Q: There have been recent studies showing that oils are often not as pure as their labels claim. How can we be sure that we are getting the real thing when we buy olive oil?

Lynne: "Extra virgin" olive oil means that it has less than 1% acidity. It's a very difficult thing to regulate. Our government has not put a great deal of energy into regulating these imported products. However, there is no real solution at the moment. All you can do is look for the words "extra virgin" and look for the premium oils imported from Spain and Italy. And trust your mouth! Taste the oil and see for yourself.

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