Olive Oil Warning

LaVieEnRaw
LaVieEnRaw Posts: 74
edited October 7 in Food and Nutrition
I was really surprised by this myself, being that I am an avid EVOO lover. But I was watching a documentary the other day, and they were talking about how many companies sell olive oil that isn't olive oil at all, in fact it's mostly canola oil. I just figured it was a crock, but when I pulled out my own bottle that I had bought at Ralphs market, the ingredients read both olive oil and canola oil, but it was being advertised as olive oil. One of the factors that really gave it away is that real olive oil is not "cold pressed" which was also on the bottle in my pantry. There's also a noticeable difference in smell, the fake stuff smells a bit corny, whereas the real stuff smells fresh and a bit fruity. Just thought I'd let everyone know!
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Replies

  • Shoechick5
    Shoechick5 Posts: 221 Member
    Not sure where you're getting your data from but REAL olive oil is certainly cold pressed.
  • SteveO390
    SteveO390 Posts: 18 Member
    Do you happen to have the title of the documentary?
  • LaVieEnRaw
    LaVieEnRaw Posts: 74
    @Shoechick Yea, I just looked it up and you are right, I think I just heard the information wrong the first time around. But yea, my olive oil was definitely not olive oil, which really surprised me.

    @Steve I'm thinking it was Foodmatters, and here's the website: http://www.foodmatters.tv/
    BUT at the time I was on a mass documentary spree, and I also watched some episodes of How Stuff Works among other things. But I'm pretty confident it was in Foodmatters.
  • bert16
    bert16 Posts: 726 Member
    My mom was just reading a book about this... who knew there was so much scandal in the world of olive oil!
  • LaVieEnRaw
    LaVieEnRaw Posts: 74
    Yea, I think Tom Mueller wrote a book about it, maybe that was the one she read! Here's another link on fake olive oil with a quote from the book:
    http://naturalsociety.com/olive-oil-you-buy-is-often-low-quality-and-fake/
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    I was really surprised by this myself, being that I am an avid EVOO lover. But I was watching a documentary the other day, and they were talking about how many companies sell olive oil that isn't olive oil at all, in fact it's mostly canola oil. I just figured it was a crock, but when I pulled out my own bottle that I had bought at Ralphs market, the ingredients read both olive oil and canola oil, but it was being advertised as olive oil. One of the factors that really gave it away is that real olive oil is not "cold pressed" which was also on the bottle in my pantry. There's also a noticeable difference in smell, the fake stuff smells a bit corny, whereas the real stuff smells fresh and a bit fruity. Just thought I'd let everyone know!
    By 100% virgin olive oil - it's great with nothing added.

    Here is an article outlining this scam.
    http://www.peak-health-now.com/olive-oil-scams.html
  • vzucco
    vzucco Posts: 229
    I'm going to check my pantry right this second!
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    One of the factors that really gave it away is that real olive oil is not "cold pressed" which was also on the bottle in my pantry.

    As people have already noted, olive oil is indeed cold pressed. Not to be snarky, but wouldn't the real giveaway be the ingredients list? As a general principle/pet peeve, I'm continually amazed by the number of people who are "surprised" by things clearly printed on food labels. Think the "shock" that Vitamin Water was pretty much sugar water.
  • Elleinnz
    Elleinnz Posts: 1,661 Member
    I actually just read this article - with actual data and examples on Charles Poliquin's site last night - lots of food for thought....

    If you google - you should find it:

    charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article/786/Is_Your_Olive_Oil_Extra_Virgin
  • tamiesue2
    tamiesue2 Posts: 149 Member
    I read ALL food labels, and unfortunately, even that isnt good enough. I just posted a comment the other day on I Cant Believe its Not Butter spray, it says its ) calories, but the whole container actually contains over 800 calories and 91 grams of fat, the food industry has its loop holes!!
  • jeshutt
    jeshutt Posts: 19 Member
    Not sure where you're getting your data from but REAL olive oil is certainly cold pressed.

