Under this program:
A designated number of olive oil samples are collected by California Department of Food and Agriculture officials.
- Samples are sent to accredited third-party laboratories for sensory and chemical analysis.
- Results of the third-party analysis are provided back to the producers.
- In addition to the government sampling program, producers are responsible for having all of their remaining olive oil lots tested by a private laboratory of their choosing.
- The verified grade must be accurately reflected on product labels for California olive oil.
Recent research conducted by UC Davis Olive Center indicates the OOCC program is working to make a difference in the quality of olive oil produced in the state.
Label Test Results
Laboratory analysis shows that California producers are labeling their product with increasing accuracy. The percentage of labels verified to be consistent with the actual grade gradually increased for the first three years the OOCC program was in operation. In 2017/18 92% of the olive oil samples collected by CDFA were consistent with the grade identified by the handlers own testing.
It’s important to understand that testing in 2018 found five samples inconsistent with the grade placed on labels by handlers. Of these five samples, two samples were found to be of a higher grade than what was listed on the bottle. Producers of the other three samples were notified by the OOCC about the test results and labels on the bottles were changed to reflect the accurate grade. This is exactly how mandatory government sampling and testing was designed to work and demonstrates the value of the OOCC program at ensuring California olive oil is correctly labeled. This is very good news for consumers. Media reports on olive oil fraud have resulted in confusion among consumers regarding how to select and buy good quality olive oil. Many production areas around the world are working to resolve this important issue. The OOCC represents the growing California olive oil industry’s commitment to improving the consumer’s olive oil buying experience. The hope is that California can establish trust and credibility among consumers as well as with retail and foodservice buyers. Ultimately, this trust will increase the value of California olive oil.
Read the full report here.