Did you know that up to 80% of olive oil is counterfeit? Manufacturers and sellers are adulterating and/or mislabeling the product. The said “olive oils” we are purchasing at stores and/or in restaurants may have other oils mixed in. Or be an entirely different oil itself! If you read by previous post “The Truth About Vegetable Oils” (https://lrxwellness.com/the-truth-about-vegetable-oils/) you know that olive oil is one of the healthiest options. So how do we know what is real and what is fake? And why are we in this predicament?

Over the past 10 years there have been increasing issues with olive oil production including: bacteria, droughts, and wildfires. In fact, in 2023 there was a worldwide shortage of olive oil due to wildfires (cough.. global warming). It has been said that production dropped 20-25%, increasing prices and fraudulent activity.

Where are these fake olive oils coming from?

Is your first thought the US? Surprisingly, many of the adulterated products are coming from European countries like Greece, Spain, and Italy! And unfortunately, fraudulent products are being sold all around us. “A recent study by the National Consumer League found that six of 11 bottles of extra virgin olive oil from three major retailers—Whole Foods, Safeway and Giant—failed to meet extra virgin requirements.”³

Back to the big question: how do we know if it’s real?

The Taste Test

Similar to a wine taste test:

1. Pour a small about of olive in a glass or on a spoon.
2. Sniff to detect aromas.
3. Swirl olive oil in and coat mouth.
4. Note the finishes.

**A real olive oil tastes good enough to sip!

What to look for:

• Aroma- Fresh, slightly grassy and/or fruity
• Taste- Slightly bitter. Hint of pepper (sign of polyphenols)
• Texture- Smooth, not greasy

What to avoid:

• Rancid smell
• Flavorless
• Greasy
• Separation

If you suspect an olive oil is fraud: return, inform, and demand a refund.

What else to look for:

• Dark bottle
• Glass bottle
• Certified quality stamp
• Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• Consider buying directly from reputable manufacturer
• Cost- higher quality typically costs more

Check out this site for a list of tested and found pure and authentic olive oils: https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/78-certified-pure-and-authentic-olive-oils

In Conclusion

As if choosing the most healthy cooking oil isn’t challenging enough, now we are talking fraudulent olive oils. Unfortunately, up to 80% of olive oil on the market is counterfeit. How do we know what is real vs fake? Prior to purchase there are things to look for such as bottle properties, quality stamp, EVOO, manufacturer and cost. Additionally, the classic taste test can tell you a lot about quality. Finally, there are companies that perform lab and taste testing, reporting the results. However, not every product and/or bottle is tested. As always, knowledge and advocacy are key. Next time you reach for that bottle of olive oil examine it and perform a taste test yourself.

As always please reach out with questions, comments, or for further discussion.

Lindsey, PharmD, BCPS

References

¹Citizens of Soil. (n.d.). The Fakes, the frauds, the scams: How to tell if your olive oil is the real deal. Citizens of Soil. https://www.citizensofsoil.com/blogs/news/olive-oil-fraud?srsltid=AfmBOoq70y51Hh7xOKfvIhyLL11V7pcWpk3rvHhHEn4NUQzbotTQi7aU

²Dell’Anna, A. (2024, January 15). Olive oil scams are proliferating: How to spot a fake extra-virgin?. Euro News. https://www.euronews.com/culture/2024/01/15/olive-oil-scams-are-proliferating-how-do-you-spot-a-fake-extra-virgin

³Rodriguez, C. (2024, February 20). The olive oil scam: If 80% is fake, why do you keep buying it?. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2016/02/10/the-olive-oil-scam-if-80-is-fake-why-do-you-keep-buying-it/?sh=7bf5b476639d