Why Is Some Olive Oil Designated as Extra Virgin

For culinary experts and consumers alike, the words extra virgin have a ring of exclusiveness and quality when it comes to olive oil. What does the term actually signify  

TABLE 13.1 Classification of Virgin Olive Oils by Composition1 3] 

Lampante virgin More than 3.3%, which is not suitable for consumption without refining 

By the nature of the process by which olive oil is extracted from the olive, the oil is susceptible to contamination. The high price associated with olive oil of the highest purity — extra virgin olive oil — also leads to falsification by unscrupulous vendors who blend with less costly oils such as com, peanut, and soybean oil. Various analytical techniques have been devised to authenticate the purity of olive oil by detecting certain oil components. 

How do olive oils vary in acid content Oils are a complex mixture of compounds known as triglycerides. Triglycerides are esters formed from the alcohol glycerol (l,2,3-propanetriol, C3H8O3, Fig. 13.16.1) and three carboxylic acids 

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Question 13.16 Why Is Some Olive Oil Designated as Extra Virgin ... 

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