Scientists respond to debate over health claims on olive oil labels

Over the last year I have been writing about the controversy in Greece over the implementation of EU labeling regulation 432/2012 which states: “Olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress.” The regulation further states, “the claim may be used only for olive oil which contains at least 5mg of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives (e.g. oleuropein complex and tyrosol) per 20g of olive oil. In order to bear the claim information shall be given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 20g of olive oil.”