How many types of olive oil are there?

H o w m a n y t y p e s o f o l i v e o i l a r e t h e r e ?

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Tutti conosciamo l’olio di oliva, tutti lo utilizziamo giornalmente a tavola…

We all know olive oil and use it daily at the table…
But are we really aware of the different types of oil and the differences between extra virgin and lampante oil?

In the European Union, there are specific classifications that distinguish the various types of oil:

PDO Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A type of extra virgin olive oil that must adhere to specific production standards and be certified by an independent certification body.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Acidity equal to or less than 0.8% and extracted solely by mechanical means.

Virgin Olive Oil: Extracted in the same way as extra virgin olive oil but with an acidity of 2.0% or less. This oil should not undergo any treatment other than washing, decanting, centrifuging, and filtering.

Lampante Olive Oil: Has an acidity greater than 2% and is also extracted by mechanical means. However, this oil is not suitable for consumption.

Refined Olive Oil: Obtained by refining virgin lampante oils through physical and chemical methods.

Crude Olive-Pomace Oil: Derived from the solid residues of olive pressing, such as skins, pulp, and pits. This oil is extracted using solvents.

Refined Olive-Pomace Oil: The same process as crude olive-pomace oil, but with an acidity of 0.3% or less.

Difference between DOP and IGP labels

Regarding the DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) label, it’s important to clarify that this label is granted by the European Union to legally protect products that have a very close connection with the territory, on which they depend inseparably. To obtain the label, the production, transformation, and processing stages must take place in the specified geographical area and follow strict guidelines.

The IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) label is also issued by the European Union according to strict parameters and specific guidelines. This is an origin label, so the connection with the territory is crucial. To obtain the label, at least one of the production stages must occur in the indicated territory. There are also mandatory directives to follow.