Is Olive Oil Even More Expensive Than Moutai? Consumers These Days Are Having a Tough Time

Recently, Mr. Zhang hesitated in front of the supermarket shelf for a full ten minutes - a 500ml bottle of extra virgin olive oil was priced at 89 yuan, nearly 30% more expensive than last year. "Everyone says olive oil is healthy, but the price is rising faster than my salary!" His confusion is not an isolated case. Today, let's lift the mysterious veil of the price fluctuations of olive oil and see if this "liquid gold" is really worth emptying your wallet.

The Global Game in the Price Curve

According to the monitoring data of the international oilseed market, the average global price of olive oil in 2023 increased by 46% year-on-year, hitting a new historical high. This is due to the superposition of three factors:

• Climate Crisis: The main producing areas in the Mediterranean have suffered from continuous drought, and the production in Spain has plummeted by 50%.
• Cost Transmission: The labor cost of organic farming has risen, and the price of glass bottle packaging has doubled.
• Demand Surge: The annual consumption growth rate in emerging markets such as China has exceeded 15%.

Ms. Li's experience is quite representative: "Three years ago, it only cost over 60 yuan to buy imported Italian oil, but now even a small domestic bottle is going to cost over a hundred yuan."

Grade Differences: The Price Dividing Line

The price difference of olive oil on the market can reach 10 times, and the key lies in the certification grade of the International Olive Council (IOC):

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO): acidity ≤ 0.8%, physically cold-pressed, with a cost per ton exceeding 30,000 yuan.
• Ordinary Virgin: allows 2% acidity, some allow refining, with a 40% lower cost.
• Mixed Oil: contains refined oil components, with a price only 1/3 of that of EVOO.

The quality inspection expert from Zhongshitong reminds: "Some products labeled 'pure olive oil' actually contain 20% cheap oil. Consumers need to look for the PDO Protected Designation of Origin mark."

Substitution Options: A Guide to Smart Consumption

Facing the high price, dietitians suggest using it according to different scenarios:

• Cold Salad/Low-Temperature Cooking: EVOO should be preferred, and 15ml per day can meet the demand.
• Chinese Stir-Frying: High-oleic rapeseed oil can be used as a substitute, with a higher smoke point.
• Baking Use: Camellia oil has a better cost-performance ratio, with a comparable content of monounsaturated fatty acids.

It is worth noting that data from an e-commerce platform shows that the sales volume of small-packaged (100-250ml) olive oil has increased by 200%, and "novelty-seeking consumption" is becoming a new trend.

Future Outlook: Should We Pay for the Health Premium?

The international agricultural forecasting agency predicts that the price of olive oil will remain high in 2024. But consumers need to think: When the price of a bottle of oil is equivalent to that of two catties of high-quality beef, have we over-mythologized its nutritional value? Perhaps, viewing food marketing rhetoric rationally and establishing a scientific edible oil rotation system is the ultimate solution to deal with price fluctuations.

Has the consumption speed of the olive oil in your home slowed down? Welcome to share your "oil-saving tips" in the comment section.