Coldpressed, Expeller-pressed, Unrefined - Is there a difference?
by Klaus Ferlow

A lot of people are confused with the many different designations found on vegetable oils. Is there one better than the other? Are we really getting what we pay for? Here we will try to clarify this situation.

Extra Virgin
This designation is for olive oil only. It means that the oil contains less than 1% of oleic acidity. Itšs the best grade of olive oil you can buy. It comes from the simple crushing of the olives after theyšve been picked. It's just live "olive juice". By the way, we would like to rectify a misconception about olive oil it is not necessarily green. It can go from green to gold depending on the maturity or types of olives.

Virgin
This term applies to olive oil as well as to other oils. When applied to olive oil, it means that the oleic acidity level is higher (1 - 1.5%). Itšs the second best grade you can find.

To other oils, the term virgin means they haven't been refined. Usually the process of making virgin oils is very simple. Cleaned seeds and nuts are crushed at low speed in a small screw press. The oil is left to settle and is filtered before being bottled in dark glass containers.

Pure
This term only means that the oil comes from the type of seed, fruit or nut. Mechanically-pressed: Every oil that is not solvent extracted is mechanically pressed. Therefore, this term doesnšt guarantee quality. Oil can be mechanically-pressed at high temperature and refined.

Expeller-pressed
Just the same as mechanically-pressed. Read the definition above.

Extra-light: remember that oil is fat, even it comes from a vegetable source. Thus, it cannot be light in calories. Each gram of fat contains nine calories. When you see "light" on a label, it usually means that the oil is light in taste. If an olive oil is light in taste and color, you can suspect it was refined.

Cold-pressed
Despite the fact that the term cold sounds funny to some people, it is the one that defines the process most accurately. It means that no external heat is applied during extraction. The only heat is generated when pressure builds up around the screw by the accumulation of oil seeds (friction). There is no refining process. Unrefined: Means that the oil was not refined.

Pure-pressed, super pure
We have no clue what these terms mean. The only purpose they seem to serve is confusion.

Klaus Ferlow is the owner/operator of Ferlow Brothers, a 100% Canadian-owned family business manufacturing natural herbal products in Mission, BC, selling only to Professional Health and Wellness Practitioners across Canada. Visit www.ferlowbrothers.com for more information.

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