Extra Virgin Olive Oil Lawsuit Alleges Refined Oil, Foreign Olives Used in Italian Brand

An extra virgin olive oil lawsuit has been filed against the manufacturers of Bertolli olive oil.

The extra virgin olive oil lawsuit alleges that Bertolli falsely labeled the products as “Imported from Italy” and that they contained “extra virgin” olive oil.

Extra virgin olive oil is of the highest quality, and therefore, is the most expensive olive oil on the market. To be considered extra virgin, the product must be free of defects, taste like fresh olives, and be produced without the use of solvents. Extra virgin olive oil must be manufactured by mechanical means and under temperatures that will not lead to degradation of the oil.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Lawsuit Alleges Deceptive Labeling

Defendants, Bertolli’s parent companies Deoleo USA Inc. and Med Foods Inc., are accused of falsely saying these certain olive oils were imported from Italy — even though the olives are grown and the oil is pressed in a variety of other countries, including Tunisia, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Chile, and Australia. The oil is then blended and bottled in Italy, according to the extra virgin olive oil lawsuit.

“[S]tate and federal regulations forbid affixing the ‘Imported from Italy’ label to products that are merely blended or packaged in that country. Common sense also dictates that Turkish or Chilean olive oil does not somehow become ‘from Italy’ when shipped to Italy. Yet until after this case was filed Deoleo systematically used this misrepresentation to dupe consumers into paying a premium for oil falsely labeled as Italian,” accuses the extra virgin olive oil lawsuit.

The plaintiff also says the Bertolli olive oils in question are not extra virgin as advertised. The oils allegedly are mixed with refined oil that ruins the extra virgin rating.

The olive oils are sold in clear bottles that do not protect the oils from sunlight and heat. The plaintiff claims these elements cause the oil to degrade, and when the extra virgin olive oil degrades, it is no longer of the quality that qualified it as extra virgin.

According to the extra virgin olive oil lawsuit, the bottles allow the oil to degrade during shipping and while sitting on retail shelves. The manufacturers should understand that by the time the consumer buys the olive oil, the extra virgin quality is gone, even if it had that level of quality in the first place, says the extra virgin olive oil lawsuit.

If you bought Bertolli Classico Olive Oil, Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil because the labels led you to believe it was truly from Italy or contained “extra virgin” olive oil, you could qualify as a plaintiff in an extra virgin olive oil lawsuit. Qualifying participants must have made their purchases outside the state of California between May 23, 2010 and August 15, 2015.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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