Why is it important to know your olive oil source?
(Just want to know where to get it? Click here for where to get REAL olive oil.)
Well it turns out that those in the vaccine industry aren't the only ones that we have to be concerned about when it comes to deception and cover ups, the olive oil industry is known for pulling some fast ones as well…
A class action lawsuit against the maker of Bertolli and Carapelli brand olive oils will continue after a California federal judge turned down the company’s request to dismiss the lawsuit, which alleges that it has deceived customers about the quality of its olive oil.
Koller alleges that the phrase “extra virgin” to describe the olive oil is misleading since they are added to a refined oil. In addition, the bottle it comes in is unable to protect the oil from damage that can be caused by heat and sunlight.
“Koller further contends that both ‘extra virgin’ and non-extra virgin olive oil products are deceptively marketed as ‘imported from Italy,’ when in fact the olives used to make the oil come from any of a number of other countries,” the federal judge explains. (Source: Olive Oil Lawsuit.)
That's not all.
For the first time Italians are now buying not just Greek olive oil, but also Greek olives, to be pressed in Italy. (Source.) The oxidation of an olive goes up immediately after picking, so shipping to another country to press makes no sense. To achieve the mild taste that people want, companies will then be even more likely to cut the oil with cheaper vegetable oils, and we definitely do NOT want to ingest dangerous vegetables oils!
If you want to read more about the “Olive Oil Mafia”, get this book: “Extra Virginity, the Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil.” It's veeeeery interesting and reads like a suspense novel.
And then there's the good stuff that we buy…
We love this organic extra virgin olive oil not just because of the taste (some have a weird flavor don't you think? This stuff is amazing!), but also because I know and trust Norm and Kathy and Greg at Radiant Life, who have personally visited the family who grow the olives!
Click here for where to get real olive oil.
Be sure and tell your friends. 🙂
Bette says
This controversy has confused me. It seems from my reading that the refined oil they are complaining about may be made from olives. If so, then it wouldn’t be coming from corn, canola, or soy, which seem to be the main bugaboos. Is it not made from olives? Wouldn’t refined olive oil still be mainly not polyunsaturated, and not GMO?
KitchenKop says
My concern is that the lesser quality oil WOULD be corn, cottonseed, canola or soy though.
Kelly
Bette says
That was my concern too, but when I read the court filing, they didn’t seem to be discussing olive oil vs. non-olive oil, they were discussing Greek olives vs. Italian and the question of was it really “extra virgin”.
In my other reading, I’ve heard then complain about using lower quality olive oil, and a very low quality olive oil called lampinate (apparently supposed to be used in lamps). I wonder if the refined oil they are discussing is refined olive oil, which is of course a lower quality oil, but maybe a better choice than some other cheap oils. I wish I knew how to get some clarity on this, because the oils that these lawyers want me to buy are way out of my budget, so I’ve been avoiding olive oil altogether. This is frustrating, because it means I can’t have salad dressing, and salads taste gross without salad dressing, so I don’t eat them either.
KitchenKop says
There ARE safe olive oils out there though, see the links in the post to find them! Also, you should read the book I mention in the post too, so much good info in there, you’ll like it. 🙂
Kelly
Bette says
The olive oils in the links are incredibly expensive. I can’t buy them. That’s why I don’t use olive oil at all. I’m tempted sometimes to get the oils they rail against, because they have a better chance of being made with olives than Wesson, and given false advertising laws, I’d say a very good chance. If you follow your link, you’ll notice that the lawsuit has been completed, and they are paying people in the class, so those brands have probably fixed at least their labels if not their oil.
Gudrun B says
some local markets also have “real” olive oil – I get mine through my daughter who buys from a Lebanese retailer (or some thing like that) It does have a stronger taste than the stuff you get at the grocery store for sure; it also is not filtered and has some sediment. Unfortunately those markets are only around larger metropolis areas, not out in the country.
Nice report, Kelly!
Gudrun Bender via Facebook says
money money money makes the world go round!
have to read the article yet, but where is the truth in advertising????? silly me, this is not wonderland, it is greedland!
Debbie Tuttle Casper via Facebook says
This is very disappointing!
Stephanie says
Any Canadians know a good brand that is recommended and available around here (more specifically Atlantic Canada). The shipping is outrageous on the American brands to get them here!