Good vs. Bad Olive Oil - Must Read!

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Did you know that 70% of Olive oil available in stores in the US has actually been cut with cheaper, nastier oils – meaning its fake!

Olive oil is supposed to be a healthy, sustainable option, right? Well, not when it's mixed with other oils that don't have the same health benefits. Seven of the biggest olive oil manufacturers in the US have been cutting their products with cheaper, inferior oils (such as sunflower oil or canola oil) in order to minimize the cost of production. This comes at a huge cost to everyone else who invests in this healthy alternative.

How did the olive oil investigations begin? 
In 2008, over 400 Italian police officers participated in a major crackdown called “Operation Golden Oil.” This resulted in the seizure of 85 oil farms who were adding certain percentages of chlorophyll to sunflower and canola oil and selling it on as extra virgin olive oil. The oil was mixed, perfumed, colored and then flavored before being sold to the producer as “extra virgin.”

The Italian busts prompted the Australian government to investigate their own olive oil market, and indeed, after testing all of its brands’ “extra virgin olive oils” in their laboratories, none were given the 2012 certification for being a pure olive oil.

All of these scams prompted the University of California to carry out studies on 124 imported brands of extra virgin olive oil, and they found that over 70% of the samples failed the test.

The brands that failed the test:
  • Pompeian
  • Bertolli
  • Colavita
  • Star
  • Sasso
  • Antica Badia
  • Primadonna
  • Carapelli
  • Mazola
  • Felippo Berio
  • Safeway
  • Whole Foods
  • Carapelli
  • Coricelli
  • Mezzetta

The guys that passed the test and can be trusted:
  • Corto Olive
  • Ottavio
  • Omaggio
  • Bariani Olive Oil
  • Lucini
  • Kirkland Organic
  • Lucero
  • Olea Estates
  • McEvoy Ranch Organic
  • Cobram Estate
  • California Olive Ranch

Aside from the above brands, there are simple tests you can do at home to check whether your olive oil is pure or not. Place the bottle in the fridge for around 30 minutes and check if the oil is starting to solidify. If it does then it is a good indication that the oil contains a large amount of monounsaturated fat, which is exactly what extra virgin olive oil contains. If the oil doesn’t begin to show signs of solidification then its a good sign that the oil is fake. This is not a perfect test yet it is a good indicator if you are unsure about the quality of your oil. You can also look for official governmental seals of approval on the label, such as “Australian Extra Virgin Certified” and “California Olive Oil Council Certified Extra Virgin.
The LiveWell Vermont State Employees Wellness Program does not favor or endorse any specific brands.  Any listed are only examples and may be substituted with a similar product.

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