    Not any more. Most oil is extracted by centifruge. Some smaller companies still cold press, but using centrifuge doesn't affect the quality of the oil. The words you need to look for are 'Extra Virgin'.
  • icemaiden17_uk
    icemaiden17_uk Posts: 463 Member
    Thats nothing!! Have you looked to see if vegetable oil actually contains vegetable oil recently? 95% of it is actually Rapeseed Oil wich is bad for us and the environment! I wont buy the stuff at all and since when is a sickly yellow flower a vegetable?

    Before anyone pipes up and says that Rapeseed Oil is good for you I will leave you to your oplion but hundreds of horses die each year due to breathing problems caused by Oil Seed Rape nearby and many more people develop alergies because of Oil Seed Rape. This is not a scientific fact or anything just something I know from living where I do and knowing people who own or look after horses
  • LaVieEnRaw
    LaVieEnRaw Posts: 74
    One of the factors that really gave it away is that real olive oil is not "cold pressed" which was also on the bottle in my pantry.

    As people have already noted, olive oil is indeed cold pressed. Not to be snarky, but wouldn't the real giveaway be the ingredients list? As a general principle/pet peeve, I'm continually amazed by the number of people who are "surprised" by things clearly printed on food labels. Think the "shock" that Vitamin Water was pretty much sugar water.

    I completely agree with you. It's really a sad thing that we do not question where our food comes from, much less what it contains. We give in too much to what is being sold and accept it for what it is, then question why our bodies are so unhealthy. The minute I realized this, I began reading every food label to make sure that no chemicals go into my body.
  • LauraRose03
    LauraRose03 Posts: 140
    I read ALL food labels, and unfortunately, even that isnt good enough. I just posted a comment the other day on I Cant Believe its Not Butter spray, it says its ) calories, but the whole container actually contains over 800 calories and 91 grams of fat, the food industry has its loop holes!!

    Omg! What?!? I love that stuff!
  • ShapeUpSidney
    ShapeUpSidney Posts: 1,092 Member
    Not sure where you're getting your data from but REAL olive oil is certainly cold pressed.

    thank you! i was going to say the same!
  • Sharon91606
    Sharon91606 Posts: 14
    Thanks for the post - I use EVOO alot in my cooking - good to know and will keep and eye out - getting ready to restock this weekend.
  • ambervargo
    ambervargo Posts: 67 Member
    I would never think to look for ingredients on an olive oil bottle, I would have assumed it would just read "Ingredients: olive oil", so I will definitely be checking mine out!
  • ShapeUpSidney
    ShapeUpSidney Posts: 1,092 Member

    I completely agree with you. It's really a sad thing that we do not question where our food comes from, much less what it contains.

    I think it's sadder that we HAVE to question our food and where it comes from. So much food prep and processing is being done in distant lands. Just buy local. For olive oil, that could be tough though.

    Also, just from a health perspective, there's nothing wrong with a canola oil blend.
  • ShapeUpSidney
    ShapeUpSidney Posts: 1,092 Member
    I would never think to look for ingredients on an olive oil bottle, I would have assumed it would just read "Ingredients: olive oil", so I will definitely be checking mine out!

    Usually, if you're buying quality stuff, you don't even have too. It's when you get into cheap generics that you really need to check. I get Colavita, which I've found to be decent quality for daily use, without breaking the bank.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Thats nothing!! Have you looked to see if vegetable oil actually contains vegetable oil recently? 95% of it is actually Rapeseed Oil wich is bad for us and the environment! I wont buy the stuff at all and since when is a sickly yellow flower a vegetable?

    Before anyone pipes up and says that Rapeseed Oil is good for you I will leave you to your oplion but hundreds of horses die each year due to breathing problems caused by Oil Seed Rape nearby and many more people develop alergies because of Oil Seed Rape. This is not a scientific fact or anything just something I know from living where I do and knowing people who own or look after horses

    Rapeseed Oil is canola oil.

    I don't touch ANY vegetable oils at all due to the PUFA (Polyunsaturated fats) content . No canola, vegetables, corn oil and definitely not soy either.

