Friday, May 30, 2014

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.

Robert Glass, a professor who specializes in bioengineering and chemistry, was the one who designed the DNA packets in questioned. The way that they work is that they attach silica with iron, the latter being especially important. Keep in mind that the iron itself can be made to be more resilient to harmful aspects along the lines of sunlight. In addition, iron is seen as an approved additive, which means that it is perfectly safe for the purpose of determining the authenticity of the oil.

Is it possible that the usage of DNA will be able to help verify bottles of extra virgin olive oil that may not be entirely legitimate? My guess is that it should and it's important because I understand that many people swear by this particular product. They want to be able to make the best investment, which is tough when they are hesitant about purchasing products they are not entirely certain about. With the addition of DNA, perhaps this can be less of an issue going forward.




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