What are 'olive oil blends'?
An ‘olive oil blend’ most commonly refers to a blend of canola oil or soybean oil mixed with olive oil in a specific ratio. These blends can actually be made up of any type of oil mixed with any particular olive oil grade.
Who uses them?
Olive oil blends are most often used by manufacturers, distributors and food service companies. Common ratios include 75/25, 85/15, 90/10, 95/5, 99/1 or 50/50. These blends are used for a number of reasons:
Why would i choose a blended oil?
- Canola and soybean oil both have a lower cost than olive oil, so choosing a blend helps to bring down ingredient costs.
- Canola and soybean have a milder flavor and lighter color, and work well for cooking or other applications that require mild taste, light color and/or a higher smoke point.
- Opting for a blend can work well for your marketing team and your customers-- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or any grade you choose) remains on your ingredient label and in your product, while the cost and flavor are just right for your operations/R&D team.