Just stop (olive) oil

This may apply both sides of the channel.

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And pay careful attention to any olive oil that says “Of Mediterranean origin” as they don’t mean Italian or Greek.

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I got about halfway through - if there are problems in the industry then this video is not the one to reveal them. Most of the criticism seems to centre around taste tests and where there was a claim that “virgin” olive oil was passed off as “extra virgin” (OK, shouldn’t happen but I won’t be losing sleep) or that oil was blended - which honestly wouldn’t surprise me.

So we’re left with a very sensationalist - “if you thought product X was bad just wait until I tell you about product Y” - clickbaity video with minimal information content. I’d look for a connection between the content creator and the “two products that are safe” which are supposed to be revealed at the end.

Oh and the “just wait” loses its punch when you are ordering things such that you are showing product Y as the better one.

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The ‘two products at the end’ are Lidl and Aldi. Rather surprising that they topped Tesco and M&S.

Interesting.

As I said it does not surprise me that a product destined for the mass market might not be all it seems. I can’t get too excited about blending oils unless there is a specific claim about origin (and I think some high end oils come from a single grove) and however experienced the expert, taste tests are subjective.

I found the video pretty typical though - lots of claims juxtaposed so we are supposed to draw negative conclusions on our own - but there isn’t actually a connection established. The “testing” wasn’t single centre and how do we know that the product sent to the US is, in fact, the same as the one available in the EU or UK - different regulatory milieu and different tastes. Lots of vague mights and maybes as well.

Whilst some comments are always vague there were a few takeaways. As per norm for the UK the regulators are toothless and a waste of our money, just another lunch club. The blending can involve using cheap oxidised oils, the big supermarkets put profit over quality and spend more on advertising than the product they are flogging.

Comments on what goes into bottles for which country is noted, a fair point.

Not to some of us.

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They want you to think that, yes. But listen critically.

“Toothless regulators” - yes, they often are but you can’t make the claim without “this problem was identified, contravening this regulation, with this proof, it was communicated to the regulator on such-and-such date, no response was obtained”.

Otherwise it’s all worthless.

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I got 2 minutes in and fell asleep :blush:

In the area where I live, there’s an association where we go and harvest olives in places where folk simply don’t have the resources to pick. Typically in old oliviers and big gardens.

50% goes to the owner and the rest can be taken either in oil or fruit.

I haven’t joined yet but will next year as I get mine for free from ola nearby wine makers who simply are not interested in the olives and it’s a bumper year the the equivalent to OPEC in Spain reducing supply so the prices don’t fall too low. But hey, Tesco stuff at 11 quid a litre! …. :unamused_face:…. I would starve

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FWIW we use Tesco finest - which the Guardian puts above Lidl but below Aldi.

Pouring more oil on the fire.

Regulators Investigate After Newspaper Identifies Olive Oil Fraud in Belgium - Olive Oil Times Regulators Investigate After Newspaper Identifies Olive Oil Fraud in Belgium - Olive Oil Times

@MikeyPotts see if you can make 3 minutes :face_with_hand_over_mouth:

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Doesn’t name names but definitely a step up from the video.

As we know, some scratch the surface in order to generate views but I wasn’t going let it go without some more info. Quite possibly lots more if you dive into it but with everything else going slightly tits up these days what matters most.

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We were in Spain not long ago and there was extra virgin from Ubeda at €24 for 5 litres. The last time we bought 5 litres we paid over €40.

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Actually…I sort of ‘speed’ watched it to the end :blush:

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Yeah but that’s Belgium

:slight_smile:

Well, it’s YouTube. Unsubstantiated claims are par for the course.

As above.

I’m sure we’ve been over this but those are my two big issues with YouTube especially the tendency to take 10 minutes to share 30 seconds worth of actual information. Even if it was 100% content, I can still read and process it faster than they can talk so I rapidly lose interest.

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:+1:

Also mentioned France further down. I doubt you have immunity as the french are not very good in the kitchen compared to the Italians so probably export all sorts over the border

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I also posted a report that covered pretty much the topic but hey what does that matter.