MEDIA RELEASE: Not all extra virgin olive oils are equal – look for Certified Australian Extra Virgin

The Australian Olive Association urges consumers to choose oils carrying the Certified Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil® logo after recent retail testing highlights quality failures in many of the imported oils.

There is one simple way to know the extra virgin olive oil you are buying is genuine extra virgin quality: look for the certification logo on the bottle.

The Certified Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil® logo is part of the industry’s OliveCare® Code of Practice and can only be used on products that pass quality testing. Authorisation is issued for each product and harvest, giving consumers confidence that the oil is authentic EVOO and meets the Australian Standard for Olive Oil and Olive Pomace Oils (AS5264-2011).

Peak industry body for olive producers the Australian Olive Association (AOA) is highlighting the logo in response to recent olive oil quality testing results, obtained as part of a national program monitoring retail and food service olive oils.

The results reinforce the importance of choosing Certified Australian Extra Virgin olive oil, particularly at a time when consumers are increasingly alert to misleading food labelling and quality claims.

While previous rounds of testing have shown varying levels of compliance, the latest results reveal concerning failures to meet extra virgin olive oil quality standards, AOA CEO Michael Southan said.

“This is predominantly about quality – or rather, a lack of it. Many of the oils failed chemistry parameters under the Australian Standard, and many showed rancidity and other sensory defects. The difference was clear: the issues were found in imported oils, while the Australian samples delivered the quality consumers expect.”

Southan said that the ABC’s recent “tomato-gate” labelling investigation has put food fraud firmly on the consumer radar right now, making it the ideal time to provide some reassurance around the quality of locally produced and certified extra virgin olive oil.

“The former chair of the ACCC, Allan Fels, said on radio recently: ‘Consumers need to have complete faith in the labels on the products they buy, but they can’t at the moment.’”

“We want people to know they can have confidence in an extra virgin olive oil that carries the Certified Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil® logo.”

Australia’s olive oil industry has built its reputation on quality, best-practice production and compliance systems that protect both consumers and growers. Local producers harvest locally, process quickly and stand behind the quality of the oil in the bottle. The Certified Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil® logo makes that assurance visible on shelf.

“That freshness and quality also mean it provides the maximum health benefits – from anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action to supporting brain health and preventing a wide range of major chronic diseases – that only come from authentic high-quality extra virgin olive oil. And when the bottle has the Certified Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil® logo, you can trust that’s exactly what it is,” Southan said

“As an industry, trust is what we’ve always aimed for. Australian producers sell Australian EVOO, made from fresh, locally grown olives minimally processed to retain maximum quality. We don’t try to mislead consumers by selling blends from multiple origins labelled as Australian and we run these monitoring programs to ensure that if someone does, we can call them out.”

“Our aim is to protect both consumers and growers, ensuring that the value offered is the value sold. To do that, all brands and distributors must be held to the same EVOO standards, ensuring a fair and competitive marketplace for everyone.”

“The message is simple: not all extra virgin olive oils are equal. Choose Australian EVOO and look for the certification logo”.
ENDS

Media inquiries and interviews:              

Michael Southan         
CEO, Australian Olive Association
+61 4 7676 0160
[email protected](opens in new tab)