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That Fancy Olive Oil Might Be A Fraud

New research reveals how widespread olive oil fraud is. Learn how scientists are now able to spot fakes and what you can do to avoid buying counterfeit olive oi

By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Food Safety

That Fancy Olive Oil Might Be A Fraud

Key points

  • The high price of extra virgin olive oil makes it a prime target for fraud, often being diluted with cheaper oils like canola and sunflower.
  • New scientific methods, like GC-MS with Cold EI, can now directly analyze olive oil's chemical fingerprint in under 20 minutes, making it easier to spot fakes.
  • This advanced testing can distinguish between deliberately faked oil and oil that has simply gone bad from age or poor storage.
  • As a consumer, protect yourself by avoiding suspiciously cheap oils, checking for harvest dates, and buying oil sold in dark, opaque containers.
  • Trust your senses: authentic extra virgin olive oil should have a fresh, grassy or fruity smell and a peppery, slightly bitter taste.

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