CLAIM
A study showed 69% of all store-bought extra virgin olive oils in the US are ‘probably fake.’ See Example(s)
RATING
MIXTUREWHAT’S TRUE
Testing carried out in 2008 and 2010 reported that some popular olive oil brands did not meet the criteria to be labeled as “extra virgin.”
WHAT’S FALSE
Tests did not show that 69% of the olive oil sold in the U.S. is made wholly or primarily from something other than olives.
ORIGIN
In early March 2015, an article titled “Fake Olive Oil: What You Need to Know [Now]” began circulating via social media, focusing on the health benefits of olive oil and making the claim that 69% of store-bought olive oils are “probably fake.”
Predictably the claim was well-circulated among health buffs, as olive oil is prized for its status as a heart-healthy food. The prospect of counterfeit olive oil caused many diners to wonder what might be lurking in their bottles of Bertolli and whether there was cause for concern over adulterants and impurities.
Given the wording of that article, […]
I lived in Italy for several years. During that time, I was informed that the purest/finest olive oil was dark green. Since then, I’ve avoided the lighter oils.
I have the same experience, having lived in Italy for four years. The article mentioned chlorophyll being added, so hard to know if the color alone is enough to judge. The UC Davis study in 2011 was a sensory test for extra virgin, so I guess you could add smell and taste to your criteria. Good to see today’s update, as yesterday’s article was a mix of truth and hoax. There is at least the refrigerator test we can do, if the oil becomes cloudy. And to look for certification and/or organic certified brands. I’m sure we would all appreciate a more recent and thorough test. Maybe there is something from within the EU.
1 Aug 17
I didn’t understand your “update” on your olive oil article from the day before. Bottom line: is the list of adulterated and the list of genuine companies accurate or not? I have to know which brands I can buy and which to avoid. I would appreciate any clarification you can give me.
The list is accurate. The correction was that the claim that 69% were adulterated was more nuanced than the first story reported.