Feds get picky over what makes oil 'extra virgin'

AP ^ | 060410 | JULIANA BARBASSA

[Artemis Webb]

CARMEL VALLEY, Calif. – Extra virgin, light, with lemon, unfiltered, cold-pressed: the variety of olive oil on most supermarket shelves is dazzling. But what does it all mean?

These terms might be common currency among foodies and the farmer's market crowd, but they have never been enforceable, or legally defined in the United States — until now.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture in April adopted scientifically verifiable standards for nomenclature such as "virgin" or "extra virgin," with extra virgin considered the highest quality because it has the best flavor.

(snip)

"It will put an end to marketing terms that are confusing to the consumer, such as light, extra light — language that really doesn't meant too much," said Patricia Darragh, executive director of the California Olive Oil Council, a trade association of producers responsible for most US-grown olive oil.

[BunnySlippers]

I don’t agree at all. I’m not into going into detailed research on every tiny item I buy.

But you DO get big points for calling “hippies” an ad hominem. :)

[JRandomFreeper]

Need is ever the refuge of the tyrant.

/johnny

[muawiyah]

We are kind of talking both, but Olive Oil comes in there at the very foundation of democracy and democratic self rule by the people ~ all the way back to ancient Greece.

The Athenian nobility sponsored credit unions to make loans to olive farmers. The result of this risk spreading was that Athens became immensely wealthy from profits on exported olive oil, and olive products (e.g. soap).

The Athenian state also became immensely wealthy from the taxes on olives and olive oil.

A rich middle class demanded better performance of the noble class and over a period of about 50 years three major figures came forward out of the nobility to give the Greeks what amounted to democracy.

Although there were bouts of traditional Greek tyranny during that period, in the end the combination of the credit union, wealthy middle class, and general enrichment of the nation as a whole resulted in formal development of voting, voters, political parties, campaigining, etc.

Olives are inextricably linked to any discussion of the limits or powers of democratic self-rule by the people.

We can discuss both simultaneously. History says we must!

[JRandomFreeper]

You want the government to prosecute a private company for fibbing to another private entity? What a statist you are!

Straw man argument. Part of the Constitutional enumerated powers of the federal government is the establishment of courts. States, by their nature, have the power to establish courts to punish fraud.

/johnny

[muawiyah]

No doubt you buy yours in the 5 gallon plastic jugs. We simply don’t use that much!

[Rockingham]

Government has a valid role in preventing fraud in the marketplace.

[JRandomFreeper]

Government has a valid role in preventing fraud in the marketplace.

True. That's why there are laws against fraud already on the books.

What isn't needed is for the federal government to try to set standards that have already been set by international non-government groups.

/johnny

[Mr_Moonlight]

"Competition is wasteful ... monopoly is efficient"

(from the book)

[ImaGraftedBranch]

JRandomFreeper, eh? Perhaps you should rename your tag to FoundingFather. I’d agree with that.

I am continuously amazed at the people that forgot to read the home page of FreeRepublic, and what it stands for.

All of the people asking for more federal government intervention were either recent by-products of government schools or willfully dismiss their God-given rights.

You have the right, people, to choose to not be stupid.

Stop asking the government to fix personal problems. There are few, denoted, powers granted to the federal government by the people.

Do you REALLY want them to regulate your freaking Olive Oil? Really?

There MUST be another site for that.

[1010RD]

I’m not into going into detailed research on every tiny item I buy.

Me neither and you can never get perfect information. That's why mavens do the work for you.

Have you ever picked up a copy of a cookbook? The people who compile cookbooks are a type of maven.

These mavens love cooking - some like Japanese cooking, others Ethiopian or American or some just desserts, etc.

Have you watched America's Test Kitchen? They are mavens and they test not only the best recipes, but the best products. They are not government, but their accuracy and truthfulness lead the way.

We've been programmed to believe that government regulation is fair, thoughtful and beyond reproach, yet reality proves otherwise. Better liberty than regulation (or at least very little - like fraud and torts, etc.).

We don't need government regulating every last thing. They cannot do it well and cheaters will find a way around regulation - look at the banking industry.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

As the Don said, ‘Tessio was always the smart one’.

[barb-tex]

If he tries to sell light Gold I Saudi Arabia, he will be looking for a new right hand, They might carry it around in trash bags, be assured, if it is marked .750, it is. Gold jewelry is sold by weight, with .750 priced at the .999 fine spot price.
barbra ann

[grey_whiskers]

Oh, and by the way, McDonalds Hamburger University is not a “culinary school”.

Speaking of McDonalds and Food Safety and all, who actually caught the Cadmium in the McDonalds collectible drinkware...?

It was claimed they were "made in the USA" but not where the supplies came from...

Cheers!

[narses]

So, what part of the Constitution gives the Federal Government the right to regulate the naming or characterization of food-stuffs?

Section 8, and I quote:

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures;

[jurroppi1]

What about beef (USDA grade A, prime, etc...)?

[Brugmansian]

You obviously can't have 50 different labels for a product. This would fall under "providing for interstate commerce", which is a Constitutional requirement.

It happens but its a mess.

Some Southern states regulate what can be labeled "dolomitic limestone" and each state is different. Some require more than 30% magnesium, some less than 20%. What happens is "dolomitic limestone" often carries a hefty premium over the exact same thing labeled "magnesium carbonite". To make it worse, Organic Gardening touted "dolomitic limestone" years ago and it's become the gold standard for liming agents when the fact is some soils in the northeast (mine in particular) have too much magnesium. A lot of people pay too much because of these labeling laws.On the other hand, commerical growers in the south where soils are often lacking in magnesium, do need to know if the "dolomitic limestone" they are buying is 15% Mg or 36% Mg.

[narses]

So, what part of the Constitution gives the Federal Government the right to regulate the naming or characterization of food-stuffs?

Article 8, to quote:

... and fix the standard of weights and measures;

[narses]

So, what part of the Constitution gives the Federal Government the right to regulate the naming or characterization of food-stuffs?

Article 8, to quote:

... and fix the standard of weights and measures;

[narses]

So, what part of the Constitution gives the Federal Government the right to regulate the naming or characterization of food-stuffs?

Section 8, and I quote:

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures;

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

When buying a bottle of vitamins, does every state have to check for standards?

You'd probably end up with something like the situation with credit cards and North Dakota, with everyone setting up shop in the state with the laxest standards.