Expert warning issued to anyone buying olive oil

Olive oil, particularly the extra virgin variety, is a staple of the Mediterranean diet and boasts numerous health benefits. It's rich in healthy monounsaturated fats that can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, according to Healthline, and is also a great source of vitamins K and E.

However, with so many varieties available on supermarket shelves, it can be challenging to know which one to choose for maximum benefit. Thankfully, a gut health expert has revealed a common mistake shoppers make when buying olive oil - not reading the label.

TikToker and gut health scientist Mr Gut Health, who has been documenting his Mediterranean diet journey for years, has shared tips on how to identify genuine olive oil. He highlights three key things to look out for, with the first being the most crucial.

The expert stated: "If it says extra virgin, then it's pretty much guaranteed."

Extra virgin indicates that the oil is unrefined, meaning it retains more of its natural flavour, vitamins, and minerals, and is produced without heat or chemicals, reports the Express.

The origin of the olive oil is another crucial factor to consider, which should be clearly stated on the product label. Using a bottle of Filippo Berio as an example, the expert explained: "Some EVOO, like this one, uses olives from different countries."

He added, "Whilst oil from the one country might be better for traceability, using olives from different countries is fine."

The third and final consideration is a key sentence typically found on the reverse side of the bottle that provides insight into its production process.

Reading from the label, the specialist shared: "Superior category olive oil obtained directly from olives and solely by mechanical means."