When Olive Oil is not Olive Oil

The mislabling of food products in Australia seems to continue unabated. Major supermarkets continue to sell such mislabled products such as "pure, light, extra light olive oil" to an unsuspecting public, who seem unaware that they are buying diluted oil. Much of this so called olive oil, has failed the Australian Standards test for olive oil. The so called oil ,has often been contamjnated by other products, while cheap olive oil often is heat extracted, destroying it's health giving properties. The Australian Olive Oil Council has made repeated represention to various members of parliament, and has had a sympathetic hearing, but more needs to be done to create some action. The major supermarkets continue to sell this poor substitute as olive oil, claiming they will meet Australian Standard when there is a demand, whenever that will be is anyones guess. In the meantime, they continue to sell oils that are unsalable in Europe. It is highly profitable to dump this product in Australia for both themselves and the Australian supermarkets.

The only way to correct this continual practice, is to legalise the requirement of meeting Australian Food Standards by law. The Aust. Olive Council urges anyone concerned about the quality of the food they consume, to write, email, or phone their local members of Federal Parliament, in both Houses, requesting them to support a private member's or hopefully, Government Bill to make such an obligation binding. The people of this country deserve nothing less.

Not only are European producers dumping their olive oil rubbish here, but other importers food products package them here and lable them in large print 'Packed in Australia'. But rarely  tell the consumer  where the item has been imported from. Much of the house brands currently sold in major supermarkets simply say, imported ingredients. This problem of incorrect labeling must be address by everyone living in this country, your health depends on it.