How a small change in olive oil may affect your heart

No, what is known as ‘green gold’ cannot be stored indefinitely. Although olive oil is becoming more and more expensive and the trend is towards thriftiness - and therefore bottles that don't run out quickly - you need to pay attention to certain details... or risk suffering serious health problems.

The North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA) recently published a guide showing that the green gold does have an expiry date, and that it is well below what is traditionally recommended. ‘There is no definitive answer as to how long olive oil can be kept’, the association points out. And to find out whether your oil is still edible, the only way will be to trust your senses. A rancid nutty taste? A strange “pencil” smell? Then it's high time you got rid of your olive oil. ‘In this case, it should never be consumed’, says the NAOOA.

So when exactly?

If your olive oil is stored in a bright, warm place, it's best not to store it for more than three or four months (the time it takes to turn in this kind of environment).

As well as the unpleasant smell and taste, rancid oil can lead to certain illnesses, particularly cardiovascular disease. Digestive problems such as vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea can also occur. As the website L'internaute reports, when olive oil is oxidised, it can also cause irreversible liver damage.

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source : L’internaute - Illustration : ©Unsplash)