Extra Virgin Olive Oil Labeling Made Easy And Unquestionable

Capatriti® Extra Virgin Olive Oil Earns Stringent USDA QMP Seal

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., April 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthy eating begins with
 knowledge and education on which extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is truly extra virgin,
100% pure.  For the millions of Americans who buy EVOO, knowing which brand is
real is now a no-brainer. Capatriti® Extra Virgin Olive Oil, manufactured by
  Gourmet Factory™, has qualified for the highly coveted U. S. Department of
 Agriculture (USDA) Quality Monitoring Program (QMP) seal.

Earning this USDA QMP seal is a first step in educating consumers about choosing
 the right EVOO.  The USDA Quality Monitoring Program verifies the purity and
quality of a brand's extra virgin olive oil. Capatriti® Extra Virgin Olive Oil was
required to meet meticulous program criteria in order to qualify for the seal. Upon
entering the Quality Monitoring Program for their extra virgin olive oil, Gourmet Factory™
 agreed to allow the USDA to conduct unannounced visits to review and inspect quality
assurance records, randomly sample product for chemical analysis and sensory evaluation,
and verify labels on an ongoing basis.
"It's important that we, as a manufacturer and industry partner, provide consumers with
the correct information about what is pure extra virgin olive oil – the taste, the aroma
and the color," stated Themis Kangadis, Gourmet Factory CEO. "As a family-owned
company, we know that trust is the most important part of any relationship and by
 earning this stringent USDA QMP designation, we are looking at our consumers as
 family by increasing their knowledge and making their choice easier."
Confusion about EVOO is nothing new in the marketplace and is still an ongoing issue.
 According to a 2010 UC Davis report, "69 percent of imported olive oils labeled as
 'extra virgin' failed to meet the international standard for extra virgin olive oil." More
recently, a 2015 report from National Consumer League found that six out of 11
(about 55 percent) of EVOO from four major retailers failed to meet the EVOO
requirements. Impure products differ in color, taste and scent.  The USDA QMP seal
indicates that USDA samples of Capatriti Extra Virgin Olive Oil have passed USDA
 quality and purity analysis. Additionally, the USDA also reviewed the performance
 of the company's production processes, quality assurance measures and record-keeping
system. Under the program, the USDA will continue to monitor Capatriti's Extra Virgin
 Olive Oil, conducting unannounced plant visits to verify quality assurance measures an
d test the extra virgin olive oil.
Capatriti EVOO products approved by the USDA QMP are available now for sale
. Looking to continue with label transparences, again making it easier for consumers to
 know the products they are purchasing, the company is working on NON-GMO verification. 
About Gourmet FactoryGourmet Factory is a family-owned, New York based manufacturer of edible oils.
The company is among the first in the country, and industry, to qualify for the stringent
USDA Quality Monitoring Program seal for its extra virgin olive oils. For more than
45 years, the Gourmet Factory has provided the finest quality products in the retail
and foodservice markets for American consumers' palate. Products are marketed
under various brand and private label names. 

CONTACT: Ryan Prescott, 973-871-1700, rprescott@brushfireinc.com,
Michelle Goldstein, mgoldstein@brushfireinc.com