Bellucci Premium Comments on the Importance of Proper Olive Oil Labeling Amidst Food Fraud Controversies
Bohemia, NY (PRWEB) September 11, 2013 -- Bellucci Premium makes a statement on the importance of proper product labeling, including olive oil bottle labeling, following recent reports of labeling fraud.
According to a September 9th article published by Organic Authority titled “8 Food Frauds: From Horse Meat to Olive Oil,” certain foods are more susceptible to food fraud than others. The addition of alternate ingredients to some foods cuts down the cost of the product. Some of these ingredients are also virtually undetectable to the eye or taste.
Natalie Sexenian, marketing manager for Bellucci Premium, speaks on the importance of proper food labeling and testing. “Unfortunately, in the olive oil industry there have been many cases of fraud; brands will mix olive oil with other oils, such as castor or canola,” she says. “This has led to consumer mistrust. There needs to be higher standards for testing food before they hit the shelves.”
The article shares these foods that are most commonly involved in food fraud:
• Milk - Powdered milk’s shelf life is sometimes extended by the addition of ingredients such as urea, sugar, salt and detergent.
• Instant coffee - Make sure to purchase whole beans and grind them, or you may be ingesting ingredients such as starch, grains and even figs.
• Olive oil - This is “one of the world's most adulterated agricultural products, usually diluted with cheaper oils like sunflower seed oil,” says the article. The term ‘extra-virgin’ is also widely used to label products that do not meet the qualifications to be labeled as such.
• Honey - This product can often contain corn syrup or sweeteners due to the use of antibiotics on the bees that produce the honey.
• Ground beef - In the past, there has been many cases where horse meat or pink slime has been found in ground beef.
“Here at Bellucci Premium, we understand that the issue of mislabeling products within our industry that has caused many customers to mistrust brands,” says Sexenian. “We do everything we can to ensure to our customers that they are receiving nothing but the best extra-virgin olive oil. Not only do we place the “best by” date on our bottles, but we also include a harvest date and a bottle lot number. The bottle lot number allows consumers to trace where the olives in their bottle of olive oil were harvested. We hope that this helps restore consumer trust that has been lost by the fraudulent labeling of olive oil by other brands.”
Bellucci offers three different types of oil, including an organic option, with a mild peppery flavor and fruity undertones that will satisfy any palate. Bellucci Premium Toscano extra virgin olive oil uses olives that are grown on the beautiful landscapes of Tuscany, and maintained by 3rd and 4th generation farmers. The third type of oil Bellucci produces is the finest 100% Italian extra virgin olive oil, grown in many different regions of Italy.
Scott Darrohn, Bellucci Premium, http://www.belluccipremium.com, +1 (855) 347-4228, [email protected]
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