Title: The Olive Oil Scam: If 80% Is Fake, Why Do You Keep Buying It?
Headings: The Olive Oil Scam: If 80% Is Fake, Why Do You Keep Buying It?
The Olive Oil Scam: If 80% Is Fake, Why Do You Keep Buying It?
Content: The bacteria, compounded by bad weather, has devastated Europe’s olive harvest and raised the price for authentic olive oil by as much as 20% across the continent. The Financial Times reports that in 2014-15, global olive oil production fell 26% to 2.4 million tons, after output in Spain and Italy had already been virtually halved, according to the International Olive Council. As a consequence, an unexpected country has reaped benefits: Tunisia. “The poor European harvests coincided with a bumper crop in Tunisia, catapulting the North African country to the top olive oil exporter spot and second-largest producer after Spain,” says the FT. So the only oily recommendation I can offer you next time you're puzzling over the olive oil selection at the market is this: Caveat emptor. Neuman's advice is more detailed: Buy it, take it home, open it, smell it, swirl it in your mouth as you would a fine wine, and judge for yourself. If it doesn't pass that test, take it back to the store and demand a refund.