Is Organic Olive Oil Worth It? What the Organic Logo Means
Organic olive oil costs a little more, so is it worth it? Here's what the organic label actually means, how to check it, and what it does and doesn't tell you about quality.
What does "organic" mean for olive oil?
Organic olive oil comes from groves farmed under organic rules: no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, with farming practices that protect the soil and wildlife. Every business in the chain, from grove to mill to bottler, is inspected by an approved organic control body.
How to check an olive oil is really organic
Look on the label for:
The organic logo: the EU organic leaf logo or the UK organic logo
The control body code: for example ES-ECO-002-CM, which identifies who certified it
Where it was farmed: for example "Agricultura UE", meaning farmed in the EU
Our Early Harvest and Master Miller are EU organic certified, and the code ES-ECO-002-CM is printed on every bottle.
Organic isn't the same as quality grade
Organic tells you how the olives were grown. It doesn't tell you how good the oil is. For quality, still check:
That it's extra virgin, the highest grade
The acidity, ideally well below the 0.8% legal limit
A best before date well into the future
A single country of origin
The best choice is an oil that is both organic and a high quality extra virgin. Ours have an acidity of 0.2% and over 400–500 mg/kg of polyphenols.
Is organic olive oil worth it?
If you want olives grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, and a chain of independent inspection behind your bottle, yes. Choose one that is also a fresh, high quality extra virgin, and you get the best of both.
Frequently asked questions
Is organic olive oil better?
Organic describes how the olives were farmed. For flavour and quality, also check that it's extra virgin with a low acidity and a recent best before date.
How do I know if olive oil is organic?
Look for the EU or UK organic logo and the control body code on the label.
Is your olive oil organic?
Our Early Harvest, Master Miller and our garlic, lemon, basil and chilli flavoured oils are EU organic certified.
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