NAOOA Petitions FDA for Enhanced Standard of Identity for Olive Oil and Olive-Pomace Oil Products

NAOOA first petitioned the FDA for a detailed standard of identity in 1990. Every year since then, the association has collected hundreds of samples of all grades of olive oil from the U.S. and Canadian markets and sent them to globally-accredited labs for authentication.

18 Jul 2012 --- The North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA) submitted an updated petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an enhanced standard of identity for olive oil and olive-pomace oil products in the United States. As the largest olive oil importing country in the world, a detailed standard of identity that clearly defines the different grades of olive oil and outlines the approved analytical methods used to authenticate the grades is needed in order to enforce quality and instill consumer confidence.

“The U.S. olive oil industry has made significant progress related to standards in recent years,” said Eryn Balch, NAOOA Executive VP. “This progress sets a solid foundation for application at a nationally mandated level which would provide a smooth route for enforcement.” Connecticut was the first state to adopt a detailed standard of identity for olive oil and olive-pomace oil in 2008, followed soon after by California. The next year, similar standards were adopted in New York and Oregon. Most recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated its voluntary standard in 2010.

“We should take advantage of the due diligence already performed on the part of industry supporters, state legislators and the USDA that demonstrates there is substantial interest as well as consumer and trade benefits to mandating a common definition of the grades of olive oil and methods of proof related to the olive oil category,” Balch said. “What is perfectly clear at the global, state and voluntary levels is that grade definitions exist, authentication methods exist and accredited testing labs exist. An alignment of the federal standard is the last piece of the puzzle to ease the path on the critical aspect of enforcement.”

NAOOA first petitioned the FDA for a detailed standard of identity in 1990. Every year since then, the association has collected hundreds of samples of all grades of olive oil from the U.S. and Canadian markets and sent them to globally-accredited labs for authentication. Products found to be mislabeled have been reported to the importer or packer as well as state and federal health and regulatory agencies. Lack of a detailed nationwide standard has made further legal enforcement more difficult.