美國市面上的橄欖油(1) @ 灣區生活萬花筒

最近台灣因為發現不肖商人在橄欖油裡面違法添加銅葉綠素, 還有以棉籽油及橄欖渣油冒充頂級橄欖油引發"食油危機". 美國市面上的橄欖油安全嗎?

大概最近十幾年橄欖油熱門起來, 大家普遍認為橄欖油是最好的食用油. 關於橄欖油的背景資料, 可以先參閱

維基百科: 橄欖油
小廚師奮鬥記: 橄欖油等級
美國農業部橄欖油標準規範

至於廠商是不是都奉公守法銷售優良油品? 似乎沒公佈對所有市售橄欖油抽檢報告. 有一份是2010年由UC Davis Olive Center公佈其對市售Extra Virgin初榨橄欖油的檢驗報告. 根據Life in Italy: Best Olive Oil in US總結, 有高達69%進口橄欖油有標示不合格的問題.

Imported Olive Oils:

365 Everyday Value 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two of three samples failed.
Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three of three samples failed.
Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two of three samples failed.
Kirkland Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three samples passed.
Great Value 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil: One of three samples failed.
Star Extra Virgin Olive Oil: One of three samples failed.
Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two out of three samples failed.
Newman’s Own Organics Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two of three samples failed.
Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three of three samples failed.
Carapelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three of three samples failed.
Mezzetta Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three of three samples failed.
Mazola Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three of three samples failed.
Rachael Ray Extra Tasty Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two of three samples failed.
Safeway Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Two of three samples failed.

USA Olive Oils:

Corto Olive Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three samples passed.
California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three samples passed.
McEvoy Ranch Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three samples passed.
Lucero (Ascolano) Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Three samples passed.
Bariani Olive Oil Extra Virgin Olive Oil: One of two samples failed.

- See more at: http://www.lifeinitaly.com/best-olive-oil-us

很意外的是Costco自有品牌Kirkland Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil爲唯一全部通過檢驗的進口初榨橄欖油. 不過這是2010年的檢驗報告, 現在情況是否有改善?

當年的Kirkland有機初榨橄欖油是玻璃瓶包裝, 現在變成大塑膠瓶包裝.
在Costco賣場, 有三種Kirkland橄欖油. 首先是普通橄欖油(Pure Olive Oil)

背面標示"Composed of refined and extra virgin olive oil", 這其實跟某些市售所謂"Extra Light Olive Oil"是一樣的. 除了那一行字, 沒有其他成分標示, 所以當然不會找到"葉綠素(Chlorophyllin)"甚至"銅葉綠素"的字眼.

它的標示很有意思, Product contains select high-quality olive oil from AR=Argentina, CL=Chile, ES=Spain, GR=Greece, IT=Italy, MA=Morocco, TN=Tunisia, TR=Turkey, US(CAL)=California. 到底這油是哪一國出產的?

答案在標籤最下面: 10/14/15 09:14, 13287400 ES/AR/CL, 我只看懂最前面跟最後面, 意思是保存期限至10/14/2015, 這批橄欖油來自ES(西班牙), AR(阿根廷), CL(智利).

兩桶三公升普通橄欖油, 售價$23.99