thats-some-real-fancy-oil

That's some real fancy oil

Continuing on my fats theme...

Apparently, the US is the only large olive oil consumer not a member of the International Olive Oil Council. As such, they escape formal definitions of things like 'extra virgin'. Instead, they have USDA grades: 'Fancy', 'Choice', 'Standard', 'Substandard'. Fancy oil! Imagine!

Because of this, US retailers are allowed call anything they want 'extra virgin olive oil', as long as it's made of olives. I had never realised this before, and it must make things quite difficult for consumers over there.