Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780393070217)

For millennia, fresh olive oil has been one of life's necessities-not just as food but also as medicine, a beauty aid, and a vital element of religious ritual. Today's researchers are continuing to confirm the remarkable, life-giving properties of true extra-virgin, and "extra-virgin Italian" has become the highest standard of quality.

But what if this symbol of purity has become deeply corrupt? Starting with an explosive article in The New Yorker, Tom Mueller has become the world's expert on olive oil and olive oil fraud-a story of globalization, deception, and crime in the food industry from ancient times to the present, and a powerful indictment of today's lax protections against fake and even toxic food products in the United States. A rich and deliciously readable narrative, Extra Virginity is also an inspiring account of the artisanal producers, chemical analysts, chefs, and food activists who are defending the extraordinary oils that truly deserve the name "extra-virgin."

Author: Tom Mueller
ISBN-10: 0393070212
ISBN-13: 9780393070217
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Language: English
Published: 12/05/2011
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.50h x 6.20w x 0.80d
Award: Gourmand World Cookbook Awards (USA Only) - Winner

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 10/01/2011 pg. 96
Kirkus Reviews 10/01/2011
Publishers Weekly 10/31/2011
Shelf Awareness 01/24/2012