A recent investigation in the olive oil market revealed that most olive oil brands are fake, with the 7 biggest producers in the USA being on the top of the list. These producers mix their olive oil with cheap vegetable oils, delivering a product of low quality that’s selling for a top price.
The investigation found out that about 70% of the olive oil in the USA is fake and cut with canola or sunflower oil. The investigation was based on a previous 2008 investigation which took place in Italy and seized 85 farms who were selling “organic” olive oil. The oil was mixed with cheap oils while also being flavored and scented, and after 2012, not one brand got the certificate of approval again.
The University of California tested more than 120 brands of olive oil present on the American market and revealed that 70% of the samples were fake. Here are the brands that passed and didn’t pass the test:
PASSED
Colavita
Sasso
AnticaBadia
Star
Whole Foods
FelippoBerio
Carapelli
Mezzetta
Pompeian
Mazola
Primadonna
Bertolli
Safeway
Coricelli
FAILED
California Olive Ranch
Lucini
OttavioCobram Estate
Olea Estates
Kirkland Organic
Lucero
McEvoy Ranch Organic
Corto Olive Omaggio
Bariani Olive Oil
If you want to test the quality of your own olive oil, you can do it at home. Just put the bottle you’ve bought in the fridge for 30 minutes and see if it solidifies – if it does, the oil is pure and rich in saturated fats. Fake brands of olive oil don’t solidify, but in order to be sure you should look for the certification seal of approval on the label.
