Light Olive Oil Does Not Mean Low-Fat

Many of you may have seen Light Olive Oil or Extra Light Olive Oil at your local grocery store. With all of the ‘light’ and ‘low-fat’ versions of products available these days, it’s easy to get confused about what this term actually means in relation to olive oil.

Light Olive Oil is actually the name of a particular grade of olive oil. It is Virgin Olive Oil that has been refined, and as a result, it has a very light color and not a lot of flavor. These attributes are actually where the name comes from. In the bulk industry, the same product is referred to as ‘Refined Olive Oil’ instead of ‘light’.

No matter the grade, olive oil has the same caloric content (120 calories per tablespoon). In conclusion, Light Olive Oil is not a low-fat or low-calorie option. Rather, the word ‘light’ describes the color and flavor.