EU to ban refillable olive oil jugs and dipping bowls

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**Mr. Burning**

I don't really know what to make of this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22579896

The European Commission is to ban the use of refillable bottles and dipping bowls of olive oil at restaurant tables from next year.

From 1 January 2014, restaurants may only serve olive oil in tamper-proof packaging, labelled to EU standards.

The Commission, the EU's executive branch, says the move will protect consumers and improve hygiene.

But critics have accused the EU of unwarranted meddling at a time of economic crisis.

A Pew Research Center poll released on 13 May showed positive views of the European Union are at or near their low point in most of the eight countries surveyed.

European Commission spokesman Oliver Bailly said the olive oil regulation would benefit consumers.

"We are just making clear that when you want to have olive oil of a certain quality in a restaurant, you get exactly the one you are paying for," he told a news briefing in Brussels.

But London restaurateur Sam Clark criticised the ban.

"This will affect us. It is about choice and freedom of choice. We buy our oil, which we have selected from a farm in Spain, to serve our customers," he told the Daily Telegraph.

Olive oil is a frequent target of food fraud, with cheaper oils being sold in its place to unwitting consumers.

The EU's largest producers of olive oil - Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy - are among those hardest hit by the economic downturn.

Food hygiene is important, but when I go to decent restaurant I don't want some food service providers plastic sachet of oil to dip my bread into. or to have poured over my food. I want a glass bottle of glorious fats poured over my pasta or pizza or whatever I am eating.

In all I think this is unwanted meddling.

**Da Boss**

I think this is just lobbying from special interest groups at an EU level, and I expect it won't be that widely enforced.

**purplefood**

This is kinda petty isn't it?

**Doctadeth**

Actually, olive oil is BIG business, often costing hundreds of dollars for 100 mL of olive oil. Not what I'd call petty.

**purplefood**

No, but faffing about how to serve the damn things...
Seems incredibly petty is all. I don't get how a bottle is unhygienic...
As long as they get washed what's the problem?

**Doctadeth**

Its the fact that some restaurants get consumers who order the good stuff, then get it swapped with the bad stuff.

Pretty much trying to get people their cash.

**Kilkrazy**

Why not make that illegal, then?

Actually, people visiting restaurants don't usually order a bottle of olive oil like you do a bottle of wine.

It sounds like another of those regulations that comes about because

1. Governments are there to pass laws, so more laws must be passed.

2. Olive oil bowl manufacturers' lobbying has been less successful than olive oil screwcap bottle manufacturers.

I see the excuses but I don't believe them.

Next, all vinegar, sugar, salt and paper must also be presented on table in sealed packages.

**Doctadeth**

????!?

whenever I go to italy or france, I always expect a small bowl of olive oil with your bread for dipping.

Thats whats tickling this court lol.

**MeanGreenStompa**

The expensive stuff will come in tamper-proof bottles, the regular stuff (with balsamic and bread as a complimentary snack) can be served in anything else.

This is not an issue.

**dæl**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Why not make that illegal, then?

I was under the impression that selling something as something else is illegal.

**Mr. Burning**

MeanGreenStompa wrote:
The expensive stuff will come in tamper-proof bottles, the regular stuff (with balsamic and bread as a complimentary snack) can be served in anything else.

This is not an issue.

It wouldn't be, but most restaurants buy olive oil, even the fething expensive stuff in bulk, you even get drums of named oil delivered to high class michelin starred eateries which is decanted for serving. That is the problem. It ups the cost which will have to be passed onto the consumer.

**purplefood**

But surely that's what happens when you eat at a Michelin star restaurant... it's expensive for a reason.
I would expect it to be expensive but good. If it was crappy and expensive it wouldn't have a Michelin star...

**master of ordinance**

I just cant understand the EU`s stupidity. I like my bottles of olive oil.

**Kilkrazy**

I think it would be a good idea if the EU would find whatever is the most common bottle size for olive oil, and make it illegal.

**azazel the cat**

But critics have accused the EU of unwarranted meddling at a time of economic crisis

Whenever I see a criticism like this, I immediately become aware that someone is trying to create a disingenuous narrative for why they should continue to be allowed to feth over the consumer.

You want a saucer of olive oil for your dipping bread? No problem. Open the tiny package and pour in onto the plate with some delicious balsamic.

This law is there for the purpose of preventing people from:
1. claiming it's a very expensive variety and falsely serving a lower-quality version. While that is already fraud, the new law prevents that from happening, rather than just punishing the perpetrator after the fact. All in all, a much more effective law.

2. re-using olive oil.

**Kilkrazy**

The standing charge for olive oil only varies between £55.00 and £750 per head. Why do we need a special law about it?

**azazel the cat**

Kilkrazy wrote:The standing charge for olive oil only varies between £55.00 and £750 per head. Why do we need a special law about it?

For the reasons I laid out. If you're not committing either of the two acts I specified, then what's your issue with it?

**Kilkrazy**

No-one is committing those acts.

**azazel the cat**

Kilkrazy wrote:No-one is committing those acts.

Then nobody should take issue with those laws, then.

**Kilkrazy**

I am.

Just as I take issue with the law against oil drilling on asteroids, the law against putting maple syrup into U235 fuel rods, the law against using snails for steam engine connector rods, the law against bottling concrete in corn cobs, the law against asphalting roads with French bulldogs, the law against gold plating gold, the law against seven sided dice in poker games, the law against smellovision for the dead, and the law against the sun rising before sunrise.

**Soladrin**

Wait.. people pay for olive oil at restaurants?

I mostly eat at a greek restaurant and they just have a permanent bottle per table that get's a refill whenever it's empty. Free of charge.

I've never heard of paying for olive oil at a restaurant? And how can I tell it's olive oil and not some weird ass substitute? It tastes like olive oil, if it's something else and tastes the same, I couldn't care less.

**azazel the cat**

Kilkrazy wrote:I am.

Yes, but why?

**Mr Hyena**

Packets of olive oil? Yuck. As disgusting as sauce from a packet.

**Ouze**

Kilkrazy wrote:
the law against gold plating gold

Somewhere, Xzibit is cocking his head, as if he hears a voice in the distance.

**Howard A Treesong**

Is this really an issue? At least in the UK we have Trading Standards and Food Standards Agency if there are concerns about mis-selling and hygiene.

**dogma**

I imagine this arises from the PDO brand protections that the EU presently enforces.

**Jihadin**

Some country might go to war over it.........

**Grey Templar**

No blood for oil :trollface:

**Jihadin**

No blood for oil :trollface:

Exalted

**Frazzled**

I don't see the problem. Just send in the Genco Olive oil import export business to sort it out. They'll make the EU an offer the EU can't refuse.