Cooking oils

Olive oil is now taking on epidemic proportions, fuelled by the high prices that persist, but also by the relatively low mood caused by climate change.

Black cumin oil is rich in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids

The police in Thessaloniki detained two people who imported sunflower oil from Bulgaria, added impurities to it and sold it as extra virgin olive oil, the Greek national television ERT reported.

The fake olive oil was offered both on the Greek and Bulgarian markets.

An extra virgin olive oil produced by Jasa Olje, a niche Slovenian producer, has been named Best of Show at a major competition in Paris that featured olive oils from across the northern hemisphere.

The oil, branded as Jasa Cuvee, received the award at the Olio Nuovo Days 2023 on 24 March, the Slovenian embassy in France announced on Facebook.

Indonesia's decision to suspend palm oil exports in the face of domestic shortages has pushed vegetable oil prices to new highs, further tightening a market already on edge due to the war in Ukraine and global warming.

The Greeks are still hostages of the 20 liter can, as only 27.4% of the households buy branded standard olive oil. In contrast, more than 60% either produce their own olive oil or it is sourced from relatives or friends, according to research recently published in the journal Nutrients.

Price is the main criterion

Rafael Pico, president of the Spanish Olive Oil & Pomace Olive Oil Exporters Association (ASOLIVA), told Xinhua in an interview that the 25 percent US tariff imposed as of Friday on bottled Spanish olive oil means the product will be effectively "expelled" from the US market.
Spain currently exports around 200,000 tons of olive oil to the US every year.

Olive oil is Greece's fourth most important export, with sales abroad totaling 524.5 million euros in 2018. However, Greece keeps losing market shares to its main competitors, Italy and Spain, as well as rising players in the international market, such as Tunisia. 

The olive-growing area of Amfissa at the foot of the world-famous 4th-century BC Delphi Sanctuary in central Greece, is to become a global ambassador for olives and olive products thanks to a proposal by Greek scientists that has been endorsed by Yale University.

Greek police have arrested seven people allegedly involved in fraudulently selling large quantities of adulterated sunflower oil as olive oil in Greece and abroad.

A family of four and three of their relatives were found operating a workshop were they added a dye to turn the yellow sunflower seed oil into a green hue resembling olive oil.