We Must Pay Attention to the Purity of our Food!

As you may be aware, there is a class action suit against many of the market brands of “extra Virgin” olive oil. The Olive Center at UC Davis did some testing that showed that some of these oils were adulterated with other types of oil. The study, published in July 2010, reflected that “…69 percent of imported olive oil samples and 10 percent of California olive oil samples labeled as extra virgin olive oil failed to meet the IOC/USDA sensory (organoleptic) standards for extra virgin olive oil. The Australian sensory panel found that each of these samples scored a median of up to 3.5 sensory defects such as rancid, fusty, and musty and were classified at the lower grade of 'virgin.' Sensory defects are indicators that these samples are oxidized, of poor quality, and/or adulterated with cheaper refined oils.”

The class-action lawsuit plaintiffs include famous chefs, famous restaurants and home cooking enthusiasts. The defendants named in the lawsuit include 10 major olive oil brands, including Bertolli, Filippo Berio, Carapelli, Star, Colavita, Mezzetta, Pompeian, Rachael Ray, Mazolla and Safeway Select. The lawsuit also names 10 retailers and supermarkets, including Bristol Farms, Gelson's Markets, Vons/Pavilions, Ralphs, Stater Brothers, Albertson's Market, Target, Wal-mart, Kmart and Nob Hill Foods.

This “swindling” by the common brands, is an insult to our wallets and to our health. Adulterated oil is not traceable; therefore we have no idea what we are consuming. Is the “Virgin oil” blended with GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) canola, or corn oil? When your dietitian or doctor advises you to adopt the Mediterranean diet, does she know that the Extra Virgin Olive oil that you were adding to your daily diet is actually not pure olive-based oil – and could be bad for your health?

The craft of food fraud goes way back; it’s nothing new. Accum’s Treatise on Adulteration in food was written in 1822 - and complaints of watered-down wine date back to the ancient Romans. Products have been watered down, substituted, padded, sold underweight, mislabeled, and degraded throughout history. My observation is that nothing has really changed. It won’t be long before your sugar bag will read “sugar” but the source will not be from sugar cane – but instead from GMO beets. You almost need a science degree along with an investigator’s license to shop the supermarket aisles. You can’t even trust buying from the “outer aisles” anymore.

Let’s face it - the large food manufacturers caused a deterioration of what we used to know as food. With their mass-marketing campaigns, we are duped into thinking that what we are buying is real. This horrific state of affairs is worsening to the extent that even the most aware and sophisticated consumer may find herself with contaminated and/or adulterated ingredients.

My job as a private chef is becoming increasingly more focused on identifying and procuring products that I know are pure and health. There is actually a term that is used for a person whose entire function is devoted to this type of work in restaurant industry: “food forager.” I can understand why people who can afford it will hire a full-time private chef who does not actually even step foot into the kitchen. This particular position exclusively involves procuring the highest quality (and safe) ingredients, which are then prepared by the kitchen chef. We have all been reminded of the importance contamination-free foods, given the recent salmonella outbreak that caused the recall of millions of eggs across the country. If I could afford it, I would want to hire a food forager for my family…wouldn’t you?

As today’s consumers, the best we can do is to read labels carefully. Buy as much organic as possible, know the source, and try to purchase from companies that have INTEGRITY. If you are interested in exploring the GMO issue further, please see my website at this link:

http://junepagan.com/foodforthought.aspx

Then scroll down to: 4. Food Additives - What You Don't Know Could Actually Hurt You.