Celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz landed in hot water again this week in the wake of a May 12th segment of The Dr. Oz Show on extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) entitled, “Is Your Olive Oil Fake?” Now, the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA), a not-for-profit trade association representing marketers, packagers and importers of olive oil, is suing Dr. Oz for false attacks in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday. “It may even be fake,” he said, adding that “most of the olive oil in your pantry might be a scam.” Oz and Maia Hirschbein, who was introduced on the episode as an olive oil tasting expert, touted a sensory test for olive oil. Dr. Oz gave no indication where he got the 80% figure when it comes to adulterated extra virgin olive oil. Although there is no inherent problem with imported EVOO, Balch notes that California olive oil special interests have spread false information about the purity of imported olive oil available in the U.S. “At no point in the show did any person disclose Ms. Hirschbein’s vested interest in denigrating olive oils originating outside of California or her vested interest in promoting California olive oils,” the complaint states.

Source: Forbes December 01, 2016 15:51 UTC