Chefs suing olive oil producers say recent Calif. study showed oils are not like a virgin

Chefs sue over purported virginity of olive oil

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A group of cooks, including one from Bravo’s “Top Chef” reality competition, is suing olive oil distributors and retailers in California over a recent study that found some oils were falsely marketed as extra-virgin.

The lawsuit filed Monday is based on a recent University of California, Davis, study that found that 69 percent of imported oils sampled did not meet international standards for the extra-virgin title.

The lawsuit alleges that many olive oils are mislabeled so the costs can be marked up for consumers. It named 10 major olive oil brands, including Bertolli, Rachael Ray and Carapelli, and major supermarket chains and big box stores.

Plaintiffs include “Top Chef” contestant David Martin and several prominent Southern California restaurateurs.