safe from cardiovascular diseases. Incorporating it in your diet is of vital importance and according to some experts, the key for better health.

However, not all olive oil types are equal in quality. Cheaper brands are likely extracted with chemical processes and diluted, and buying the right type of oil is important to make sure you are healthy.

The adulteration process

Nicholas Blechman from the New York Times recently covered the adulteration process of olive oil. Most of the Italian oil present on the market comes from Morocco, Spain and Tunisia. The olives are first cleaned, crushed and pressed, then the oil is pumped into a tank and shipped to Italy, where shipments of soybean and other oils are also smuggled. Some producers cut the olive oil with cheaper oils, adding beta-carotene to disguise the flavor, as well as chlorophyll for fake color. These bottles are labeled “extra-virgin” and “Packaged in Italy” and shipped all around the world.

How to tell the difference?

Tests conducted by the UC Davis Olive Center have showed that 69% of the extra-virgin olive oil on the market is fake. The study examined 186 olive oil brands against the International Olive Council’s standards. Here are the brands that failed the test:

Pompeian

Filippo Berio

Bertolli

Colavita

Star

Lucini

Whole Foods

Newman’s Own

Safeway

Berio

Mozzola

Mezzetta

Great Value

Foods

The best way to ensure that you’re buying proper olive oil is to buy it from local producers that you trust. If that’s not an option, look for a third-party certificate on the label. For example, the California Olive Oil Council and the Australian Olive Association have trustworthy seals. If you’re buying a bottle of olive oil that says it’s packaged in Italy, try finding PDO or PGI seals that state the country of origin. Here’s a list of authentic olive oil brands taken from Tom Muller’s book “Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil”:

California Olive Ranch

O-Live

Corto Olive

Cobram Estate

Oleoestepa

Ottavio

Omaggio

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