California adopts olive oil labeling standards

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The state Department of Food and Agriculture has approved standards for grading and labeling California-produced olive oil that will require makers to state specifically whether they have adulterated any of their product.

State officials say the standards will take effect next Friday.

They also require testing to determine whether most olive oil produced in California really is pure if the label claims it is.

The standards also eliminate the popular marketing term "light" to describe oil that has been refined with chemicals or additives.

Also eliminated will be the term "pure" to describe a mixture of virgin and refined olive oil.

Importers and distributors of olive oil produced outside California are exempt from the standards. So are California millers who produce fewer than 5,000 gallons.