Sacramento Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry has introduced a new bill demanding clearer guidelines on when the term “California” can be used in olive oil labeling and marketing.
A spike in demand for Californian olive oil has led to an increase in blends containing oil produced in countries as far away as Spain, North Africa and Argentina being marketed as “California” olive oil.
See Also:Crafted in California Makes its DebutAguiar-Curry told a press release the practice caused confusion among consumers and left California’s olive farmers at a competitive disadvantage.
The proposed AB 2074 bill establishes clear guidelines as to when producers can use the term “California” in their branding and strengthens existing law by making it illegal to falsely suggest an olive oil was produced entirely from olives grown in California if that was not the case.
The bill also demands that if a Californian olive oil is to be regionally branded it must be composed of at least 85 percent from olives grown in the specified region.
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