"Shadowland" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> So I visit a local restaurant whole sale food store the other day.
> As you probably know buying in bulk save big money in the long run.
> It's not always convenient eating beans out of a one gallon can but,
> there you go.
>
> I need Olive Oil. Not a great slection suprisingly.
> The "best buy" appears to be one gallon containers of "Pomace olive
> oil" for $12.30.
>
> "Pomace" ? I ponder. Pomace ?
> Doesn't appear to be a brand name.
>
> I decide to wait (thank goodness) and do some web research.
>
> Here's the scoop:
>
> As IOOC standards are complex, the labels in stores (except in the
> U.S.) clearly show an oil's grade:
>
> Extra-virgin olive oil (sometimes called EVOO) comes from the first
> pressing of the olives, contains no more than 0.8% acidity, and is
> judged to have a superior taste. There can be no refined oil in extra-
> virgin olive oil.
>
> Virgin olive oil has an acidity less than 2%, and judged to have a
> good taste. There can be no refined oil in virgin olive oil.
>
> Pure olive oil Oils labeled as 'Pure olive oil' or 'Olive oil' are
> usually a blend of refined olive oil and one of the above two
> categories of Virgin olive oil.
>
> Olive oil is a blend of virgin oil and refined oil, containing no more
> than 1.5% acidity. It commonly lacks a strong flavor.
>
> Olive-pomace oil is a blend of refined pomace olive oil and possibly
> some virgin oil. It is fit for consumption, but it may not be called
> olive oil. Olive-pomace oil is rarely found in a grocery store; it is
> often used for certain kinds of cooking in restaurants.
> Pomace olive oil means oil extracted from the pomace using chemical
> solvents-mostly hexane-and by heat.
>
> Lampante oil is olive oil not used for consumption; lampante comes
> from olive oil's ancient use as fuel in oil-burning lamps. Lampante
> oil is mostly used in the industrial market.
>
>
> !!!!!!!!!! Did you read that part ?? " Pomace olive oil means
> oil extracted from the pomace using chemical solvents-mostly hexane-
> and by heat. "
>
> HEXANE !! Hexane is an ingrediant in gasoline and is also used in
> industrial solvents.
> If you smelled pure hexane you'd puke ! If you drank it, you'd die.
>
> Ladies and gents there are restaurants out there using this stuff !!
>
> But someone will say "Well all the hexane is probably exaporated in
> the process."
>
> I don't believe it !! It never ALL gets out. What the useless FDA
> does is say, "Well, there's 20 parts per million hexane left but we
> don't think that will harm people....on average."
>
> Thanks but no thanks. I'll treat wood furnature with pomace but I
> won't eat it !

I used to use pomace olive oil for soapmaking. Never tried using it for
cooking, though.

Mary