Viewers react to 60 Minutes "Agromafia" story
On Sunday's 60 Minutes, Bill Whitaker reported the Italian mob has been tampering with extra virgin olive oil: And a million salads across America cried out in horror... https://t.co/yBufwmwRD2
Some viewers posted an "all-pots" bulletin:
CALLING ALL COOKS.......CHECK THIS OUT!!!!!!!
Posted by Yokika Hornsby on Monday, January 4, 2016
Others thought twice about their own pantries:
Thank you @60Minutes for your report on olive oil production..our son has severe food allergies and your insightful report could save lives!
— Lia Lando (@lialandotv) January 4, 2016It's not just olives being pressed. Celebrity chef and restaurateur Mario Batali says, since the 60 Minutes story aired, he's being pressed too -- by his patrons:
our response to @60Minutes olive oil fraud story: https://t.co/Tg27sA2Dkn cc @Eataly @oleologist
— Mario Batali (@Mariobatali) January 7,
2016But many viewers panned the story. A flood of comments appeared on social media about the findings of Italian food investigators. 60 Minutes asked them to conduct a blind taste test of three olive oil brands from U.S. supermarkets. The panel found two of the three brands to be low quality, but 60 Minutes did not reveal the labels of those bottles to viewers.
@debluc745 @60Minutes @BillWhitakerCBS What's the pt of investigative reprting if not revealing the culprits? #fakeoliveoil #agromafia
— jendayiB (@jenBworks) January 4, 2016@60Minutes @BillWhitakerCBS agree with above, is CBS afraid of the mob? Need brand names to avoid!
— Heather Martin (@HeatherMartin24) January 4, 2016Beyond the reaction on social media, the broadcast also received a letter from the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA).
The letter took issue with journalist Tom Mueller, who said 75-80 percent of extra virgin olive oil bottles in the U.S. do not meet legal standards.
"Contrary to author Tom Mueller's opinion about rates of olive oil fraud, the NAOOA's experience is based on independent laboratory testing of hundreds of olive oils a year which consistently shows that more than 98% of the olive oils available are authentic, non-adulterated olive oil," the letter maintains.
Some 300,000 tons of olive oil are imported into the U.S. every year.