69% of store-bought extra virgin olive oils are FAKE! Here's how to know if it's the real thing:

[dixiegrrrrl]

This is a VERY brief excerpt from a good long read about the olive oil scams.
I encourage folks to read the whole articles at the links.

Do you know that your extra virgin olive oil is probably fake, thanks to the Mob?
Did you know that the Mafia is making a small fortune selling fake olive oil or that olive oil is a $1.5 billion dollar industry in the United States alone?
In fact, olive oil is currently Europe’s most adulterated agricultural product!
According to Tom Mueller, an investigative journalist who wrote an eye –opening expose on fake olive oil entitled : Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil, 70% of the extra virgin olive oil sold is adulterated — cut with cheaper oils.

Snip:

How to Tell if Your Olive Oil is the Real Deal

The following brands which were labeled extra-virgin failed to meet extra-virgin olive oil standards:
• Bertolli
• Carapelli
• Filippo Berio
• Mazzola
• Mezzetta
• Newman’s Own
• Pompeian
• Rachel Ray
• Safeway
• Star
• Whole Foods

These brands did meet extra-virgin olive oil standards:
• Corto Olive
• California Olive Ranch
• Kirkland Organic
• Lucero (Ascolano)
• McEvoy Ranch Organic

http://www.realfarmacy.com/olive-oil-mafia-extra-virgin-olive-oil-lost-virginity/

and

http://www.truthinoliveoil.com/2012/09/toms-supermarket-picks-quality-oils-good-prices%20

[mia]

1. Costco (Kirkland) has two different EVOOs

http://www.familysavvy.com/differentiating-between-the-two-kirkland-extra-virgin-olive-oils/

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. I found a couple on my favorite online store, Iherb.com

was surprised to see the California brand has a harvest date of 2014, so not exactly fresh.
but
Eden Foods, Selected, Spanish Extra Virgin, Olive Oil, 16 fl oz for 11.02 ( free shipping, n taxes) is also parve, I like that.

[passiveporcupine]

3. Thanks for this info

The last bottle I bought was California Olive Ranch, so I lucked out. I usually buy cheaper brands, and I guess I got what I paid for.

I don't use as much as I used to, as I normally cook with coconut oil now, so I thought I'd splurge a little on some better oil for salad dressings.