Month: January 2016

Ultra Premium Chemistry – Certified – Traceable – Strict Limits

UP Chemistry 2015

Ultra Premium (UP) Chemistry
Objective, verifiable chemical standards form the foundation of the UP grade. Chemical analysis of Extra Virgin Olive Oil has proven to be a fundamental indicator of sensory quality, predictor of perishability, and authenticity of olive oils. UP is the highest quality standard in the world because it utilizes the broadest array of available tests and enforces the strictest limits on all chemical standards.
Chemical Parameters Determination Indicators Extra Virgin Standard UP Standard
6.1 Free Fatty Acids (FFA) Free Fatty Acids are formed due to breakdown of the triacylglycerols in oils during extraction. Fatty acids are “free” when the are no longer bound to any other molecules. An elevated level of FFA can indicate poor quality or mishandled fruit, too much time between harvesting and extraction, poor storage and/or high temperature during extraction. Units: % as oleic acid
IOC limit ≤ 0.8 Units: % as oleic acid
UP limit ≤ 0.3
6.2 Oleic Acid The major fatty acid in olive oil triacylglycerols is Oleic acid making up 55 to 85% of olive oil The higher the oleic acid monounsaturated fat content translates to increased durability and shelf-life. Units: % as oleic acid
IOC limit ≥55 Units: % as oleic acid
UP limit ≥ 65
6.3 Peroxide Value Peroxides are primary oxidation products that are formed when oils are exposed to oxygen causing defective flavors and odors Primary measurement of rancidity in oil. Higher peroxide levels indicate oxidized and/or poor quality oil & give an idea of the freshness & storage conditions. Units: mEQ O2/kg oil
IOC limit≤20 Units: mEQ O2/kg oil
UP limit ≤9
6.4 UV Absorption UV spectrophotometric determination Secondary measurement of rancidity in oil. Elevated levels of UV absorption indicate oxidized and/or poor quality oil, possible refining and/or adulteration with refined oil. Secondary measurement of rancidity in oil. Elevated levels of UV absorption indicate oxidized and/or poor quality oil, possible refining and/or adulteration with refined oil. Units: K1%/1cm
IOC limits
K232 ≤2.5, K270≤0.22, DeltaK≤0.01 Units: K1%/1cm
UP limits K232 ≤2.0, K270 ≤0.20, DeltaK ≤0.01
(immediately after production)
6.5 Phenolic Content (Polyphenols) Phenols are healthful anti-oxidant substances in olive oil which aid in slowing down the natural oxidative processes. Phenolic content decreases over time and is an indicator of freshness, with higher amounts improving shelf-life and oxidative stability. N/A Units: (as ppm caffeic acid)
UP minimum limit ≥ 130
6.6 DAGs Fresh olive oil has a much higher proportion of 1,2-diacylglycerols to Total diacylglycerols while olive oil extracted from poor quality fruits and refined oils have a higher level of 1,3-diacylglycerols The ratio of 1,2-diacylglycerols to the Total diacylglycerols are a useful indicator of fruit quality and acts as a snapshot of olive oil freshness. Low values can also indicate oxidized oil & sensory defects. Units: %Total 1,2-diacylglycerols
AOA limit≥35 Units: %Total 1,2-diacylglycerols
UP limit ≥*90
(immediately after production)
6.7 PPP Upon thermal degradation of olive oil, chlorophyll pigments break down to pheophytins and then to pyropheophytins The ratio of pyropheophytins to the total pheophytins is useful for distinguishing fresh olive oil from soft column refined, deodorized, or backblended oils. Units: %Total Pheophytins
AOA limit≤17 Units: %Total Pheophytins
UP limit ≤5
(immediately after production)
*IOC= International Olive Council, AOA= Australian Olive Association

Capizzano Olive Oils & Vinegars carry only certified Ultra Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oils. All of our Fused (Agrumato) and Infused Olive Oils foundation are UP Extra Virgin Olive Oils, no refined, synthetic or old olive oil blends are used in them.

“Olive Oil As Medicine – Effects on Lipids & Lipoproteins”

Sicily 868olive water drop

“Higher phenolic levels can provide more health benefits than an extra virgin olive oil with low phenol content.”

(Mary Flynn PhD, RD, LDN & Selina Wang PhD, March 2015 Report, UC Davis Olive Center)

See Report link: http://olivecenter.ucdavis.edu/research/files/blood-lipid_updated

Looking for an fresh seasonal extra virgin olive oil starts with the crush date, knowing how healthy the olives were at the time of crushing, the polyphenol levels (anti-inflammatory benefits) and how they are stored are important to know when choosing wisely.

