Many people probably think that olive oil is definitely vegan. But even with this healthy and popular oil, you need to be careful if you want to follow a 100% vegan diet. Unfortunately, olive oil isn’t a vegan product per se – like many other plant-based foods. There are possible reasons why olive oil isn’t vegan.
A vegan diet is essentially about ensuring that no animals are harmed. For cheap oils, a mechanical harvesting method was and is used, in which the olives were sucked from the trees at night using vacuum robots.
During this harvesting method, countless birds that remain in the olive trees at night have already died. Therefore, night harvesting has been banned in Portugal and Spain since 2020, as it has in many other countries.
For this criterion, the origin of the oil is therefore important. You can pay attention to this when purchasing. In addition, cheaper oils often contain animal substances to clarify the oil, i.e., to remove impurities.
Animal fertilizers may also ingest animal tissue from the field, which is no longer vegan in the strictest sense. Our tip: If you buy virgin olive oil, this means that it can only be extracted mechanically. The filtration therefore takes place through a filter, as is the case with coffee, for example. The likelihood that animal substances are present is extremely low.
With virgin olive oil, the extraction takes place purely mechanically, making the olive oil itself vegan. Whether the harvesting and fertilization are also vegan must be checked separately. This is how you can recognize a purely vegan olive oil. If you want to be absolutely sure and buy pure vegan oil that has been harvested in a bird-friendly manner, there are signs that can be used as identifying features when purchasing.
Look for the “biocyclic vegan cultivation” seal. This eliminates all of the problems mentioned above. Alternatively, look for the “FAO GIAHS” seal. Since only very few regions are designated with these seals, you can be sure that the approval procedures stipulate strict selection criteria.
Such oils are produced after a traditional hand-harvest. Since the strict guidelines are very complex to comply with, this is reflected in the price. Purely vegan and therefore certified olive oils are more expensive than other olive oils.
At Aceite del Campo, we promote the culture of extra virgin olive oil as a gourmet product that should be cared for and enjoyed like a fine wine.
Important Note: aceitedelcampo.com promotes the consumption of extra virgin olive oil for its culinary qualities and health benefits. However, no medication or current treatment should be replaced without the guidance of a healthcare professional.
ALZAYT EXPORT SL
info@aceitedelcampo.com
C/ Eduardo Bosca 19, 2-5
46023 Valencia
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