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Is Your Olive Oil Fake?

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I've stumbled across an article that caused me to do some research. I really don't like what I found. Seems that up to 70% of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil sold in the States is either fake, or cut with other oils. The worst offenders tend to be oils bottled in Italy, where they export 3 times more "Italian EVO" then they actually produce. Many oils are cut with GMO soybean, canola, hazelnut or even rancid oils. Some are nothing more then low grade vegetable oils with flavorings and color added. Folks paying a premium for an oil they buy for health reasons, that may actually be harming them.

Personally, I do very little with olive oil (I mainly use coconut oil), but my wife likes it on her salads. From what I read, real EVO should have an intense pepper flavor, that is so intense it can cause some to cough. It is also suppose to be flammable and turn thick and cloudy when refrigerated. I tested the Sam's Club oil my wife uses. Very mild pepper flavor, it will not burn, and 6 hours in the frig didn't thicken or cloud it one bit. Looks like her $17 bottle of EVO is a fake.

Here's some more reading if anyone is interested.

http://www.draxe.com/fake-olive-oil/

http://www.businessinsider.com/fake-olive-oil-2012-1?op=1

http://lifehacker.com/the-most-and-least-fake-extra-virgin-olive-oil-brands-1460894373
 
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Wow, thanks!

I normally buy oil from the Isle of Crete but this looks like some good reading. Back in 1985, several Italian wines were found to contain Diethylene Glycol. It's both a sweetening agent and used in anti-freeze. Their wine exports took a huge hit from that for several years.
 
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Three of the easy to find ones that tested real.

Kirkland (Costco) Organic
Trader Joe's Premium 100% Greek Kalamata
Trader Joe's California Estate Olive Oil

Three other Trader Joe's tested fake, as well as Whole Food's brand, and just about every Italian brand found at your local supermarket.
 
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Jfire

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So your telling me a gallon of olive oil shouldn't be costing 17.00? That's damn right insane. You get what u pay for just about every time. How about those 3 dollar steaks? Next thing you'll be telling me is those were not raised from a farmer in the Midwest.....
 
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I know this is completely off topic but whenever the word fake is in a thread title I know so well that it is going to be one hell of a heated debate lol. This only follows lol.
 

CWS

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We Olive. (weolive.com) Lots of different flavors etc. I use a couple in the place of butter. Kirkland to cook with.
Coconut oil is about 90% saturated fat, which is a higher percentage than butter (about 64% saturated fat), beef fat (40%), or even lard (also 40%). My doc says no no.
 

Cigary43

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My wife and I love Olive Oils and found a place that not only sells it but some of the best wine as well. We tour wineries around the world and when we went to Sonoma we came upon Jacuzzi Wines and WOW!!!! I bought about 5 different oils and a case of their wine and had it shipped home to Atlanta and will be needing another shipment of olive oil soon....I promise you this Olive Oil is some of the best I've ever tasted. It enhances the flavor of so many things in different flavors. Here is a link:
http://theolivepress.com/shop/catalog/olive-oil

This is for Jacuzzi Wines
http://www.jacuzziwines.com/theolivepress
 
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