Packaged foods in grocery stores sometimes pose as something they’re not. Consumers often need a sharp eye to notice it.
For example, some candy companies avoid legal trouble by adding “product” after the term “chocolate,” just as other manufacturers add “drink” next to “juice.”
That is because, under U.S. regulations, a product must meet specific standards to be labeled as ‘chocolate.’ Sweet chocolate, for example, must contain at least 15% chocolate liquor by weight.
Similarly, for juices, anything that is less than 100% derived from fruits has to contain terms such as “beverage,” “cocktail,” or “drink.”
However, there are still product categories where labeling standards are looser or have little to no regulation. One such product is olive oil.
Because this makes it difficult to always know what you’re getting, TikTok creator Mary (@grandpashooch) shared an ‘olive oil’ hack she recommends.
What’s the Costco Olive Oil Hack?
In the clip, which went viral with over 1 million views, Mary filmed while shopping for olive oil at Costco.
“This is your annual reminder that if your olive oil doesn’t have a harvest date, it’s not real,” she begins.
She says the other information holds no weight. “Lot number doesn’t matter, best by doesn’t matter,” she continues. “It has to have”—here, she shows the harvest date on the bottle she’s purchasing—“a harvest date to be real.”
Then she shares some information about olive oil regulation. “There’s no regulation on olive oil,” she says. “It could be up to 75%, 80% vegetable oil without a harvest date.”
Are Her Claims True?
Several guides online claim that finding the harvest date on the bottle is a good indicator that you’re buying good-quality olive oil.
According to advice from the North American Olive Oil Association, a harvest date helps shoppers understand when olive oil loses its freshness, as real olive oil is generally only good for about two years.
Epicurious also reported that “typically only the better oils will have a ‘pressed on’ or ‘harvest date.’”
As for the claim that olive oil is not regulated in the U.S., it’s mostly true. While the USDA does have basic labeling standards, it does not routinely test bottles on store shelves to verify their purity or grade claims.
This means that many olive oil bottles may be labeled as extra virgin, but consumers have no surefire way of knowing whether that’s true.
Commenters Share Their Frustration
In the comments, users said they were frustrated by how vigilant they have to be as shoppers.
“Why do we even have a FDA?” one commenter asked.
“What are there so many rules!?!” asked another. “Ugh, this food industry sucks, I just want to eat… Ty for the info.”
Others asked for more information. “What brand do you buy from Costco?” inquired one user. “I buy whatever is available & cheapest,” Mary responded. “This time around there was only one option, Graza.”
@grandpashooch Olive oil hack? #costco #oliveoil ♬ original sound – Mary
The Mary Sue has reached out to Costco via contact form, and Mary via TikTok messages for comments.
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