Extra Virgin Olive Oil & The Use Of DNA

By Robin Setser


The University of California's Department of Food Science and Technology recently made the claim that, at most, 69% of extra virgin olive oil does not exactly live up to the name. Quartz published a story on the matter and, to say the least, it was surprising. It's clear that a number of people swear by this product and they understand all of the health benefits that it should contain. However, it seems like the usage of DNA will help to make the idea of verification that much more of a reality.

Before getting into too much detail, it's important to understand why extra virgin olive oil is looked at such an important product. One of the reasons for this is because it is loaded with essential vitamins and antioxidants, both of which are meant to help the immune system and health in general. In addition, there are certain cosmetic uses that this oil is attached to. This is all due in part to the fact that this product is one of the most natural that can be attained.

Quartz reported that a unique method of labeling olive oil may soon be put into practice. Essentially, oils will be "labeled" with unique DNA tags which will ensure that the extra virgin olive oil remains pure. For those who do not know, there are a number of companies that seem to mix other products together, including but not limited to vegetable oil. It's one of those scenarios which highlight just how reputable authorities, in this particular field, along the lines of Bellucci Premium truly are.

The packets of DNA themselves were designed by Robert Glass, a professor of chemistry and bioengineering. Silica is attached the packets themselves and they are laced with smaller pieces of iron as well. The silica works with the iron in order to make the latter resilient to certain aspects that can change the healthy compounds of the oil; sunlight is just one of the aspects in question. The usage of iron is recommended, seeing as how it is an approved food additive utilized in other products before.

I can only hope that this procedure will work well because extra virgin olive oil is the kind of product that has to be preserved. Consumers purchase it because it is one of the most natural oils available and the idea that companies can alter certain components, for one reason or another, does not exactly do much from a confidence standpoint. With the usage of DNA, as mentioned in the article, it may be that much easier to figure out whether a certain product meets the given requirements.




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