Most imported olive oil being sold as ‘extra virgin’ does not meet international or local quality standards, according to research commissioned by the Australian Olive Association (AOA).
The SMH reports that tests conducted at IOC and National Association of Testing Authorities accredited labs looked at 27 imported products available from Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and Foodland stores.
However, 78 per cent of the olive oils tested failed to meet the International Olive Council (IOC) Standard as ‘extra virgin’ olive oils.
“It’s like buying a Rolls Royce and finding a V-dub engine in it; people would be horrified,” Lisa Rowntree, chief executive officer of the AOA told the SMH.
“If we had the Australian Standard mandated, many of the oils sitting in supermarkets as ‘extra virgin’ would suddenly have labels saying ‘refined’, ‘pomous’, or ‘virgin’, which all have a place but need to be appropriately priced.”
However, the findings were rejected by the similarly named Australian Olive Oil Association (AOOA) which represents importers.
“There are no recent test results from AOOA’s annual quality testing program that suggests that Australians are routinely sold inferior, adulterated or deliberately misrepresentative oils masquerading as extra virgin,” Renee Reilly, AOOA general manager said.
The AOOA sees no need Australian Standard to be made law and claims the IOC are enough to ensure standards are maintained.