What Cooking Oil Labels Really Mean








The term “extra virgin” is also not regulated in the United States. A 2012 University of California, Davis study discovered that 86 percent of imported olive oils labeled “extra virgin” actually weren’t, failing the criteria because of oxidation, adulteration or poor manufacturing methods. Nine out of 10 California olive oil samples, on the other hand, were properly labeled.

Unfortunately, because most terms to describe oil processing are not defined by law or enforced, consumers just have to find brands they can trust. The UC Davis study includes charts indicating which brands were properly labeled “extra virgin.” California Olive Ranch, Corto Olive, Kirkland Organic and McEvoy Ranch were among the brands that sell legitimately labeled olive oil. 
