From OliveOilTimes, October 1:
Authorities in Belgium are investigating after a newspaper found 20 out of 32 olive oil brands failed quality standards and one was adulterated.
Belgian regulators are investigating after a local newspaper found that 20 out of 32 olive oil bottles labeled as extra virgin did not meet quality standards, with one sample found to be adulterated. The investigation revealed that some olive oil bottles in Belgium did not meet the standards for extra virgin, leading to concerns about fraud and insufficient oversight in the European olive oil sector.
Regulators in Belgium have launched an investigation after a local daily newspaper discovered that 20 of 32 olive oil bottles labeled as extra virgin failed to meet the quality standards of the grade. One sample was also found to be adulterated.
Het Nieuwsblad purchased 32 brands of olive oil sold at major supermarket chains in the country, including “cheap, expensive, and mid-range” options.
The samples were sent to the International Olive Council-approved Dutch Olive Oil Institute since Belgium does not have an approved tasting panel. Several unopened bottles were also sent to local universities for chemical testing.
While the Dutch Olive Oil Institute confirmed that 12 bottles were genuine extra virgin, the panel reported that another 12 only met the grade for virgin, with six more falling short of the virgin category (falling into the olive oil grade of virgin olive oil) and one qualified only as lampante, considered unsafe for human consumption....
....MUCH MORE
Also at OOT:
Swiss Psychiatric Hospital Adopts Olive Oil for Patient Health
Extra virgin olive oil is replacing other fats in the PDAG in Switzerland, in a decision driven by scientific evidence.
