When the National Food Agency tested a selection of extra virgin olive oils sold in Swedish stores, many turned out to be of lower quality than the marketed ones. Most of them belonged to the middle layer and should be marketed without the word "extra", merely as "virgin oil". But the two oils from Zeta that were tested were given the term cotton oil, ie oil of such low quality that it should not be sold to consumers without first being purified.

- We take this issue very seriously of course. We think it is good that the National Food Agency is reviewing the quality, it is not least in our interest, says Christian Di Luca, CEO of Di Luca & Di Luca, which stands behind the Zeta brand.

"Known in the industry that they are whimsical"

The laboratory that tested the olive oils for the National Food Agency makes an analysis in several steps. First, the oils are tested for chemical and physical properties, and then they are tested for taste and smell - so-called organoleptic tests. According to Christian Di Luca, Zeta's oils have received the highest score in the first stage, but bottom grades in the second stage.

- We think it is unfortunate that you let this organoleptic test carry so much weight. It is widely known in the industry that taste panels are very whimsical, says Christian Di Luca.

Has now made the bottle darker

As an example, he points out that Zeta sent his own oil to ten different laboratories and received consistently high grades in the chemical tests, but received completely different grades in the organoleptic tests. In order to avoid being under-rated in the future, Zeta has increased the intensity of the taste of her extra virgin olive oil and made the bottle darker, to reduce the light impact on the oil.

- The big problem with the tests is on mild oils - where it is difficult to see the nuances in the tests. It is our two mildest oils that have hit this. We have changed the intensity of the oil against our will - we have developed our taste promise for 40 years, and we know that Swedes want a fresh oil with a mild olive character, says Christian Di Luca.

The olive oils that have been under-rated in the Swedish Food Agency's tests are no longer left on the store shelves.