Report great news for international olive oil market

Report great news for international olive oil market, says NZ importer

Auckland-based European food importing business William Aitken & Co is delighted a publication authored by several senior international medical figures in the latest prestigious Postgraduate Medical Journal encourages people to focus on eating healthy whole foods such as those found in a Mediterranean diet rather than merely counting calories.

“The doctors explain that a Mediterranean diet not only reduces heart attacks and strokes but now also claim it may actually be a more effective way to lose weight than opting for low calorie foods. If effectively turns the whole concept of what it means to eat healthy on its head,” says Graham Aitken, managing director of William Aitken & Co.

Among many products William Aitken & Co is the exclusive importer of leading olive oil brand Lupi. The four-generation family business has been marketing olive oil in New Zealand for 70 years this year.

“For years we’ve known that the likes of extra virgin olive oil is a heathier option, as it can actually reduce blood cholesterol levels and the risk of many chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, cancers, and allergies.

“However this latest publication goes one step further and claims the Mediterranean diet – rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and olive oil - may not only give you a longer life but a slimmer one too.”

The PMJ report stated: “The -linolenic acid, polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids found in abundance in nuts, fruit, vegetables, olive oil and oily fish rapidly exert positive health effects by attenuating thrombosis and inflammation, and it is estimated that increasing population consumption of fruit and vegetables by one portion per day and nut consumption by two servings a week would prevent 5.2 million deaths from cardiovascular disease globally within just one year.”

Mr Aiken: “We’re not suggesting people who want to lose weight go completely Mediterranean. However this latest publication helps dispel the long-held view that while extra virgin olive oil may have health benefits, Mediterranean food overall will do nothing for the waist line. Now that notion has been seriously questioned with this leading team of doctors suggesting that a greater focus on eating healthy whole foods could be a more effective way to achieve sustained weight loss.”

The lead author, cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra, has told the media: “What's more responsible is that we tell people to concentrate on eating nutritious foods. It's going to have an impact on their health very quickly.”

Mr Aitken says the publication will be welcome and timely news for the international olive oil sector given the real possibility that Mediterranean olive oil prices are set to increase following a difficult growing season and subsequent shortage of product globally.

He says this latest news of olive oil’s further health benefits will do nothing to reduce the international price. Nonetheless it’s a huge endorsement of the Mediterranean diet which is great for European food companies like William Aitken & Co that have always known the many health benefits associated with the Mediterranean.

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