Definition: virgin olive oil

Virgin olive oil is oil obtained solely by mechanical means. A pure fruit juice, this oil has not undergone any chemical treatment. The term "first cold press" is a commercial designation that dates back to a time when mills, which were not very powerful, carried out a second pressing with the addition of hot water. This designation has not been justified for several decades due to technological advances. It has now been replaced by the term "cold extracted". See olive oil.