posted by PHILEOS EVOO on October 14, 2024
Labels tell us a lot about the products we're buying. Unfortunately, many of them are not what they purport to be. Olive oil fraud around the world has been rampant for many years, and has increased over the last two years due to the world record high prices of the liquid gold.
Therefore, when you make a trip to the grocery store you're probably asking yourself how do I know if the olive oil bottles on my favourite supermarket shelves are actually “extra virgin.” Many manufacturers mislabel their bottles as “extra virgin,” but in reality, the oil has either been tampered or diluted with sunflower, soybean, or other nut oils, or blended with low-grade oils that have ben disguised with chemicals like chlorophyll and beta-carotene to trick consumers. Furthermore, many producers who don't have access to large quantities of olive oil and are sourcing oil from countries all around the world who produce inferior grade extra virgin olive oil or do not adhere to strict manufacturing standards set by the European Union.
The fact remains that many North American consumers are used to fake extra virgin olive oils and have a difficult time distinguishing high quality extra virgin olive oil such as Phileos of Sparta or with a low quality oil. People think the stale taste or lack of distinct odour they're used to is what olive oil should taste like, however this is not the case. It should have a peppery and fruity taste such as our extra virgin olive oils. If you keep buying the fake stuff, you won’t be able to reap the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil, like protecting against heart disease, inflammation and high blood pressure. You’d just be consuming fat, instead of healthy fat. Once consumers try our Phileos of Sparta Premium Olive Oil they know immediately that are consuming quality.
So how can you tell if the olive oil is 100 percent authentic? Take a look at these simple tips below:
1. Smell and Taste It
True quality extra virgin olive oil should smell fresh, like grass or something fruity just like our Phileos. Avoid something that smells musty or rancid, or even odourless. In addition to smell, when you’re tasting olive oils you should recognize hints of grass, fruit, and almond. Plus, it’s a good sign if the oil tastes a bit bitter (but not too much) and also has a peppery taste as well (you might be able to feel it in the back of your throat). Don’t worry so much about colour—it can be everything from a greenish or straw hue.
The cause of the peppery taste and tickle in your throat is the presence of an abundance of healthy polyphenols. High phenol ic levels naturally protect an olive oils' longevity. This is what you experience when you try Phileos and what you should expect in a high quality healthy oil. The Koroneiki olives used for our extra virgin oils are very potent in the bioactive polyphenol compound hydroxytyrosol, which is highly immune-enhancing, anti-angiogenic, and helps protect your DNA from damage.Furthermore, the specific types of olives used to make it matter and have an effect on the quality of the oil they produce and its health benefits." In a nutshell, not all extra virgin olive oils are created equal!
2. Look at the Batch Date
This is not the same as an expiration date. Look at the bottle’s label for a “batch date,” "bottled date" or or “harvested date” that’s within 24 months. If it only has an expiration date and nothing else, you should consider not purchasing it because you could be purchasing olive oil that has been produced or bottled years before or sourced from other countries that produce lower quality olive oil. We at Phileos have noticed this practice at many supermarkets we have visited recently and are quite troubled by this. I have written about this in the past and you can read my article regarding this practice. Furthermore, avoid olive oil products that have the harvest date or production date stamped on the label in large text font with no expiration or best before date.
3. Pay Attention to How It’s Bottled
Olive oil should be stored in a dark, cool place, so if the bottle is clear, you’ll want to stay away from that brand altogether. A darker bottle or tin will help preserve the olive oil. Additionally, the olive oil should only be packaged in a glass bottle or tin to protect if from heat, light, or moisture —a plastic bottle is too porous to do this and therefore you should avoid buying.
4. Read Labels Carefully
Just because the olive oil says it was “packed” or “bottled” in a certain location, doesn’t mean the olives were grown there, or even that the oil was produced there. Olive oil could be made in a different country and then sent for bottling. Look at the label to find out exactly where the olive oil was produced. The best way to verify the origin of olive oil is to search for ones that have the European quality schemes such PGI or PDO logos on their labels. This recognition enables consumers to trust and distinguish quality products. It also ensures authenticity of the oil conferring quality, reputation and other characteristics are attributable to its geographical origin. Thus, the olive oil is what it claims to be!
Phileos of Sparta extra virgin olive oil products are Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and have been certified by AGROCERT, the premier national organization for certification and inspection of agricultural products.
In addition, the label should say “extra virgin,” and avoid any terms like “pure,” “light,” or “olive pomace oil”—that means it’s been chemically refined.
5. Price
“Early harvest” olive oil (which has the highest level of healthy polyphenols) is oil squeezed from the olive before the olive is ripe. An unripe olive yields much less olive oil but much higher quality oil. Since the manufacturer yields much less oil it makes the “juice” more expensive. If you’re buying at the grocery store, pay attention to the label and avoid bargain prices. Unfortunately, if it’s cheap, it might not be genuine olive oil—so think of it as an investment in your health!
With Phileos of Sparta you’ll always know you’re getting true, 100% organic, early harvest, high polyphenol content, extra virgin olive oil. Our olive oil is made in Greece with the olive trees and seeds used for production originating from our own trees. The oil is made from a single blend of Greek olives in small batches. When you purchase a bottle of our olive oil, you know you’re getting high-quality olive oil with amazing taste so you can happily recommend it to family and friends.