We educate everyone who wants to learn about what makes extra virgin olive oil – extra virgin and the health benefits.

The 95.9 Company Break with WCRI Classical Radio

 

This week The 95.9 Company Break takes a look at Capizzano Olive Oils & Vinegar’s in Pawcatuck, CT. We talk to owners Stephen & Suzanne who have a mission to bring the freshest, finest and healthiest selection of certified Ultra Premium extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegar’s to you, from around the globe. Our vision is to bring the art and science of extra virgin olive oil to life by enlightening our taste buds and mind. We value your taste for excellence.

Visit them on the magical street called Coggswell Street, Suite 1, Pawcatuck, CT 06379, or visit their website CLICK HERE or call (860) 495-2187

http://classical959.podbean.com/

60 Minutes News Program – Italy Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Agromafia

PHOTO OLIVES blue sky

60 Minutes documentary validates our mission and education to bring the highest quality extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars into Capizzano Olive Oils & Vinegars.

We know that our extra virgin olive oils are analyzed by a “Third Party Laboratory” called Modern Olive. All of our Extra Virgin Olive Oils are certified Ultra Premium.

Watch the full episode and also the 60 Minutes Overtime links provided below. Learn more about the importance of what we teach at Capizzano Olive Oils & Vinegars.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-overtime-how-to-buy-olive-oil/  January 3, 2016 episode.

WHAT IS ULTRA PREMIUM?

“Ultra Premium (UP) is a new category of olive oil that distinguishes the highest quality olive oil in the world. The UP standard was created by Veronica Foods in response to the growing need to separate high quality extra virgin olive oils from what dominates the so called “gourmet” and “premium” olive oil markets, as well as the broader category sold in mass markets the world over under thousands of brands and private labels.

The absurdly low standards created and fostered by numerous trade associations and government agencies responsible for policing them has only contributed to the confusion and misinformation. EU producers are actually given a perverse incentive in the form of government subsidies to keep their oils in storage until market conditions improve.

This practice clearly demonstrates the governmental complicity with retailers and bottlers to sacrifice quality for price. Lack of enforcement and testing by these trade associations and governmental agencies has led to a marketplace dominated by inferior oils and rife with adulteration. These practices by some of the world’s largest olive oil producers and bottlers have led to a steep decline in prices of extra virgin olive oil and are driving quality oil producers out of business.

The self serving overemphasis on “Where” extra virgin olive oil is produced continues to dominate perceptions at the expense of the far more significant “When, What, and How” the oil is made. The UP standard has as its principal barometers Chemistry and Freshness. These two underappreciated variables can be objectively measured, quantified, and certified. Since the highest quality EVOO comes from high quality fruit coupled with high quality production processes, the UP standard encompasses strict requirements for both the end-product and the production process.

No matter how high the quality of fruit and production methods used, the best olive oils in the world are never as good as when they are fresh. There are no standards for shelf-life of EVOO, and the current IOC “best buy” date is intentionally misleading and utilized at the whim of the retailer and bottler.

When a quality EVOO is fresh, there is significantly more positive sensory attributes detectable by the palate. As any EVOO ages, it naturally oxidizes losing positive sensory qualities as well as inheriting defects. Newly developed tests can objectively quantify the “Freshness” of an EVOO at various stages in its lifecycle and are referred to as the “Fresh Pack” tests encompassing both the Diacylglycerol Content (DAGS) and Pyropheophytins (PPP).

The UP standard is reserved for the finest extra virgin olive oils in the world, as such, the UP grade exceeds all existing European, Italian, Spanish, Greek, North American, Californian, or any other standard for the grade known as extra virgin olive oil.

In order to qualify for the UP grade, the extra virgin olive oil must meet or exceed a comprehensive set of Production, Storage, Transportation, Testing, Chemistry, and Organoleptic requirements as set forth in the following document. Instead of placing an overemphasis on what is less important (Terroir) to the detriment of the most critical factors (Chemistry and Freshness), the UP program is intended to reward farmers for producing high quality oil.

The UP program is intended to promote Fair Trade practices and help create a demand for a higher quality product thereby increasing the value.”

(Veronica & Michael Bradley – Veronica Foods)

 

60 Minutes Program Looks At Olive Oil Adulteration in Italy

’60 Minutes’ Looks at Olive Oil Adulteration in Italy

This Sunday, the most successful program in U.S. television history will delve into the adulteration of extra virgin olive oil in Italy and mafia involvement in the agricultural sector.
By Olive Oil Times Staff on January 1, 2016
Airing Sunday, January 3 2016 at 7:30 EST