Extra virgin olive oil is the oil extracted from the fruit of the olive tree, Olea europea L. It comprises a key element in the daily diet of a large part of the Mediterranean population while its increasing consumption in other countries has been linked with a reduced incidence of coronary heart disease and low blood pressure levels. Contrary to other vegetable oils, extra virgin olive oil, produced by mechanical processes only (EC 2568/91), can be directly consumed without any further treatment. The absence of refining processes helps extra virgin olive oil to preserve its delicate aroma and nutritional properties that distinguish it from other edible oils