    I consume some nut and seed oils, olive oil and the rest of the fats I consume are all saturated fats in the form of raw butter, coconut oil and filtered bacon drippings (only if its clear, if it turns brown it is discarded because it got to a smoking point which ruins it).
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member

    I completely agree with you. It's really a sad thing that we do not question where our food comes from, much less what it contains.

    I think it's sadder that we HAVE to question our food and where it comes from. So much food prep and processing is being done in distant lands. Just buy local. For olive oil, that could be tough though.

    Also, just from a health perspective, there's nothing wrong with a canola oil blend.

    Yes there is, canola oil is very unhealthy.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Thanks for the post - I use EVOO alot in my cooking - good to know and will keep and eye out - getting ready to restock this weekend.

    Actually olive oil should not be used if you are using a higher than medium heat to cook with. Once it gets too hot, it oxidizes and that makes it unhealthy.

    Olive oil should mostly be used for light sauteing or used for salad oil.
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    i always buy my olive oil from club stores. im a member or costco now, but the last time i bought it we were going to sams club. their store brand (members mark) evoo, first cold pressing, ingredients: high quality evoo from italy, spain, greece, and tunisia
  • ALW65
    ALW65 Posts: 643 Member
    Don't you just love how the internet knows everything about us? I'm reading your post and an add shows on the banner for natural olive oil soap....the olive oil police are on to us!
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    Canola oil is full of nutritional value. And, it's cheaper.
  • Starlage
    Starlage Posts: 1,709 Member
    I would never think to look for ingredients on an olive oil bottle, I would have assumed it would just read "Ingredients: olive oil", so I will definitely be checking mine out!

    Me too! Now I'm curious. Gotta check my bottle when I get home! What a ripoff.
  • Panda86
    Panda86 Posts: 873
    I read ALL food labels, and unfortunately, even that isnt good enough. I just posted a comment the other day on I Cant Believe its Not Butter spray, it says its ) calories, but the whole container actually contains over 800 calories and 91 grams of fat, the food industry has its loop holes!!

    Omg! What?!? I love that stuff!

    Yes, note that it often says, "Per Serving"... which is usually a quick spray. If you are using anything more than a short, quick spray, you are not getting "0 Calories".....
  • jhyan
    jhyan Posts: 59 Member
    Wild rapeseed oil may be dangerous to animals and humans, but the rapeseed oil used in the food industry has been bred to lower the amount of Erucic acid to below safe levels. This Low Acid Oil was developed in CANada. CAN O L A (CANadian Oil, Low Acid) - Canola oil is made from this low erucic acid rapeseed, and canola oil is a pretty healthy oil, as oils go.
  • LilMermaid6411
    LilMermaid6411 Posts: 28
    My husband was listening to someone on NPR that was talking about the issues with olive oil. The other thing was that just because it said it was made in Italy, doesn't mean it was. It could have been made somewhere else and repackaged there. This probably isn't an issue with most people, but my mother is from Florence so I grew up with Italian Olive Oil ingrained in my head. Also, the more "virgin" it is the more processed it is. I always thought it was the other way around. If it was extra virgin you would think it would be less processed. The guy also mentioned that just because it says "pure" olive oil doesn't mean it is. Like you said, it has other stuff in it.

    Similarly, honey isn't always completely honey. Most of the honey you buy from the grocery story is mostly artificial sweetener. Since we found that out, we have been getting honey from local beekeepers. It's more expensive but at least I'm paying for a real product. And honestly, it's way better.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Wild rapeseed oil may be dangerous to animals and humans, but the rapeseed oil used in the food industry has been bred to lower the amount of Erucic acid to below safe levels. This Low Acid Oil was developed in CANada. CAN O L A (CANadian Oil, Low Acid) - Canola oil is made from this low erucic acid rapeseed, and canola oil is a pretty healthy oil, as oils go.

    Well Canada can keep their Canola oil. Canola oil is a processed oil that is pretty much rancid by the time it gets bottled and then goes to the grocery market.

    And talking of the plant being "bred", which means it is a GMO that is another big NO, NO on my list as it should be for everyone.

    And it is a PUFA and PUFA's are not healthy as they disrupt the Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio which causes chronic inflammation in the body over time.
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