The French consume about 120,000 tons of olive oil every year. But only 5,000 tons are produced in the south of the country.
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Article written by
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Radio France
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Published on 11/08/2022 10:42
Reading time : 1 min.
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Count between 16 and 30€ per liter for these virgin or extra virgin oils to be found in grocery stores or on the markets. But in the latter, beware of tricks. Last year, France Olive, the French interprofessional association of the olive, controlled incognito 74 points of sale, half of which were markets. Results ? 33 files were reported to Fraud Control. Among the tricks noted, false speeches on the origin, but also olive oils presented as “virgins” but which were cut with a less expensive oil, such as sunflower or rapeseed.
If you find 12 or 13€ per liter of so-called French olive oil on the markets, there is a good chance that it is Spanish. You’ll feel like you’re getting a bargain but in reality you’ll be paying a lot for it, because it’s the same as the one sold for €7 a liter in supermarkets.
To avoid falling into the trap, scrutinize the labels: an address in the south of France is not enough. Look for the mention of origin of the olive oil. It is mandatory and strictly defined. To have the right to write olive oil from France on the front of the bottle, it must be extracted in a French mill from olives harvested in France.
Ideally, prefer olive oils with a protected designation of origin, the famous PDO. There are eight, including Provence, Nice, Nîmes, Corsica and Nyons. Last tip: go your way if the bottles are exposed to direct sunlight. This one makes the oils rancid and the real producers know it well. They will never take the risk of altering their precious nectar.
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